History of Bihar
History of Bihar
The word 'Bihar' comes from the word 'Viharas,' which refers to a Buddhist monk’s resting place. Bihar was the centre of many influential kingdoms and was the main centre of learning for thousands of years. 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.
A Significant Place in Ramayana
According to mythological tales, Sita, the consort of Lord Rama, was a princess of Bihar. She was the daughter of King Janak of Videha. The present districts of Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Samastipur, Madhubani and Darbhanga mark this ancient kingdom. According to legends, the birthplace of Sita is Punaura, located west of Sitamarhi town and Janakpur, the capital of King Janak and the place where Lord Rama and Sita were married. Maharishi Valmiki, author of the Hindu epic Ramayana, is also said to have lived in Bihar at Valmikinagar in West Champaran.
Ancient History of Bihar
Stone Age Sites
Palaeolithic sites have been discovered in Munger and Nalanda. Neolithic artefacts from the periods between 2500 and 1500 B.C. have been found in Chirand (Saran) and Chechar (Vaishali). Artefacts from the Chalcolithic Age have been found in Taradih, Chirand and Chechar.
The Arrival of Aryans in Bihar
In the later Vedic era, Aryans began migrating towards Eastern India (1000-600 BC). Satapatha Brahmana talked about the migration and dispersion of the Aryans. Varah Puran mentions Gaya, Punpun, and Rajgir as auspicious places, while Kikat is mentioned as an inauspicious location.
Mahajanapadas
According to Buddhist and Jaina literature, a number of small kingdoms or city-states, led by Magadha, ruled India in the sixth century. Over the Indo-Gangetic plains the Mahajanapada, a group of sixteen monarchies and republics, emerged by 500 BC. Three Mahajanapadas were in Bihar namely Magadha, Anga and Vajji.
Dynasties of Magadha
Brihadratha: The first known ruler of Magadha was Brihadrath. His son Jarasandha was the most popular king.
Haryanka Dynasty: The Haryanka Dynasty lasted from 544 to 492 B.C. The dynasty was established by Bimbisara. He lived at the same time as Buddha. He made Rajgir his new capital. He was also the first ruler to establish an army or permanent military. Ajatshatru was the son of Bimbisara. It was during his reign, Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira both gained Mahaparinirvana and Moksha. Under his patronage, the first Buddhist Council (483 B.C.) was held in Rajgir. Ajatshatru was succeeded by his son Udayin. At the confluence of the Ganga and Sone rivers, he established the city of Patliputra, which became his capital.
Shishunaga Dynasty: Shishunaga dynasty lasted from 412 B.C. to 344 B.C. Shishunga was the founder of this dynasty. Rajgir and Vaishali served as the two capitals of Magadha during the time.
Kalasoka: Patliputra once again became the capital of the Magadha Empire during this period. Under the patronage of Kalasoka, Vaishali hosted the second Buddhist Council in 383 B.C.
Dynasty of Nanda: The Nanda Dynasty lasted from 344 B.C. to 321 B.C. Mahapadmananda founded the Nanda dynasty. The dynasty’s last monarch, Dhana Nanda, was the contemporary of Alexander.
Jainism in Bihar
The state of Bihar is considered to have played an important role in the development of Jainism. Vasupujya, the 12th Jain Tirthankara was born in Champapur, Bhagalpur and attained all his Pancha Kalyanaka in Champapuri. Munisuvrata, the 20th Jain tirthankara was born in Rajgir. Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th and the last Tirthankara of Jainism, was born in Vaishali around sixth century B.C. His father was Kshatriya from Ikshvaku Dynasty chief of Kundalpur which has been identified with modern-day Nalanda district. Mahavir achieved nirvana in Pawapuri which is today a pilgrimage site for Jains from across the world.
Buddhism in Bihar
Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born as Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini around 563 BCE and belonged to the Shakya clan.Gautama attained bodhi (enlightenment) under a peepal tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. The legendary spiritual enlightenment site of the Buddha under the Mahabodhi Tree is now occupied by the Mahabodhi Temple, which attracts Buddhist pilgrims and travellers from around the world. This temple complex has also been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Gautam Buddha is believed to have delivered several lectures in cities like Vaishali and Rajgir. Three of the four major Buddhist Councils were organised in Bihar, with an objective to institutionalise and shape the ideas and philosophy of Buddhist doctrines. The First Buddhist Council was held in 483 B.C. at Rajgriha, after the Mahparinirvana of the Buddha, to preserve the purity of the teachings of Buddha. The Second Buddhist Council was convened in 383 B.C. at Vaishali, mainly to settle disputes about the true interpretation of the Buddha's teachings and the ‘Ten Points’ dispute regarding the relaxed rules of discipline followed by certain monks, especially the monks of Vaishali.The Third Buddhist Council was convened in 247 B.C. by Asoka at the request of Venerable Moggalliputta Tissa at Pataliputra.
