History Of Bihar: BPSC Notes

The Union Public Service Commission’s exam format is being used as a model by many state commissions for their syllabi and/or exams. As a result, candidates who intend to sit for the Bihar Public Service Commission exam should coordinate their BPSC preparation with their UPSC IAS Exam preparation. The main difference between studying for the UPSC exam and the BPSC exam is that in the latter, applicants must become aware of the state of Bihar, including its history, geography, politics, and current affairs.

Similar to the IAS exam, which is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the BPSC exam comprises three stages: Prelims, Mains and Interview. In this article, we have given in detail the History of Bihar: Ancient, Medieval and Modern to help the candidates prepare for their exams. Learn more about the BPSC Exam in detail, by visiting the linked article.

BPSC Notes- History Of Bihar-Download PDF Here

Bihar: From Ancient to Modern History

Bihar has the most enriching history and has its roots in the Vedas, Puranas, Epics etc. The word “Bihar” comes from the word “Viharas,” which refers to a Buddhist monk’s resting place. However, it was Muslim rulers who first began referring to the state as “Bihar” in the 12th century. The state is located on the banks of the Ganges river, and Patna is its capital. The state comprises three distinct regions, the Magadh, Mithila and Bhojpur, where each region has its own distinct history and culture. 

Bihar was the centre of many influential kingdoms and was the main centre of learning for thousands of years. The rise of Magadh marks the beginning of the history of ancient Bihar, which lasted until the middle of the eighth century. In Indian history, Bihar, the land of Buddha, has seen its share of splendour. It is the nation that gave rise to the first republic in history and the first democracy. 

The foreign invasion and dynasty that tarnished Bihar’s reputation are remembered in the medieval history of the state. Cotton, textiles, saltpetre, and indigo are all produced in abundance in Bihar. Due to the availability of such valuable resources, Europeans utilised India’s trade routes to their fullest advantage from ancient to medieval times.

Given below we have discussed all important aspects of the Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of Bihar for the convenience of the aspirants.

Aspirants preparing for the BPSC Exam must visit the following articles to know the exam details:

Ancient History of Bihar

Bihar’s history is one of the most diverse in all of India. There are three main regions that make up Bihar, and each has a unique history and culture. The early days of human civilisation and the introduction of the first Sanatana Dharma stories are both included in Bihar’s ancient history. It served as the administrative capital of a strong kingdom and served as a major cultural hub for a very long time under the protection of strong kingdoms.

Here, we provide the comprehensive study material for “Ancient Bihar History,” which will make it easier for candidates to succeed in competitive exams like the BPSC and other state-level tests.

Stone Age Sites

• Palaeolithic sites have been discovered in Munger and Nalanda. 
• Santhal Pargana, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, and Singhbhum all have Mesolithic sites (all in Jharkhand).
• 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, Chechar, and Vaishali (Gaya).

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. These sixteen Mahajanapadas are very important for all competitive exams. 

Three Mahajanapadas were in Bihar namely Magadha, Anga and Vajji. These are

Read in detail about the 16 Mahajanapadas in the linked article.

The three Mahajanapadas in Bihar are discussed below:

• Anga Kingdom: 

• It was established by King Mahagovind.

• It was mentioned for the first time in Atharvaveda.

• • • It was located in the Magadha Empire’s northeast.

• It included Munger, Bhagalpur, and Khagaria as they are today.

• Champa (in present-day Bhagalpur) was the capital.

• Hiuen Tsang also gave it the names Chenanpo and Malini.

• • Magadha Kingdom:
    • It is mentioned for the first time in Atharvaveda. 
    • It played an important role in the development of Buddhism and Jainism.
    • It stretched from the Ganga in the north to Vindhyas in the south, from Champa in the east to the river Sone in the west.
    • Its capital, Girivraja or Rajgir, was encircled by five hills on all sides.
    • Later, Patliputra became the new capital.
    • Magadha saw the rise of the Maurya and Gupta empires, two of India’s biggest dynasties.
    • Koshal, Vatsa, and Avanti were all part of the Magadha Kingdom.

• Vajji Kingdom:

• • • The Vajji Kingdom consisted of eight clans. 
    • It was located in the northern part of India.
    • The three major clans within the kingdom were Jnatrika, Videha, and Licchavi.
    • Vaishali served as Vajji’s capital city.
    • It was regarded as the world’s first republic.

• Videha Clan:

• • • The first text to make mention of it is Yajurveda. 
    • This kingdom’s capital was Janakpur, which is currently located in Nepal.
    • Nimi Videh, the son of Ishkavaku, started the kingdom.
    • Mithila was found by Mithijanak Videh.
    • Goddess Sita, daughter of King Janak, belonged to this clan.

• Licchavi Clan

• • • It was the Vajji confederacy’s most powerful clan. Vaishali served as its capital.
    • It was located on the Northern Banks of the Ganga and in Nepal.
    • Lord Mahavira was born in Vaishali’s Kundagram. His mother was a Licchavi princess (sister of King Chetak).
    • Ajatshatru of the Haryanka dynasty eventually integrated them into the Magadha Empire.

