To come to Patna amid the countdown to the upcoming Assembly election is to come across lingering stories about a Bihar that was; a palpable sense that the state has come a long way from its past; a tangible fear of backsliding, a tentative need to play it safe — and also, a Bihar that is restless, wanting and waiting for more.

In a state of poor urbanisation, Patna has become an island of visible development and change. It has seen, in the last few years, the creation of urban public spaces that other state metros have long taken for granted and that have taken a long time to come to Bihar’s capital — from the glitzy mall to the spacious and elegant museum, from the vibrant cafe with loud music that opens till late to the “marine drive” by the riverside, where the young come to enjoy a

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