Mauryan Dynasty
Founded by Chandragupta Maurya with Chanakya. Ashoka later adopted Buddhism after the Kalinga war and spread it across Asia. The Third Buddhist Council was held at Pataliputra.
Post Maurya Phase
Mauryan dynasty was followed by Sunga dynasty, which was founded by Pushyamitra Sunga.He was follower of Hinduism. Patanjali served as the principal priest at two Ashwamedha Yagnas that were held during his rule, according to the Dhandev Inscription from Ayodhya. The Gupta Empire was a powerful dynasty that ruled over northeastern India from the 4th to the 6th century CE. They controlled large parts of northern, central, and western India, with their capital in Magadha. Sri Gupta (A.D. 240-280)is credited as the founder of the Gupta Empire. Chandra Gupta I ascended the throne around A.D. 320. He married Kumaradevi, a princess of the Lichchhavi clan, strengthening the dynasty's position. The reign of Kumaragupta (A.D. 415-455) saw the foundation of the famed Nalanda University. At its peak, the Gupta period was considered the classical age of India, where many aspects of Indian culture flourished. Aryabhatta's groundbreaking theories revolutionized astronomy during the Gupta period. Between 8th to the 12th century A.D., Pala dynasty flourished in the Bihar-Bengal region. The Palas were staunch supporters of Mahayana Buddhism. Various Mahaviharas, stupas, chaityas, temples, and forts were built during this period. The monastery at Odantapuri, in Bihar Sharif, was founded by Gopala.It is considered the second oldest of India's Mahaviharas after Nalanda. Dharmapala (770-810 A.D.) founded the Vikaramasila monastery, which is in the Bhagalpur district in Bihar. It was a great centre of Buddhist learning and culture.
Medieval History of Bihar
The medieval history of Bihar is commemorated by foreign invasions and dynasties that transformed the region. During medieval times, the Sur Dynasty was the most significant dynasty in Bihar. Sher Shah Suri (1486–1545) was the founder of the Suri Empire in India, with its capital in Sasaram in modern-day Bihar. He introduced the currency of the rupee and also built the historic Grand Trunk Road. The remains of a grand mausoleum built for him can still be seen in Sasaram, known as Sher Shah’s Maqbara.
Later, Mughal emperor Akbar expanded his empire by annexing Bengal and Bihar. The first Mughal emperor sworn in at Patna was Farrukhsiyar. As the Mughal Empire declined, the Nawabs of Bengal came to rule over Bihar.
Bihar also has deep religious importance in Sikh history. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj visited Patna and stayed at Bhagat Jaitamal's house near Gaighat in 1509 CE. Later, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Maharaj came to Patna with his family in 1666. The 10th and last Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, was born at Patna Sahib in 1666.
Prince Azim-us-Shan, the grandson of Aurangzeb, was appointed as the governor of Pataliputra in 1703. He renamed Pataliputra as Azimabad in 1704.
Modern History of Bihar
The first Europeans to arrive in Bihar were Portuguese. After the Portuguese, the second Europeans to enter Bihar were the British. British traders opened a saltpetre plant at Alamganj in Patna in 1620, which was shut down in 1621.The British East India Company revived the factory again in 1651, which is now turned into a governing printing press at Gulzar Bagh. After the Britishers the Dutch entered Bihar. The Dutch East India Company also built a factory in Patna in 1632, which is today the site of the Patna Collectorate. Dutch people were interested in cereal grains, saltpetre, and cotton fabrics.Next, the Danes East India Company built a factory in Patna’s Nepali Kothi in 1774
Following the Battle of Buxar, which was fought on 21 October 1764, the British effectively took over control of Bihar. The Battle of Buxar was fought between the forces under the command of the British East India Company, led by Hector Munro, and the combined armies of Mir Qasim, Nawab of Bengal till 1764; the Nawab of Awadh Shuja-ud-Daula; and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. Bihar was ruled from Calcutta for the majority of the British Empire when it was a part of the Bengal Presidency. To administer Bihar, the East India Company established the position of Deputy Governor. After the Battle of Buxar, Raja Ram Narayan and Shitab Roy played significant roles as Deputy Governors.
