View source for Mithila (proposed Indian state)

{{About|a proposed state of India|the historic region|Mithila (region)}}
{{See also|Mithila State Movement}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Mithila
| type               = [[Proposed states and union territories of India|Proposed state]]
| motto              = 
| anthem             = [[Anthem|Joy Mithila, Joy Maithili]]
| image_map          = Mithila region of India.png
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type2  = Region
| subdivision_name2  = [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]]
| population_demonym = [[Maithil]]
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Language]]
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Maithili language|Maithili]]
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Darbhanga]] 
| official_name      = 
| image_seal         = Emblem of India.svg
| image_map1         = Proposed Mithila State Map.jpg
}}
'''Mithila''' is a [[Proposed states and union territories of India#Bihar|proposed state]] in [[India]], comprising the [[Maithili language|Maithili]]-speaking region of [[Bihar]]  The Maithili language has its own traditional script, known as [[Mithilakshar]]. It is part of the historical [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]] region.<ref name="Small States Syndrome in India">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nKqF_AgDd4gC&q=mithila+india+state&pg=PA148 | title=Small States Syndrome in India | access-date=16 February 2017 | page=146 | isbn=9788170226918 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217143622/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nKqF_AgDd4gC&pg=PA148&dq=mithila+india+state&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiL0fDo2pXSAhVEKcAKHej6AicQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=mithila%20india%20state&f=false | archive-date=17 February 2017| last1=Kumāra | first1=Braja Bihārī | year=1998 | publisher=Concept Publishing Company }}</ref>

There was also a movement in the Maithili-speaking areas of [[Nepal]] for a separate state which ended in 2015, after [[Constitution of Nepal]] (2015) ensured it in form of province two.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n4FQMEiZcrIC&q=free+mithila+state&pg=PA251 | title=Nationalism and Ethnicity in a Hindu Kingdom: The Politics and Culture of contemporary Nepal | access-date=21 March 2017 | page=251 | isbn=9781136649561 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112034/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=n4FQMEiZcrIC&pg=PA251&dq=free+mithila+state&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiI1KfJw-XQAhXHJsAKHZ2bBSoQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=free%20mithila%20state&f=false | archive-date=22 March 2017| last1=Gellner | first1=D. | last2=Pfaff-Czarnecka | first2=J. | last3=Whelpton | first3=J. | date=6 December 2012 | publisher=Routledge }}</ref>

==History==

[[Laxman Jha|Dr. Laksman Jha]] and others demanded a Mithila state shortly after independence, and the former Chief Minister of Bihar, [[Jagannath Mishra]] also expressed support for the creation of the state.<ref name="Small States Syndrome in India"/>

Various organisations have been formed that demand the formation of a state including the Maithil Mahasabha and the Mithilanchal Vikash Congress the former received support from [[Raj Darbhanga]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nKqF_AgDd4gC&q=mithila+india+state&pg=PA148 | title=Small States Syndrome in India | access-date=16 February 2017 | pages=148–152 | isbn=9788170226918 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217143622/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nKqF_AgDd4gC&pg=PA148&dq=mithila+india+state&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiL0fDo2pXSAhVEKcAKHej6AicQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=mithila%20india%20state&f=false | archive-date=17 February 2017| last1=Kumāra | first1=Braja Bihārī | year=1998 | publisher=Concept Publishing Company }}</ref>
Various demonstrations have taken place demanding a Mithila state with a major protest taking place in Delhi in 2009 organised by the [[Mithila Rajya Sangharsh Samiti|Akhil Bharatiya Mithila Rajya Sangharsh Samiti]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/demonstration-planned-in-delhi-for-separate-mithila-state/story-awHWAfJ7iY0G8yhNegTzJM.html |title=Demonstration planned in Delhi for separate Mithila state &#124; india &#124; Hindustan Times |date=14 December 2009 |access-date=2017-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220012301/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/demonstration-planned-in-delhi-for-separate-mithila-state/story-awHWAfJ7iY0G8yhNegTzJM.html |archive-date=20 February 2017}}</ref>

==Political support==
===Mithila Rajya Nirman Sena===

* Senior BJP leader, Rangnath Thakur, chairman and Founding member of Mithila Rajya Nirman Sena, has organised public rallies supporting Mithila.
Mithila Rajya Nirman Sena also did a Sankalp yatra under his leadership in 2017 and 2021 to create awareness and support for the movement<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/news/darbhanga/article1-Mithila-State-Struggle-fast-installation-will-665568.html |title=मिथिला राज्य स्थापना को करेंगे संघर्ष तेज |access-date=2017-01-14 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023064056/https://www.livehindustan.com/news/darbhanga/article1-Mithila-State-Struggle-fast-installation-will-665568.html |archive-date=23 October 2021 }}</ref>

===Bharatiya Janata Party===

* Former BJP MP [[Kirti Azad]] from [[Darbhanga]] (Current Congress leader) has organised multiple [[dharna]]s and protests in support of Mithila.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://post.jagran.com/demand-for-mithila-state-gains-momentum-politicians-join-demonstration-at-jantar-mantar-1312256949 |title=Demand for Mithila state gains momentum, politicians join demonstration at Jantar Mantar |publisher=Post.jagran.com |date=2 August 2011 |access-date=4 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064127/http://post.jagran.com/demand-for-mithila-state-gains-momentum-politicians-join-demonstration-at-jantar-mantar-1312256949 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> He has also launched a signature campaign in Mithila aiming to raise awareness.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/patna/maithili-speaking-people-want-own-state/story-OyxBKqJtrGYhp47GrsiR5N.html |title=Maithili speaking people want own state &#124; patna &#124; Hindustan Times |date=30 June 2007 |access-date=2017-02-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222111129/http://www.hindustantimes.com/patna/maithili-speaking-people-want-own-state/story-OyxBKqJtrGYhp47GrsiR5N.html |archive-date=22 February 2017}}</ref>
* Senior BJP leader, [[Tarakant Jha]], former chairman of [[Bihar Legislative Council]], has organised public rallies supporting Mithila.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/epaper/article/index.php?page=article&choice=print_article&location=24&category=&articleid=6242779130240 |title=Yahoo Search - Web Search |access-date=2012-03-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317174304/http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/epaper/article/index.php?page=article&choice=print_article&location=24&category=&articleid=6242779130240 |archive-date=17 March 2013}}</ref>