• Jnatrika Clan:

• • This clan was the home of Lord Mahavira. His father was the head of this clan.

While reading these topics, aspirants can practise past year history prelims and mains questions from the following links. Although these are more relevant to the aspirants of the IAS exam, candidates preparing for BPSC will find these resources equally useful:

• History questions from UPSC Mains GS 1 from 2013 to 2019.
• Ancient History Questions in UPSC Prelims [2013-2020]

Pre-Mauryan Dynasties under the Magadha Empire

• Dynasty of Brihadratha:

• • • The first known ruler of Magadha was Brihadrath. He was the eldest son of Vasu, Kuru King of Chedi.
    • Under Jarasandh, the capital was called Girivraja (Rajgir).
    • In the Rigveda, his name is mentioned.
    • Brihadrath’s son Jarasandha was the most popular king.
    • The Brihadratha dynasty in Magadha was succeeded by the Pradyota dynasty.

• Dynasty of Haryanka

• • • The Haryanka Dynasty lasted from 544 to 492 B.C.  The famous rulers of this dynasty are:

• Bimbisara:

• • • • 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.
      • He enlarged his empire by forming matrimonial alliances, such as with Kosala.
      • Additionally, he sent the royal doctor Jivaka to Ujjain to treat Chanda Pradyota, the king of Avanti, and his old rival who subsequently became a friend.

• Ajatshatru:

• • • • Ajatshatru was the son of Bimbisara. In order to succeed his father Bimbisara as ruler, Ajatshatru assassinated him.
      • 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.

• Udayin:

• • • • In order to succeed Ajatshatru as ruler,  his son Udayin also assassinated him.
      • At the confluence of the Ganga and Sone rivers, he established the city of Patliputra, which became his capital.

• Dynasty of Shishunaga 

• • • Shishunaga dynasty lasted from 412 B.C. to 344 B.C. The famous rulers of this dynasty are
    • Shishunaga:
      • Shishunga was the founder of the Shishunaga dynasty. He served as viceroy of Banaras.
      • Rajgir and Vaishali served as the two capitals of Magadha during the time.
      • The 100-year rivalry was ultimately put an end to by him as he finally defeated the Avanti resistance.

• Kalasoka:

• • • • Patliputra remained the capital of the Magadha Empire after it was relocated by Kalasoka as his capital there.
      • Under his patronage, 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.
  • After killing the final Shishunaga emperor Nandivardhana, Mahapadmananda founded the Nanda dynasty.
  • He was also referred to as Mahapadmapati, the sovereign of an infinite host or of enormous wealth.
  • He was known as Ugrasen in Mahabodhivamsa.
  • The dynasty’s last monarch, Dhana Nanda, was the contemporary Alexander.

Related Links: 

Jainism in Bihar

• Jainism came into existence with the advent of Vardhman Mahavira.  
• As per the Jain scripture, he was the 24th Trithankara. 
• He left his home at the age of 30 in quest of redemption, and while doing so, he embraced the ascetic lifestyle of a sect known as the “Nirgranthas.” 
• There were 14 “Purvas,” or primary texts, of the Jaina faith.
• The three principles of Jainism are given below:
  • The five concepts of Satya, Ahimsa, Aparigraha, Asteya, and Brahamacharya are the foundation of the doctrine.
  • Salvation could be attained by the rigours of penance and the practise of triratnas.
  • According to Jainism’s Nayavada, as reality can be viewed from several angles, knowledge is necessarily relative.
• The list of 24 Jain Tirthankaras is given below: 

For more details on Jainism, aspirants must visit the page in the attached link.

Buddhism in Bihar

• Bihar is the birthplace of Buddhism because it is the place where the divine light of enlightenment was showered on Gautama Buddha. 
• In this place, the Buddha acquired enlightenment, preached his first sermon, known as the “Dharma Chakra Pravartana,” and declared his “Parinirvana.”
• The four noble truths of Buddhism are:
  • Life is full of misery: Sarvam Dukkham.
  • Desire is the cause of rebirth and misery: Dukha Smundra.
  • Misery and rebirth can be ended by conquering desire: Dukha Nirodha 
  • Gamini pratipad Nirvana or salvation could be attained i.e man will be free from the circle of birth and death by following the Eightfold Path: Astangika Marg
• The fourth Buddhist Council saw the completion of the Tripitaka, which was written in Pali. The Buddhist Literature are given below:
  • Abhidhamma Pitaka: It contains the meta-physics of Buddha. i.e. Religious Discourse
  • Sutta Pitaka: It is a collection of short sermons of Buddha which is further divided into 5 Nikayas.
  • Millindapanho: It contains the conversational dialogues between the Greek King Menander and the Buddhist saint Nagasena.
  • Vinaya Pitaka: It contains the rules and regulations of monks and nuns.
  • Jatakas: It is a collection of short stories related to the previous birth of Buddha.
• The eight-fold path followed by Buddhists is given below:
  • Samma-Kammanta — Integral Action
  • Samma-Ajiva — Proper Livelihood
  • Samma-Ditthi — Complete or Perfect Vision
  • Samma-Sankappa — Perfected Emotion or Aspiration
  • Samma-Vaca — Perfected or whole Speech
  • Samma-Sati — Complete or Thorough Awareness
  • Samma-Samadhi — Full, Integral or Holistic Samadhi
  • Samma-Vayama — Complete or Full Effort, Energy or Vitality

For more details about the Buddhism candidates must refer to the linked article. 

