Akash, Thank you for the very honest and straightforward views. I agree with most of it (I thought AB Vajpayee is from Gwalior in MP - not that it has anything to do with the point under discussion).
I have known folks from UP and Bihar (that I met outside these states) to be exceedingly hard working and straightforward - simpletons even. I agree with you that the culture of corruption and criminalisation of politics plunges them into the vortex of hopelessness. I still believe that UP and Bihar can reclaim their pride of place in India and the world if the central government makes a conscious decision to create environment conducive to investment (giving tax rebates, declaring SEZs), clamp down on lawlessness along with a calibrated approach to growing these states (on the lines of 5 year plans) and making heavy central government investments on education and industry here.
As for being bullied and mistreated by countrymen elsewhere - that is unpardonable. Any Indian making an honset living elsewhere shouldnt be victimised. (In the 60s Shiv Sena had rioted against South Indians - 'Lungiwallas' as Bal Thackeray derided them - Keralites were Thackeray's biggest target then. "Bhaiyyas" are his target now. Strangely enough Thackeray seems to have developed a liking for (Hindu) Keralites and Tamilians lately! "They are our boys" he once said referring to LTTE Tamil tigers of Srilanka. Politicians stoke regional passions as it suits them.)
I hope the people of UP and Bihar can turn things around, much like Singapore turned itself around from an underdeveloped wasteland to what it is today - all in a matter of few decades. The nation can not progress after ignoring UP and Bihar.
