Bihar

The state of Bihar in North India is home to nearly 83 million people. Its name derives from the word for "monastery" and points to the time when the region was a center for Buddhism. In fact, history records that Buddha spent much time in Bihar.

Around 250 B.C., the state—along with Buddhism—became prominent under Asoka the Great, one of India's most distinguished emperors. From what is today the city of Patna, he ruled an empire that spanned most of ancient India. After one particularly bloody battle, however, he gave up waging wars of conquest and became a Buddhist. Promoting justice and non-violence, Asoka cultivated the arts, built great monasteries, and sent Buddhist missionaries to other parts of India and beyond. Today most countries with large Buddhist populations have a temple or monastery in Bihar.

Despite its ties to Buddhism, Bihar's population is now 77 percent Hindu and 15 percent Muslim. Another 5 percent practices ethnic religions. Hindi is the main language.

Bihar is one of India's poorest states and has a low literacy rate. Since India gained independence in 1947, it has been afflicted with social unrest and political corruption. In this agricultural economy, farmers raise rice and wheat, along with cash crops of sugarcane and potatoes. Silk and leather are also produced here. In 2000, the state was divided and its southern part became the new state of Jharkhand. Losing the mineral-rich land of the south created even more economic hardship for Bihar.

Christian missionaries have found Bihar—the onetime "graveyard of missions"—to be a backbreaking mission field. Even today Christians make up only one percent of the population. Though at least half of the state (including 15 million Muslims) is not yet evangelized, there are signs of greater openness to the Christian faith. In addition to Gospel for Asia, around 30 major Christian organizations are working in Bihar.