Bihar Govenor Arif Mohammad Khan speaking at Gandhi Maidan during Bihar Diwas programme in Patna on Monday, March 24, 2025
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday (March 24, 2o025) appealed to the people of the State to build their future on the basis of their glorious past and play a leading role in realizing the dream of a developed India.

Showering praises on the past glory of Bihar, he said the State is inspiring and playing an important role in shaping Indian culture.

Talking about Bihar’s rich culture, Mr. Khan asserted that the State has been the capital of India in every way for centuries and has made significant contributions in political, cultural and spiritual fields.

“We should feel proud of our glorious past and build the future on its basis, “ Mr. Khan said at the Bihar Diwas function organised at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

The Governor said that students from all over the world used to come to Bihar’s Nalanda University and Vikramshila University to acquire knowledge.

“India is a land of knowledge and culture; it should become a centre of knowledge where students from all over the world can come to study not only Indian culture and philosophy but also the culture and philosophy of their own countries. Our teachers should have such vast knowledge about the whole world that they can teach them. Our sage had made such a call from the land of Bihar thousands of years ago,” Mr. Khan said.

‘Bihar people are intelligent, hard-working’

He emphasized that the people of Bihar are very intelligent and hard-working and that they have an important role in the development of other States and big cities of the country.

“Outside Bihar, the people are identified as Biharis. They should also try to develop their State by rising above narrow identities such as caste and religion,” Mr. Khan said.

Talking about Indian culture, the Governor said that the culture of India emphasizes that identity is defined by the soul.

“God is present in everyone in the form of the soul. Therefore, no one is a stranger to us. Love and tolerance towards all are the basic education of our country and Bihar has played a leading role in imparting such education. We should understand this glorious tradition and build our golden future,” Mr. Khan said.

He added that no society can progress without equal participation of women and when women get educated, children also get educated.

Praising Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the State Government, Mr. Khan said that a lot of efforts has been made for women’s education in Bihar in the past years.

“According to Vivekananda, no society can progress without the general public and women being educated,” Mr. Khan said.

Later in the evening, the Governor attended the Iftar feast organised by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) national president Lalu Prasad at the official residence of RJD national general secretary Abdul Bari Siddiqui.

Mr. Lalu Prasad, former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav and Mr. Siddiqui played the role of hosts by welcoming the guests.