Beyond clamour of polls and silence of migration seeps the forgotten glory of Darbhanga Raj

At the time of Independence, Darbhanga was one of India’s most prosperous and well-administered regions, under the mighty Darbhanga Raj. Established in the 16th century and later formalized by Aurangzeb, the Raj oversaw vast territories, thriving culturally and economically. Maharaja Kameshwar Singh expanded its wealth, founding businesses, a private airline, newspapers, and supporting arts like Madhubani painting. However, post-Independence, the abolition of the Zamindari system, rising taxes, and the Maharaja’s death led to its decline. Today, Darbhanga is marked by election-driven politics and migration, with its glorious past surviving only in old palaces, museums, and the memories of its once-mighty Raj.