Why bahubalis and coaching centres thrive – and why dubbed Tamil and Telugu films are so popular. Jan 18, 2021 · 08:30 am A file photo of a flood-affected man moving to a safer place in Maner, Bihar. | Krishna Murari Kishan/Reuters
Like remoras to a whale, narratives cling to every state. They persist long after they stop being true. Punjab is the state of cancer, drugs and the Green Revolution. Tamil Nadu has excellent public delivery of healthcare and education. In Bihar, Nitish Kumar is Sushasan, Good Governance, Babu even though the State remains absent.
This void does not stay empty for long. Society steps in, creating imperfect replacements to the State.