A one-kilometre stretch in Motihari Chowk, East Champaran district, Bihar, commemorates three figures linked to democratic socialism: Mahatma Gandhi, Ram Manohar Lohia, and George Orwell. Orwell, famous for novels 1984 and Animal Farm, was born here on June 25, 1903. His father, Richard Blair, worked for the British Opium Department. Though a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments (Protection) Act, 1976, the birthplace now lies in severe disrepair. The iron gate rusts, weeds choke the yard, roofs have partially collapsed, and rooms are filled with waste and insects. A bust of Orwell installed during earlier renovations has been defaced, and iron railings are broken or stolen. The compound serves as a playground, grazing ground, and even a pig dwelling. As Bihar's assembly elections conclude campaigning, the neglected house contrasts sharply with the political activity nearby, reflecting deeper issues of heritage preservation and public priorities.
A Heritage Site Left to Decay
The Orwell house features a solitary plaque marking the birthplace of Eric Arthur Blair, Orwell's real name. He left for England with his mother and sister the following year and had no memory of the place. Renovated around a decade ago, the structure now suffers from broken railings, overgrown vegetation, and structural damage. Local goat herder Bhola Meena, 77, expressed distress at the building's condition, calling it 'our heritage' that must be saved. He noted that foreigners visit the site and wondered what impression they form. A student mentioned that the deterioration accelerated after the security guard left. The State Department of Arts, Culture, and Youth cited high workload across Bihar as the reason for delayed restoration.
Local Voices Amid Political Campaigns
Nearby, residents have varied concerns as elections approach. Ram Kumar Dom, an 18-year-old first-time voter, admitted unfamiliarity with Orwell but recalled police visiting after someone broke the bust. Political science students near the house worried about delayed semester admissions, originally due in April but still unresolved. One student lamented that caste has overshadowed everything, while the education system remains broken. Motihari remains a BJP stronghold since 2005, with former Law Minister Pramod Kumar securing 49.44% votes previously. The RJD has fielded 35-year-old Dewa Gupta this time. Amid the fading campaign noise, eight-year-old Harsh Kumar proudly showed a book on Orwell gifted by his grandfather, acknowledging the writer's fame though not yet understanding the text.
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