Decoding 'maskless' Bihar in poll season: Ground report

Visuals of huge crowds at campaign rallies of different parties suggest that a politically alert Bihar might have rejected the face coverings en masse as the pandemic nears a gutting milestone across the country. When India Today spoke with mask refusers across the state, they gave a variety of reasons for not accommodating the new behavioural shift inspired by the coronavirus. For some naysayers, the people of Bihar are blessed with natural immunity lurking inside their bodies toughened by hard labour. "Sir, our immunity is so strong that corona cannot touch us," a young man laughed, surrounded by other men outside a rally in Supaul. "Tell us whether you have seen corona coming to our district. They are spreading rumours," he said. For some in Bihar though, wearing a mask means surrendering their freedom. They sound upset at governments mandating this health advice on the general public.