Bihar Government’s Redevelopment Plan for Sitamarhi

December 21, 2023

The Bihar government, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, recently unveiled a Rs 72-crore plan for the redevelopment of Punourdham in Sitamarhi, believed to be the birthplace of Hindu deity Sita. The move has triggered a political debate, with the BJP accusing the JD(U) of pursuing “soft Hindutva” and attempting to counter allegations of Muslim appeasement ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The JD(U), on the other hand, asserts that the plan is aimed at developing important cultural and tourism sites associated with Sita, and not driven by political motives.

Redevelopment Plan Highlights

  1. Sitamarhi Development Plan: The plan involves redeveloping Punourdham in Sitamarhi, associated with the birth of Sita, and includes the creation of a parikrama path, Sita Vatika, Luv-Kush Vatika, shanti mandap, cafeteria, parking lot, and a 3-D animation film depicting Sita’s life.
  2. Thematic Circuits: Sitamarhi is part of the Centre’s list of 15 tourism-cum-religious places on the Ramayana Circuit, identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Union Ministry of Tourism.
  3. Tourism Boost: The state government aims to boost tourism by redeveloping sites associated with Lord Ram and Sita, considering their cultural and religious significance.

Larger Political Context

  1. Hindutva in Bihar: Historically, Bihar’s electoral landscape has not prominently featured Hindutva, with the state often associated with socialist politics. The BJP’s electoral performance in Bihar has varied, and the state has not been a stronghold for Hindutva-centric politics.
  2. Opposition’s Use of Sita: Opposition parties, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, have previously invoked Sita to counter the BJP’s emphasis on “Jai Shri Ram.” The use of Sita in political narratives is part of attempts to broaden the religious discourse beyond the dominant Ram-centric narrative.
  3. Electoral Implications: The political debate over the redevelopment plan for Sitamarhi reflects the ongoing contestation over cultural and religious narratives in Indian politics, especially in the lead-up to elections.
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