 Sanjeev Singh [@sanjeevsinghx](/creator/twitter/sanjeevsinghx) on x 9332 followers Created: 2025-07-14 15:20:13 UTC In the mid-1980s, a Bengali demographer Ashish Bose coined the term BIMARU (implying 'sick') for 4 states... excluding his own, where poverty is so visible in rural areas that there are even cases of women selling their children for food. 90% of young women in Bihar's orchestras are from Bengal. But Bose didn't see poverty in his state. This term BIMARU created a strong, negative stereotype, labelling these states as inherently "sick" and underdeveloped... It deterred potential investors from even considering these states for business... Anyone who has visited Bihar in real will vouch that the State has much better roads than other states, surplus electricity availability, surplus water and much better law & order, yet it is still branded as if it were a sub-Saharan land... It became a political tool to justify central govt policies without a nuanced understanding of the ground realities. 'Bimaru' tag had a huge impact on human psyche, dignity, self esteem & our regional pride... The negative branding made it harder to build a positive narrative around the potential and progress. If anyone tries to reinforce this negative image again for political reasons, Biharis will respond. This is not 80s or 90s. 48,210 engagements  **Related Topics** [women](/topic/women) [bose](/topic/bose) [Post Link](https://x.com/sanjeevsinghx/status/1944778971679183005)
Sanjeev Singh @sanjeevsinghx on x 9332 followers
Created: 2025-07-14 15:20:13 UTC
In the mid-1980s, a Bengali demographer Ashish Bose coined the term BIMARU (implying 'sick') for 4 states... excluding his own, where poverty is so visible in rural areas that there are even cases of women selling their children for food. 90% of young women in Bihar's orchestras are from Bengal. But Bose didn't see poverty in his state.
This term BIMARU created a strong, negative stereotype, labelling these states as inherently "sick" and underdeveloped... It deterred potential investors from even considering these states for business... Anyone who has visited Bihar in real will vouch that the State has much better roads than other states, surplus electricity availability, surplus water and much better law & order, yet it is still branded as if it were a sub-Saharan land... It became a political tool to justify central govt policies without a nuanced understanding of the ground realities.
'Bimaru' tag had a huge impact on human psyche, dignity, self esteem & our regional pride... The negative branding made it harder to build a positive narrative around the potential and progress.
If anyone tries to reinforce this negative image again for political reasons, Biharis will respond. This is not 80s or 90s.
48,210 engagements
