Why is Bihar still poor despite having rich history, fertile land, and a hardworking population? In this detailed episode, we explore how Bihar—once an industrial powerhouse of India—lost its economic momentum and became a symbol of poverty, underdevelopment, and mass migration. In the 1960s, Bihar produced 40% of India’s sugar, had over 30 running sugar mills, and was home to iconic industrial units like TISCO, TELCO, and Sindri Fertilizer. Bihar’s industrial legacy was strong, and its agricultural potential—especially for crops like sugarcane, makhana, and litchi—was unmatched. But decades of policy failure, political interference, and systemic corruption gradually brought everything down. We break down how poorly managed privatization, bureaucratic missteps, and lack of modernization pushed industries to collapse. Sugar mills shut down, farmers stopped growing sugarcane due to delayed payments, and workers lost their livelihoods. The Bihar State Sugar Corporation, which was supposed to revive the sector, itself became a failed institution riddled with losses and scams.