Bihar is a unique state endowed with rich history. It is the seat of significant mythological events and tales from Ramayana. It is the birth place of prominent religions including Buddhism and Jainism. It was Bihar that sprouted the first seed of democracy. It was Bihar where first true kingdom, Maurya Empire, reigned all over the subcontinent.
Patna, situated on the bank of river Ganga, is the capital of Bihar and state's current geographical boundary is shaped after its partition from Bengal and later on after seperation of Jharkhand in 2000.
Modern History
During most of British India, Bihar was a part of the Presidency of Bengal, and was governed from Calcutta. A prominent figure that emerged from Bihar during India’s struggle of Independence was Dr. Rajendra Prasad who later became the first President of free India. Dr. Prasad was native of Jiradei in the district of Saran.
Bihar and Orissa separated from Bengal Presidency in 1912 as a single province and later Orissa became a separate province under the Government of India Act of 1935 and thus Bihar became an administrative unit of British India.
At the time of Independence in 1947, the State of Bihar, with the same geographic boundary, formed a part of the Republic of India, until 1956. At that time,In 1956, an area in the south-east, predominantly the district of Purulia, was separated and incorporated into West Bengal as part of the Linguistic Reorganization of Indian States.
Role of Bihar in India’s struggle of Independence
Veer Kunwar Singh
Bihar's contribution in the struggle of freedom dates back to 1957. Babu Kunwar Singh led the Indian Rebellion of 1857 in Bihar. He was nearly eighty and in failing health when he was called upon to take up arms. He gave a good fight and harried British forces for nearly a year and remained invincible until the end. He was an expert in the art of guerilla warfare. His tactics left the British puzzled. Singh assumed command of the soldiers who had revolted at Danapur on 25 July. Two days later he occupied Arrah, the district headquarters. Major Vincent Eyre relieved the town on 3 August, defeated Singh's force and destroyed Jagdishpur. During the rebellion, his army had to cross the Ganges river. Douglas' army began to shoot at their boat. One of the bullets shattered Singh's left wrist. Singh felt that his hand had become useless and that there was the additional risk of infection due to the bullet-shot. He drew his sword and cut off his left hand near the elbow and offered it to the Ganges In his last battle, fought on 23 April 1858, near Jagdispur, the troops under the control of the East India Company were completely routed. On 22 and 23 April, being injured he fought bravely against the British Army and with the help of his army drove away the British Army, brought down the Union Jack from Jagdishpur Fort and hoisted his flag. He returned to his palace on 23 April 1858 and soon died on 26 April 1858.
Veer Kunwar Singh – Leader of 1857 Revolt in Bihar
Resurgence in the history of Bihar came during the struggle for India's independence. It was from Bihar that Mahatma Gandhi launched his civil-disobedience movement, which ultimately led to India's independence. In 1917, at the persistent request of a farmer named Raj Kumar Shukla from the district of Champaran, Gandhiji took a train ride to Motihari. Here he got to know the plight of the indigo farmers suffering under the oppressive rule of the British. Alarmed at the tumultuous reception of Gandhiji in Champaran, the British authorities served notice on him to leave the Province of Bihar. Gandhiji refused to comply, stating the right of an Indian to freely travel anywhere in his own country. For this act of defiance he was detained in the district jail at Motihari. From his jail cell, with the help of his friend from South Africa days, C. F. Andrews, Gandhiji managed to send letters to journalists and the Viceroy of India describing what he saw in Champaran, and made formal demands for the emancipation of these people. When produced in court, the Magistrate ordered his release on the condition of furnishing bail bond. Gandhiji refused to furnish the bail. Instead, he indicated his preference to remain in jail. Alarmed at the huge response he was receiving from the people of Champaran, the magistrate set him free, without any precondition. This was the first instance of the success of civil-disobedience as a tool to win freedom.
Deshratna Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Bihar Vibhuti Anugrah Narayan Sinha during Mahatma Gandhi's 1917 Champaran Satyagraha
After this incident, British for the first time, noticed Gandhiji as a national leader and realized the power of civil-disobedience. What Raj Kumar Shukla had started and the massive response people of Champaran gave to Gandhiji, catapulted India’s struggle for free India. Therefore, in 1917, a series of events ignited in a remote corner of Bihar led to the massive movement for independence across the country till India gained freedom in 1947. Therefore, many people from Bihar became leading participants in India's struggle for independence.
Another personality from Bihar that rose to leadership was Jay Prakash Narayan, affectionately called JP. JP's substantial contribution to modern Indian history continued until his death in 1979. It was he who led a movement that led to massive win of a non-Congress government, The Janata Party, at Delhi, for the first time.
In the year 2005 the people of Bihar handed over the reins of power to Nitish Government with full hope and confidence. Shri Kumar is known for his endeavor to establish the rule of law and to move on the path of justice with development. By including all segments of the society together, he laid the foundation of the programme of Good Governance, transparency and all inclusive growth. He formulated programmes of Good Governance first for the period 2005-2010 and then for 2010-2015. Within a period of only a few years Shri Kumar has revamped many public organisations and systems. On one hand he succeeded in establishing effective law and order and rule of law while on the other hand he achieved greater height in the development of Human Resource along with good infrastructure. Reservation to women in PRIs and ULBs, steps towards women empowerment, Right to Public Servic Act, Bihar Public Grievance Redressal System, Campaign against Child Marriage and Dowry System, enforcement of Prohibition, Agriculture Road Map, Start up Policy, Seven Resolves, unprecedented progress in Power and Road sector are some of the initiatives which have brought paramount change in socio-economic and administrative scenario.
Conclusion
For its geographical location, natural beauty, mythological and historical importance, Bihar feels proud of the assets it has been gifted over a period of time. Centuries old stories related to this land are told even today. Many great rulers have lived here and it fills us with a sense of pride when we think of Bihar as the 'Karmabhumi' of Buddha and Mahavir.
From the book titled: Land & People of Indian States & Union Territories-S.C. Bhatt & Gopal K Bhargava