Bihar

Bihar is a state in Eastern India. It is the second largest state by population, and many of its people are young, with almost 58% of Biharis 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 a very important place. 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 hard 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 a stronger and more prosperous place.

Etymology

The name Bihar comes from an old word in Sanskrit and Pali called vihāra. This word means "abode" and was often used to describe 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 prominence 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, who imprisoned his father to ascend the throne. Ajatashatru founded the city of Pataliputra which later became the capital of Magadha. He declared war and conquered the Vajjika League. 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, who was born in Magadha. It had its capital at Pataliputra (modern Patna). Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, who was born in Pataliputra (Patna), 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. Some historians believe that thousands of Buddhist monks were affected during the 12th century. D. N. Jha suggests, instead, that these incidents were the result of Buddhist–Brahmin skirmishes in a fight for supremacy. After the rule of the Pala Empire, the Karnat dynasty came into power in the Mithila region in the 11th century and they were succeeded by the Oiniwar dynasty in the 14th century. Aside from Mithila, there were other small kingdoms in medieval Bihar. The area around Bodh Gaya and much of Magadha came under the Buddhist Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya. The Khayaravala dynasty were present in the southwestern portions of the state until the 13th century.

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 and unfair attitudes in many parts of India, such as Maharashtra, Punjab, and Assam.

Decades following the independence in 1947 were full of conflicts between poor people and rich landowners who controlled the government at various level. This was an outcome of the failed land reform drive and improper implementation of the land ceiling laws that were passed by Indian National Congress government in the 1950s. Landowners like Rajput and Bhumihar became suspicious of the land reforms and used their influence in government to hinder the efforts of the land redistribution programme, which may have alleviated the huge caste based income inequalities. Unscrupulous tactics such as absentee landlordism neutralised the reforms which was architected by Krishna Ballabh Sahay.

In the Zamindari areas of Bihar, such as Bhojpur district, the Dalits were also subjected to frequent unfair treatment and practice of begar existed. This led to first spark of mass scale struggles to grew up in the plains of Bhojpur. This struggle was led initially by Master Jagdish Mahto, a school teacher turned activist. Soon, the struggle spread into other parts of Bihar, where the landowners and agricultural labourers locked horns against each other. Between 1950 and 2000, several conflicts took place. In Bihar, unlike the other parts of India, the conflicts took the form of caste conflict as the landowners belonged primarily to Forward Castes and a section of Upper Backward Castes, on the other hand, the poor were the people belonging to Schedule Castes and a section of Other Backward Castes. Formation of caste based groups called senas took place in response to violent activities of the activists. One of the most active groups of the landowners was Ranvir Sena, which was involved in conflicts of poor people in Laxmanpur Bathe. The poor people's struggle against these groups was led by Indian People's Front and its successor Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, which was controlled at the upper echelon by the middle peasant castes such as the Koeris and Yadavs, with poor people and Extremely Backward Castes forming its mass support base and activists.

Meanwhile, the 1960s saw the rise of political instability in the state with dwindling power of Indian National Congress and rise of parties like Samyukta Socialist Party. The leaders belonging to Backward Castes became vocal for their political rights. The toppling of Mahamaya Prasad Sinha government by Jagdeo Prasad hastened the end of dominance of Forward Caste backed Indian National Congress in the state.

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 that covers an area of 94,163 km² (36,357 sq mi). It borders Nepal to the north, Jharkhand to the south, West Bengal to the east, and Uttar Pradesh to the west. The land can be divided into three main parts: the Southern Plateau, the Shivalik Region, and Bihar's Gangetic Plain. The Ganges River flows through the state and often causes flooding.

Bihar has many forests and wildlife. Valmiki National Park is home to many tigers and other animals. The Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary is a special place for birds. The state also has important 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 types of plants and animals. Forests cover part of the state, with trees like Sal and Khair. Valmiki National Park is a home for tigers and many other animals. The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary protects special river dolphins. Other animals in Bihar include leopards, bears, and different kinds of deer. There are also crocodiles and turtles in the rivers.

Natural resource

Bihar holds a large amount of the country’s pyrite reserves and has a lot of gold. In May 2022, a gold mine was found in Jamui, which contains 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 most crowded states, with lots of people living in a small area. In 2023, most people in Bihar followed Hinduism, while many others followed Islam. The state also has 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 speak other languages like 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 governed by a Governor, who is appointed by the President of India. The Chief Minister and cabinet ministers make important decisions for the state. The political party or group with the most seats in the Bihar Legislative Assembly forms the government.

