Bihari Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Bihar, in eastern India, was home to the ancient university of Nalanda and to the kingdom of Magadha, and it is where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, at Bodh Gaya. Its people speak Hindi, Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magahi. Many Bihari professionals have come to Britain for medical and academic careers.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 1,475 residents gave Hindi as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still. The census records Hindi as one language, so it does not separate out people by the Indian state their families come from.

Working for Birmingham

Bihar has a strong tradition of education, and people from Bihar in Birmingham work as doctors, surgeons, engineers, civil servants, researchers and teachers. Many came through NHS recruitment or postgraduate study, and they serve patients and students from every community in the city.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Bihari community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

Chhath Puja, when families offer prayers to the setting and rising sun beside water, is the most important festival for many Bihari families, and some in Birmingham gather by lakes and canals to mark it. Litti chokha, the state's much-loved dish, and the folk songs of Bhojpuri and Maithili connect families to home.

In a city where scores of languages are spoken, the Bihari community adds another voice to the conversation. Its members, old and new, are helping to make Birmingham the confident, outward-looking city it wants to be.