A position known as “Revenue Chief of Bihar” was created in 1781 to take the role of the “Revenue Council of Patna,” which had been established in 1770. During the British rule of India, Bihar, particularly Patna, regained its former splendour and became a significant strategic hub for trade and learning. Until the provinces of Bihar and Orissa were divided into distinct provinces in 1912, it was still a part of British India’s Bengal Presidency. After the Delhi Durbar of 1911 which was attained by King George V, Bihar was constituted as a separate province on March 22nd, 1912. Patna was made the capital city of the new province. Later Orissa became a separate province under the Government of India Act of 1935 and thus Bihar became an administrative unit of British India.
During the famine of 1783, then-Governor-General Warren Hastings issued an order for the enormous dome-shaped granary of Golghar to combat the famine.The huge granary was built by Captain John Garstin in the year 1786 A.D.
Permanent Settlement was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal, Orissa, the regions of Benaras, and the northern districts of Madras.John Shore served as its architect. This zamindari system declared zamindars to be the land’s proprietors. Zamindars could keep 1/11th of the revenue collected and give 10/11th to the British.Due to increasing dissatisfaction among the tenants with zamindars, the Bengal Tenancy Act was introduced in 1885 to define the rights of tenants.
Revolt of 1857
The Bihar Revolt began on June 12th, 1857, at the 32nd Infantry Regiment’s headquarters at Deoghar (now in Jharkhand). Sergeant Dr Grant and Lieutenant Norman Leslie, two British officers, participated in this uprising. However, McDonald put an end to the rebellion.
Under the leadership of bookseller Pir Ali, a mutiny was initiated in Patna on July 3rd, during which British opium trader Dr Lyell was killed. The most famous rebel, Babu Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur, actively commanded a group of 4000 troops and won numerous fights.
Babu Kunwar Singh 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.
In his last battle, fought on 23 April 1858 near Jagdishpur, the troops under the control of the East India Company were completely defeated.
Champaran Satyagraha
Rajkumar Shukla and Raam Lal Shah invited Mahatma Gandhi to look into the Tinkathia system, which required peasants to cultivate indigo on 3/20 of the total amount of land. It was Mahatma Gandhi’s first Satyagraha Movement and it began in 1917. It is also called the first Civil Disobedience Movement. Dr Rajendra Prasad, Brajkishore Prasad, Acharya Kriplani, Dr Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Mahadeo Desai, C. F. Andrews, H. S. Pollock, Raj Kishore Prasad, Ram Navami Prasad, Shambhu Sharan, and Dharnidhar Prasad all joined Gandhi’s satyagraha. The movement compelled the British government to establish the Champaran Committee to conduct an investigation into the atrocities. Gandhi served on the committee and convinced the authorities of the atrocities committed under the Tinkathia System, the need to abolish the Tinkathia system and pay the peasants 25% compensation.
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8th, 1942, which got support from all over India. The plan of action for the movement was drafted on July 31, 1942, by the Bihar Congress Committee, which was chaired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The national flag was unfurled everywhere but the British arrived in order to control the movement and to put an end to the movement. The District Magistrate of Patna W. G. Archer arrested Rajendra Prasad and he was sent to Bankipur jail. The advocate general Baldeva Sahay resigned from his office in protest to Govt. repression. Phulan Prasad Verma, Shrikrishna Sinha, Anugraha Narayan Sinha and some other leaders were also arrested. The students played a heroic role in this freedom movement.
On August 11, 1942, a band of students marched in order to hoist the national flag on the building of the Patna secretariat. Under the orders of the District Magistrate, the thirteen to fourteen rounds were fired in which seven students were killed and several were injured. The seven students martyrs were Umakant Sinha, Ramanand Singh, Jagatpati Kumar, Satish Prasad Jha, Devipada Choudhary, Rajendra Singh and Ram Govind Singh.
As a result of this incident, a widespread upheaval broke out spontaneously. There was a complete strike in Patna on August 12. The same evening a meeting was organised by Jagat Narayan Lal, in which it was decided to cripple the government machinery. To paralyse the administration, the agitators uprooted railways lines, damaged telegraphs wires and telephones, burnt police stations, seized post offices and other government buildings.
During the course of this movement, Jayaprakash Narayan escaped from Hazaribagh jail and formed the 'Azad Dasta' in the jungles of Nepal, which harassed the British through sabotage and guerrilla warfare. In some districts like Chapra and Bhagalpur, the agitators established parallel governments for some time.
Women held rallies, hoisted flags, and staged sit-ins, actively participating in the movement. Railway lines, telegraph and telephone lines and police stations across Bihar were targeted, paralyzing the administrative machinery. The powerful protest in Bihar shook British rule and paved the way for independence.
