Forty-six years later, returning to a Musahar village in Bihar, to find change but desire for more

“If I were to tell you that I will take one of your dearest wishes to the Prime Minister and Bihar Chief Minister, what would that be?” I asked a group of women belonging to the Musahar community – one of the most deprived Dalit groups – in Piparghatti village in Gaya district. “Berozgari (unemployment),” replied three of them in unison.

In the neighbouring Barachatti town, which is also an Assembly constituency, I asked an 18-year-old, visiting from a nearby village, the same. Dressed in a bright orange saree that matched the sindoor in her hair parting, the Musahar teenager who has never been to school – like the Piparghatti women – also had a one-word response: “Berozgari”. “Humare bachchon ke liye rozgar dain yahan (They should provide jobs to our children here),” she said.

She got m