Bihar is divided into nine areas and 38 districts. Each district has a leader called a District Magistrate. There are also special leaders for police and for managing towns and villages. The state has a high court in Patna, which has been there since 1916. All 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

The politics of Bihar have been shaped by groups of people and their roles in society. Some important groups include Yadav, Koeri, Kurmi, Rajput, Bhumihar, and Brahmin. For many years, certain groups had more power than others.

In 1989–90, a change happened when 27% of government jobs and school places were set aside for members of groups that had less power before. This helped these groups become more active in politics. Leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar played big roles 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 made the old powerful groups lose their main role in Bihar's politics.

Since 2005, Nitish Kumar has worked as chief minister for many years. He focused on improving the economy, reducing crime and unfairness, and creating more fairness for everyone. His government took actions against corrupt leaders and made changes to help workers and schools. They also made rules to stop the sale of certain drinks and to help people have better working conditions.

Public health

Bihar has weaker health services compared to 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 struggles to use these funds well.

Many people in Bihar rely on private hospitals because public hospitals do not have enough staff. There are fewer doctors, nurses, and other health workers in Bihar than in other states like Kerala. The state also has fewer public hospital beds and health centers than needed. However, Bihar has been making slow progress in improving health for women and reducing deaths of babies and mothers.

Economy

Langra mango from a farm in Shivnarayanpur, Bhagalpur, Bihar

Bihar grows a lot of 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 the fourth-largest maker of vegetables and the eighth-largest maker of 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

BPainting in Bihar

Left  : Madhubani Painting, Right : Patna Qualam
Tikuli Painting and Manjusha Painting are two other form of Painting in Bihar

Bihar has many traditional painting styles. One is Mithila painting, from the Mithila region. It was mainly done by women and passed down through families. People used to paint on walls during special events like festivals and weddings. They also painted on cloth and paper. Famous artists include Smt Bharti Dayal, Mahasundari Devi, Ganga Devi, and Sita Devi.

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

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

The Patna School of Painting started in the 1700s. Artists used watercolours on paper and mica. They painted scenes from daily life and ceremonies.

Performing arts

See also: Music of Bihar

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

Gaya is known for classical music styles like Tappa and Thumri.

During the 1800s, many people from Bihar moved to places like the West Indies, Fiji, and Mauritius. They brought with them songs and plays called birha, which are still popular today.

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of Bihar

See also: Bhojpuri Film Industry and List of Bhojpuri films

Bihar has a strong film industry making movies in Bhojpuri and other languages. 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 very popular. Movies like Mai ("Mom", 1989) and Hamar Bhauji ("My Brother's Wife", 1983) 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 for the best Maithili film.

Mass media

Main article: Media in Bihar

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

Urdu has a long history in Bihar, with many poets and newspapers.

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 called pandals and worship the goddess Durga for ten days. On the last day, they carry the statues through the streets and then put them in the water.

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. These festivals show the rich culture of Bihar.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Bihar

Bihar is a popular place for visitors from all over the world. In 2019, about 33 million people, including more than 1 million from other countries, came to see its many 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, once an old capital city, now offers modern attractions like a sky walk bridge and a zoo where visitors can see animals up close. 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, making it a special destination for people of these faiths.

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, with seasonal flights to Thailand, Bhutan, and Myanmar. 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, which covers many cities and towns. Major stations include Patna, Ara, Buxar, Gaya, and Bhagalpur. There are also plans for new roads and highways, including an expressway between Gaya and Darbhanga.

Patna will soon have a metro system, though it is still being built. The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation runs many buses, including special services for women. 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 rich history of learning, with ancient universities like Nalanda and Vikramashila established many years ago. Many of these old centers of learning were damaged long ago, but education in Bihar grew again during the time of British rule. Important libraries and schools were created, such as the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library, founded in 1891.

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

Bihar continues to grow as a place for learning, with new schools opening and programs to help young people gain useful skills for jobs. Many students from Bihar are well-prepared for careers in engineering and other fields.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Bihar

Bihar has been home to many famous people throughout history. These individuals have made important contributions in various fields such as politics, literature, and science. Learning about these notable figures can help us understand the rich cultural heritage of Bihar.