Bihar After Independence
After India attained independence from the British rule, Dr. Rajendra Prasad served as the first President of India, holding the office from January 26, 1950, until May 13, 1962. After independence, the foundation for development in Bihar was laid under the leadership of Dr. Srikrishna Singh as its first Chief Minister, including the abolition of zamindari and major infrastructure projects. During the state reorganization of 1956, parts of Purulia were transferred to West Bengal. In the 1970s, Bihar saw the call for 'Sampoorna Kranti' against the Congress led by Jayaprakash Narayan, which transformed Indian politics and led to the formation of the Janata Party government after the Emergency. On 15 November 2000, the southern part of Bihar was separated to form the state of Jharkhand, causing Bihar to lose most of its mineral resources and industrial areas.
In November 2005, the people of Bihar elected the government led by Sri Nitish Kumar. Under his visionary leadership and focus on 'Justice with development', Bihar has seen a paradigm shift in social sector reforms and infrastructure development. Key achievements during this period include improvement in law and order, Saat Nischay, Jeevika, Rreservation to women in PRIs, ULBs and public employment, Right to Public Service Act, Bihar Public Grievance Redressal System, Campaign against Child Marriage and Dowry System, Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali, Agriculture Road Map, Start up Policy, Mahila Rozgar Yojana and Mukhyamantri bicycle yojana.
Today, Bihar is one of the fastest growing states in India. The state's growth trajectory has often surpassed the national average, indicating robust economic momentum driven by public investment, infrastructure development and increased economic activity.
Bihar's Development Journey: Progress for the Poor (2005–2026)
Since 2005, Bihar has made significant progress in reducing poverty, improving infrastructure, expanding access to basic services, and accelerating economic growth. While challenges remain, particularly in income levels and industrial development, the state has recorded notable improvements across several social and economic indicators.
Poverty Reduction
Bihar has witnessed a substantial decline in poverty over the past two decades. The pace of poverty reduction accelerated after 2005, with both rural and urban poverty falling steadily. Between 2013 and 2023, approximately 3.77 crore people in Bihar moved out of multidimensional poverty, making it one of the largest poverty reductions achieved by any Indian state.
Economic Growth
Bihar has emerged as one of India's fastest-growing state economies. The state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) reached approximately ₹8.5 lakh crore in 2023–24, recording growth of 9.2% at constant prices. Per capita income has increased significantly over the years, reaching nearly ₹66,800 in 2023–24, though it remains below the national average.
The services sector now contributes nearly 58% of the state's economy, while agriculture continues to support a large share of livelihoods. Industrial growth is gradually expanding, creating new opportunities for investment and employment.
Infrastructure Transformation
One of Bihar's most visible achievements has been the expansion of infrastructure. Rural road connectivity has increased dramatically, growing from less than 1,000 kilometres in 2005 to more than 1.17 lakh kilometres by 2025. Improved roads, transport networks, and communication systems have strengthened market access, mobility, and economic activity across the state.
Access to electricity and drinking water has also expanded significantly, improving living standards for millions of households.
Education and Health
Access to electricity and drinking water has also expanded significantly, improving living standards for millions of households.
Bihar has invested heavily in education and healthcare over the past two decades. Public expenditure on social sectors has increased substantially, supporting school infrastructure, healthcare facilities, nutrition programmes, and welfare initiatives.
Life expectancy has risen to nearly 70 years, while infant mortality rates have steadily declined. Literacy levels have improved considerably compared to the early 2000s, reflecting greater access to educational opportunities
Women Empowerment and Financial Inclusion
The state has strengthened women-led development through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and financial inclusion initiatives. More than 22 lakh SHGs have been linked to formal credit systems, enabling women to access finance, start enterprises, and participate more actively in local economies.
Female workforce participation has also shown gradual improvement, supported by targeted livelihood and skill-development programmes.
Social Protection and Welfare
Bihar has expanded welfare programmes covering health, education, nutrition, pensions, rural development, and livelihood support. These initiatives have helped improve basic living standards and provided greater social security to vulnerable populations
Remaining Challenges
Despite substantial progress, Bihar continues to face challenges in per capita income, industrialisation, formal employment generation, and certain human development indicators. Agriculture remains the primary source of employment for nearly half of the workforce, while manufacturing contributes a relatively small share of jobs.
Addressing these gaps will be critical for sustaining growth and ensuring that economic progress translates into broader prosperity for all sections of society.
Looking Ahead
Bihar's development trajectory since 2005 demonstrates a clear improvement in economic performance, poverty reduction, infrastructure expansion, and social welfare. Continued investments in education, healthcare, industry, skills, and infrastructure will be essential to accelerate growth, create quality employment, and further improve the quality of life for millions of people across the state.
