About Arampur topics: ~ it is recommended to read all of these topics and in the order presented

The village nexus

The natural environment

Within Bihar

Banaras connections

Within India

Globalization

The crossroads of the local north-south and interstate east-west roads acts not only as a social magnet within the nexus, but as the gateway to other regions and states. As the center for access to Kendra, the nearest town (about 20 kilometers distant), and faraway Banaras (about 100 kilometers), the crossroads conducts social as well as vehicular traffic. Under the Arampur police thana's watchful presence, bee-haunted sweet stalls, inventory-packed small shops, cramped barber shops, and stilt-legged paan booths line both sides of the main road near the intersection, taking advantage of the bus stop which the whole nexus relies on for travel elsewhere.

Kendra, the town nearest the nexus provides film entertainment with two movie theaters and several video stores. Home VCRs allow the wealthy to supplement the movies shown on Indian television. Occasionally, they loan their equipment to the village community for religious holidays when organizers set the television and VCR in front of a crowd of children sitting impatiently outside, anxiously anticipating a video about a Hindu hero or a Bombay gangster.

Reflecting the political orbit around Bihar's capital, Patna, and the local penchant for political news, most of the 78 daily newspapers subscribed to by nexus residents in 1994 were published in Patna while only a few were Banaras editions.

Residents are well aware that many other Indians consider Bihar as the most impoverished, backward, and crime-ridden state in the nation. Some in Arampur agree. The state's per capita state domestic product in 1986-1987 was the poorest in India at less than Rs. 500. In an index of economic development with an all India average of 100, Bihar scored only 54 points in 1989. Between 1981 and 1991, the state population increased 23% to 86,374,465 of whom only 38% were literate (male literates outnumbering female by 2-to-1). Among other states in India, Bihar ranked last in literacy. Among other states, only Madhya Pradesh had fewer hospital beds for its population.

Yet, statistics notwithstanding, nexus residents often proudly identify themselves with Bihar, especially in conversation about other states. Many residents express pride in Bihar as the home of the ancient Buddhist center at Nalanda and the middle-period Rohtas Fort. Undoubtedly educators foster some of these associations through education. Both government and private schools use the same textbooks published by the state government. These include readers in itihas ("history") which highlight Bihar's place in an Indian nationalist narrative as well as Hindi, Urdu, and English primers which include essays on Bihar and its famous sons and daughters (such as India's first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad).