Bihar

Bihar is a state in Eastern India. It is the second largest state by population, and many of its people are young. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25. The official language is Hindi, but many people also speak Maithili, Magahi, and Bhojpuri.

Long ago, the area that is now Bihar was very important. It was the centre of political power and learning. Famous leaders like Parshvanatha and Mahavira lived there, and the first big empire of India, the Maurya Empire, began in this region. This is also where Buddhism started.

In recent decades, Bihar has been working to grow and improve. The state government has focused on building better roads, improving hospitals, and making sure everyone gets a good education. These efforts are helping Bihar become stronger and more prosperous.

Etymology

The name Bihar comes from an old word in Sanskrit and Pali called vihāra. This word means "abode" and was used for places where Buddhist monks lived. Long ago, the area that is now Bihar had many of these special homes for monks.

History

Main article: History of Bihar

See also: Timeline for Bihar; Magadha; Mithila Kingdom; History of Buddhism in India; Decline of Buddhism in India; Mithila, India; and List of rulers of Mithila

Copy of the seal excavated from Kundpur, Vaishali. The Brahmi letters on the seal state: "Kundpur was in Vaishali. Prince Vardhaman (Mahavira) used this seal after the Judgement."

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Magadha, Anga and Vajjika League of Mithila, c. 600 BCE

Ancient period

Chirand, on the northern bank of the Ganga River, in Saran district, has an archaeological record from the Neolithic age (c. 2500–1345 BCE). Regions of Bihar – such as Magadha, Mithila, and Anga – are mentioned in religious texts and epics of ancient India.

Mithila gained importance after the establishment of the Videha Kingdom. During the late Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), Videha became one of the major political and cultural centers of South Asia, along with Kuru and Pañcāla. The kings of the Videha Kingdom were called Janakas. Sita, a daughter of one of the Janakas of Mithila is mentioned as the consort of Rama, in the Hindu epic Ramayana, written by Valmiki.^{[page needed]} The Videha Kingdom later became incorporated into the Vajjika League which had its capital in the city of Vaishali, which is also in Mithila. Vajji had a republican form of government where the head of state was elected from the rajas. Based on the information found in texts pertaining to Jainism and Buddhism, Vajji was established as a republic by the sixth century BCE, before the birth of Gautama Buddha in 563 BCE, making it the first known republic in India.

The Haryanka dynasty, founded in 684 BCE, ruled Magadha from the city of Rajgriha (modern Rajgir). The two well-known kings from this dynasty were Bimbisara and his son Ajatashatru. Ajatashatru founded the city of Pataliputra which later became the capital of Magadha. The Haryanka dynasty was followed by the Shishunaga dynasty. Later, the Nanda dynasty ruled a vast tract stretching from Punjab to Odisha.

The Nanda dynasty was replaced by the Maurya Empire, India's first empire. The Maurya Empire and the religion of Buddhism arose in the region that now makes up modern Bihar. The Mauryan Empire, which originated from Magadha in 321 BCE, was founded by Chandragupta Maurya. It had its capital at Pataliputra (modern Patna). Mauryan Emperor Ashoka is often considered to be among the most accomplished rulers in world history.

The Gupta Empire, which originated in Magadha in 240 CE, is referred to as the Golden Age of India in science, mathematics, astronomy, commerce, religion, and Indian philosophy. Bihar and Bengal were invaded by Rajendra Chola I of the Chola dynasty in the 11th century.

Medieval period

Buddhism in Magadha declined due to the invasion of Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji, during which many of the viharas were destroyed along with the universities of Nalanda and Vikramashila.

Many famous Buddhist and Hindu philosophers and scholars have originated or studied in Bihar during the period from the 5th to 13th century at institutions like Nalanda and Vikramashila including Kamalaśīla, Ratnākaraśānti, Śāntarakṣita, Abhayakaragupta, Udayana and Gaṅgeśa.

Sasaram was also the first capital city of the Sur Empire founded by the ruler of Bihar, Sultan Sher Shah Suri who was Pashtun.

Colonial era

After the Battle of Buxar (1764), the British East India Company obtained the rights to manage and collect taxes for Bihar, Bengal, and Odisha. The rich resources of fertile land, water, and skilled labour had attracted foreign imperialists, particularly the Dutch and British, in the 18th century. A number of agriculture-based industries had been started in Bihar by foreign entrepreneurs. Bihar remained a part of the Bengal Presidency of British India until 1912, when Bihar and Orissa were carved out as separate provinces.

Pre- and post-Independence

See also: 1970 Bhojpur uprising

Farmers in Champaran had revolted against indigo cultivation in 1914 (at Pipra) and 1916 (Turkaulia). In April 1917, Mahatma Gandhi visited Champaran, where Raj Kumar Shukla had drawn his attention to the exploitation of the peasants by European indigo planters. The Champaran Satyagraha that followed received support from many Bihari nationalists, such as Rajendra Prasad, Shri Krishna Sinha and Anugrah Narayan Sinha.

In the northern and central regions of Bihar, the Kisan Sabha (peasant movement) was an important consequence of the independence movement. It began in 1929 under the leadership of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati who formed the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha (BPKS), to mobilise peasant grievances against the zamindari attacks on their occupancy rights. The movement intensified and spread from Bihar across the rest of India, culminating in the formation of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) at the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress in April 1936, where Saraswati was elected as its first president.

Following independence, Bihari workers have faced unfair treatment in many parts of India, such as Maharashtra, Punjab, and Assam.

Geography

Main articles: Geography of Bihar and Climate of Bihar

See also: Physiographical Regions of Bihar, Forest in Bihar, and List of Hills in Bihar

Further information: Floods in Bihar

Bihar is a state in eastern India. It covers an area of 94,163 km². It borders Nepal to the north, Jharkhand to the south, West Bengal to the east, and Uttar Pradesh to the west. The land has three main parts: the Southern Plateau, the Shivalik Region, and Bihar's Gangetic Plain. The Ganges River flows through the state and sometimes causes flooding.

Bihar has many forests and wildlife. Valmiki National Park is home to tigers and other animals. The Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary is a special place for birds. The state has natural resources like pyrite and gold.

Flora and fauna

Main articles: Flora of Bihar and Fauna of Bihar

See also: Protected areas of Bihar

Further information: Valmiki National Park and Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary

Bihar has many plants and animals. Forests cover part of the state, with trees like Sal and Khair. Valmiki National Park is home to tigers and many animals. The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary protects special river dolphins. Other animals in Bihar include leopards, bears, deer, crocodiles, and turtles.

Natural resource

Bihar has a lot of pyrite and gold. In May 2022, a gold mine was found in Jamui, which has a large part of India’s gold.

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Bihar, Languages of Bihar, and Religion in Bihar

Bihar is one of India's crowded states, with many people living close together. In 2023, most people in Bihar followed Hinduism, and many others followed Islam. There are also small groups of people who practice Christianity, Buddhism, and Sikhism.

Bihar has many languages spoken by its people. Hindi is the official language, but many people also speak Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magahi. These languages are important to the culture of Bihar.

Government and administration

Main articles: Government of Bihar and Administration in Bihar

See also: Divisions of Bihar and Districts of Bihar

Bihar is led by a Governor who is chosen by the President of India. The Chief Minister and other leaders make big decisions for the state. The group with the most seats in the Bihar Legislative Assembly forms the government.

Bihar is split into nine areas and 38 districts. Each district has a leader called a District Magistrate. There are also special leaders for police and for towns and villages. The state's high court is in Patna, and it has been there since 1916. All main government offices are in the capital city, Patna.

Divisions

See also: Administration in Bihar

Further information: Districts of Bihar and Subdivisions of Bihar

Note

* Population data obtained from the sum of the populations of the districts.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Bihar

See also: Category:Political parties in Bihar, Elections in Bihar, List of politicians from Bihar, and 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election

Bihar's politics have been shaped by different groups of people. Some important groups include Yadav, Koeri, Kurmi, Rajput, Bhumihar, and Brahmin.

In 1989–90, changes happened when some government jobs and school places were set aside for groups that had less power before. This helped these groups take more part in politics. Leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar were important in this change.

Later, in the 1995 election, groups that had less power before split into two sides. One side was led by the Yadavs, and the other by the Koeri and Kurmi groups. This changed the power in Bihar's politics.

Since 2005, Nitish Kumar has been chief minister for many years. He worked on improving the economy, reducing crime, and creating fairness for everyone. His government acted against corrupt leaders and made changes to help workers and schools. They also made rules to stop the sale of some drinks and to help people with better working conditions.

Public health

Bihar has weaker health services than other Indian states because it does not have enough health care facilities. The government tries to help with programs like the National Health Mission and the Clinical Establishments Act of 2010, but Bihar has trouble using these funds well.

Many people in Bihar use private hospitals because public hospitals do not have enough staff. There are fewer doctors, nurses, and health workers in Bihar than in other states like Kerala. The state also has fewer public hospital beds and health centers than it needs. Bihar has been slowly working to improve health for women and reduce deaths of babies and mothers.

Economy

Langra mango from a farm in Shivnarayanpur, Bhagalpur, Bihar

Bihar grows many important crops. It makes up 71% of India's litchi and produces 90% of the world's makhana seeds. The state's economy is growing quickly, with a rate of 13.5% in the year 2024-25.

Agriculture

Main article: Agriculture in Bihar

Bihar is a big place for farming. It is one of the top makers of vegetables and fruits in India. Most people in Bihar work in farming. The main crops are litchi, guava, mango, pineapple, and many others. But sometimes floods and dry weather can make it hard to grow crops.

Industry

Bihar has many factories and big businesses. Places like Begusarai have important factories such as Barauni Refinery and NTPC, Barauni (BTPS). Other big towns with industries include Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, Dalmianagar, Munger, Jamalpur, and Barauni. The capital, Patna, is doing well compared to other cities in India.

Startup

The Bihar Startup Policy 2022-2027 wants to make Bihar a great place for new businesses. It offers help like money for starting up, no taxes for a while, and places to learn and grow businesses. The government has money set aside to help new businesses, especially in areas like farming technology, health, learning, and online shopping.

Income distribution

Bihar's income is lower than many other places in India. For example, Patna's income is much less than cities like Gurugram, Noida, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Bihar

Paintings

Main article: Painting in Bihar

See also: Mithila painting, Patna Qualam, and Manjusha Painting

Bihar has many traditional painting styles. One is Mithila painting from the Mithila region. It was mostly done by women and passed down in families. People painted on walls during festivals and weddings, and also on cloth and paper.

Mithila painting is also called Madhubani art. It shows people, nature, and stories from old tales, filling every space on the page.

Another style is Bhojpuri painting on temple walls. It shows Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and village life.

The Patna School of Painting began in the 1700s. Artists used watercolours on paper and mica to paint daily life and ceremonies.

Performing arts

See also: Music of Bihar

Bihar has many famous musicians. The music there is part of Hindustani classical music.

Gaya is known for styles like Tappa and Thumri.

In the 1800s, people from Bihar moved to places like the West Indies, Fiji, and Mauritius. They took songs and plays called birha, which are still popular.

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of Bihar

See also: Bhojpuri Film Industry and List of Bhojpuri films

Bihar has a strong film industry. The first Bhojpuri film was Ganga Jamuna in 1961. The first Magadhi film was Bhaiyaa in 1961, and the first Maithili film was Kanyadan in 1965.

In the 1980s, Bhojpuri films became popular. Movies like Mai ("Mom", 1989) were big hits. In 2001, Saiyyan Hamar ("My Sweetheart") helped make actor Ravi Kishan famous. The industry now makes over one hundred films each year.

In 2019, the Maithili film Mithila Makhaan won an award.

Mass media

Main article: Media in Bihar

The first Hindi newspaper in Bihar was Biharbandhu, started in 1872. Hindi became an official language in 1880.

Urdu has a long history in Bihar.

Festivals

Main article: Festivals

Chhath Puja is the biggest festival in Bihar. It lasts four days and people celebrate it all over the state. They set up decorations and worship the sun at sunrise and sunset.

Durga Puja is also a major festival. People build beautiful stages and worship the goddess Durga for ten days.

Bihar has many other festivals too. Makar Sankranti celebrates the winter harvest. Buddha Jayanti honours the birth of Buddha. Rajgir Mahotsav shows music, dance, and crafts. The Sonepur Mela is a big fair for buying and selling animals.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Bihar

Bihar is a popular place for visitors from all over the world. Many people come to see its special sites.

The state has two important places chosen by UNESCO, along with many old buildings. The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya marks where Buddha found enlightenment. Another famous spot is Nalanda, one of the oldest learning places in the world.

Rajgir offers modern attractions like a sky walk bridge and a zoo where visitors can see animals. Bihar also has beautiful natural areas such as Valmiki National Park and the Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary, home to the rare Gangetic Dolphin. Many birds visit places like Kanwar Lake and Nagi Dam during their journeys.

The state holds deep meaning for followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Many important religious figures were born or spent time in Bihar.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Bihar

Bihar has three airports: Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport in Patna, Gaya Airport in Gaya, and Darbhanga Airport in Darbhanga. Gaya Airport is the only international airport in Bihar. All three airports have flights to major cities in India.

Railways are very important in Bihar. The East Central Railway looks after the rail network. Major stations include Patna, Ara, Buxar, Gaya, and Bhagalpur. There are also plans for new roads and highways.

Patna will soon have a metro system, though it is still being built. The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation runs many buses. There are also plans to improve travel along the Ganges river.

Airports

Main article: List of airports in Bihar

Railways

State Expressways and highways

Main article: List of state highways in Bihar

Metro transit

Bus transit

Inland Waterways

Education

Main articles: Education in Bihar and Literacy in Bihar

See also: List of educational institutions in Bihar

Bihar has a long history of learning, with ancient universities like Nalanda and Vikramashila. Many of these old centers were damaged long ago, but education grew again during British rule. Important libraries and schools were created, such as the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library, founded in 1891.

Today, Bihar has many schools and universities. Patna University, founded in 1917, is one of the older universities in India. The state now has top institutions, including IIT Patna, IIM Bodh Gaya, and AIIMS, Patna. These schools help students from all over India learn and grow.

Bihar keeps growing as a place for learning, with new schools opening and programs to help young people prepare for jobs. Many students from Bihar are ready for careers in engineering and other fields.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Bihar

Bihar has been home to many famous people over time. These people have done important work in areas like politics, books, and science. Learning about them helps us see the rich culture of Bihar.