===Janata Dal (United)===

* In November 2011, Bihar Chief Minister [[Nitish Kumar]] also extended his support for the statehood of Mithila.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://post.jagran.com/Broader-view-on-state-restructuring-1322837705 |title=article |publisher=Post.jagran.com |access-date=4 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115072518/http://post.jagran.com/broader-view-on-state-restructuring-1322837705 |archive-date=15 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://jagraneditorial.jagranjunction.com/2011/11/22/uttar-pradesh-assembly-chief-minister-mayawati-divide-the-state-into-four-parts |title=राज्य पुनर्गठन : व्यापक हो नजरिया « संपादकीय ब्लॉग |publisher=Jagraneditorial.jagranjunction.com |access-date=4 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225063424/http://jagraneditorial.jagranjunction.com/2011/11/22/uttar-pradesh-assembly-chief-minister-mayawati-divide-the-state-into-four-parts/ |archive-date=25 December 2011}}</ref>
* Shravan Chaudhary, JDU state president, has openly supported the demand for the statehood of Mithila.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2720084.cms |title=जेडी(यू) ने पृथक मिथिला राज्य की मांग का समर्थन किया- Navbharat Times |work=Navbharat Times |date=22 January 2008 |access-date=4 May 2012}}</ref>

===Rashtriya Janata Dal===

*[[Rabri Devi]], former CM of [[Bihar]], has always favoured the creation of a separate Mithila state.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/give-statehood-to-mithila-rabri/articleshow/65108987.cms |title=Archived copy |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2012-03-10}}</ref>

==Justification for Separation ==

The demand for separate Mithila state has been there since creation of State of Bihar in 1912.<ref>{{cite news |title=Demand for Mithilanchal: Why carving out a new state from Bihar may backfire |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/demand-for-mithilanchal-why-carving-out-a-new-state-from-bihar-may-backfire-1991442-2022-08-23 |agency=India Today}}</ref> 
*The problems of Mithila region are different from rest of Bihar. It’s about justice and development. Mithila has its own ancient history, culture, and language (Maithili), which is one of India’s recognized official languages in the Constitution (Eighth Schedule). Despite this, the Mithila region has faced decades of neglect—poor infrastructure, lack of industries, unemployment, and migration of youth because there are no opportunities at home. When people demand a separate Mithila state, they’re asking for focused governance, fair share of resources, and preservation of Maithil identity. Just like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, or Uttarakhand were carved out for better administration and local development, Mithila deserves the same chance. It’s about empowering a historically rich region so its people don’t remain backward while contributing so much to the country. Maithils demanding for Mithila State because of poverty and lack of development; a unique culture, and specific issues like yearly floods that the Patna-centric government has ignored for decades. Smaller states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand were also created not just for culture, but for better governance and focused development. And they are progressing faster than when they were tied to bigger states. If India can manage 28 states today, it can manage Mithila too.<ref>{{Cite web|title = मिथिला राज्य की माँग क्यों |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hi/!state/why-rabri-devi-demand-separate-mithila-state-from-bihar-bihar-news-brs24112804304|access-date=2024-11-28 |website=etvbharat.com|language=hi}}</ref>
*Maithili the language of the region has not been properly recognised. The 8th schedule of the Constitution of India includes the recognition of 22 languages including Maithili (but in Devanagari Script) rather [[Tirhuta|Tirhuta script]] is the original script of Maithili. In Bihar Maithili is yet to receive any official status.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who are those demanding a separate Mithila state from Bihar? |date=5 July 2022 |url=https://groundreport.in/who-are-those-demanding-a-separate-mithila-state-from-bihar/ |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref> 
*Negligence of [[Maithils|Maithil]] identity in the state of Bihar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=मिथिला की उपेक्षा निंदनीय - |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/darbhanga-8483874.html |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref>

==Challenges==

Mithila is a poor and flood-prone region dependent on [[subsistence agriculture]], leading to doubts over its economically feasibility as a separate state.<ref>{{cite news |title=Demand for Mithilanchal: Why carving out a new state from Bihar may backfire |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/demand-for-mithilanchal-why-carving-out-a-new-state-from-bihar-may-backfire-1991442-2022-08-23 |work=India Today |date=23 August 2022 |author=Darpan Singh }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Mithila, Nepal]]
* [[Maithili language]]
* [[Maithili literature]]
* [[Maithil]]
* [[Maithili Music]]
* [[Mithila Painting]]
* [[Mithila Makhana]]
* [[Mithila (region)]]
* [[Saharsa district|Saharsa]]
* [[Darbhanga]]
* [[Maithili (disambiguation)]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Historical regions of North India}}
{{Proposed states and territories of India}}{{coord missing|Bihar}}

[[Category:Mithila| ]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian cities]]
[[Category:Historical Indian regions]]
[[Category:Proposed states and union territories of India]]
[[Category:Former capital cities in India]]