Un-hintered access: The Book of Bihari Literature holds many surprises

Poems of rebellion by Buddhist nuns, culinary treats, an excerpt from the first book published by an Indian in English... a new anthology offers a rare tour.

Magadhi-Prakrit was the official language of emperors’ courts, as far back as the 4th century BCE. It was the language in which Gautama Buddha preached, and in which the Mauryan emperor Ashoka (r. 268 BCE to 232 BCE) composed most of his edicts.

Its modern-day variant, Magahi, is spoken by millions.

Abhay K, poet, translator and editor of The Book of Bihari Literature, grew up speaking it at home. But most of Bihar’s languages are so ignored — as is