Mauryan Dynasty 

The Mauryan dynasty lasted from 321 B.C. to 184 B.C. The famous rulers of this dynasty are given below:

• • Chandragupta Maurya: 
    • The dynasty was founded by Chandragupta Maurya with the help of his mentor Chanakya also called Kautilya or Vishnugupta.
    • He belonged to the Moriya Kshatriya clan in accordance with Buddhist tradition.
    • Indica is a work by Megasthenesess that details Mauryan rule. 
    • It is regarded as the most comprehensive treatise ever created on economics, politics, foreign policy, administration, the military, and warfare, according to Chanakya.
    • According to details mentioned in the Indica, there were four governors overseeing separate provinces throughout the empire. A council of 30 people, made up of 6 committees of 5 people each, was in charge of the Mauryan government in Patliputra.
    • In Megastheneses’s Indica, Patliputra is referred to as Palibothra.

• Bindusara:

• • • He was also known by the names Amitrochates and Seemseri in Jain texts like the Rajvalli Katha and Mudrasar in the Vayu Purana.
    • Deimachus – Syrian ambassador sent by king Antiochus.
    • Dionysius – sent by Ptolemy II of Egypt

• Ashoka:

• • King Ashoka is the most famous ruler of the Mauryan empire.
  • He is known to come to power after murdering 99 of his brothers and only sparing one.
  • Ashoka is identified as the ruler of Magadha in the Bhabru inscription.
  • Major Edict XIII makes reference to the Kalinga War, which took place in 261 B.C.
  • Following the Kalinga War, Ashoka converted to Buddhism under the guidance of the monk Upagupta. 
  • In Patliputra, Ashoka called the Third Buddhist Council in 250 B.C., with Tissa serving as the president.

Read in detail about these topics by visiting the following links:

Sunga Dynasty

• The Chief Military Officer of the Mauryan Empire was Pushyamitra Sunga.
• The last Mauryan emperor was overthrown by him. 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 main character in Kalidasa’s play was Agnimitra, Pushyamitra’s son.

Gupta Dynasty

• The Gupta dynasty was started by Sri Gupta.
• Power was centralised under the Mauryas, whereas it was decentralised during the Guptas, which was the most notable distinction in their systems of government.
• Provinces made up the Empire, and districts were further subdivided within each province. The smallest units were villages.
• Due to the significant advancements made in many fields during the Gupta era, India was considered to be in its Golden Age. These advancements are: 
  • Aryabhatta stated that the earth moves around the sun and rotates on its own axis.
  • Varahamihira, a composition of Pancha Siddhanta and Brihat Samhita, is his most well-known work.
  • Famous plays by Sudraka like Mrichakatika, Vatsyasana’s Nyaya Sutra Bhashya and Kamasutra, Vishakhadatta’s Mudrarakṣhasa, as well as Kalidasa’s Abhijnanashakuntala, Vikramorvashi, Kumarasambhava were written during this time.

Some famous rulers of the Gupta Dynasty are given below:

• Chandragupta I:

• • • Chandragupta I was the son of Ghatotkacha (son of Sri Gupta).
    • The title “Maharajadhiraja” was first used by him as a king.
    • He was married to the Licchavi princess, Kumaradevi. 
    • As a way of commemorating this occasion, gold coins were issued.
    • Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Bengal were all parts of his kingdom.
  • Samudragupta:
    • An inscription by Harisen in Prayag was dedicated to Samudragupta. 
    • The inscription is written in the Sanskrit language and was discovered by A Tryer.
    • Due to his patronising approach toward the arts, he was also known as Kaviraj.
    • He permitted Megavarnan, the king of Sri Lanka, to build a monastery at Bodh Gaya.

• Chandragupta II – Vikramaditya:

• • • Vikramaditya grew his empire through friendly ties and matrimonial alliances.
    • He also killed his brother and married his widow.
    • A Chinese traveller named Fa-Hien visited during his rule.
    • He came up with the formation of Navratnas in his court. These were:
      • Vararuchi
      • Panaka
      • Varahamihira
      • Dhanwantari
      • Ghatakarpara
      • Kalidas
      • Shanku
      • Amarasimha
      • Vetalbhatta

• Kumaragupta:

• • • He also went by the name Mahendraditya.
    • He established Nalanda University, which developed into a hub of learning.

• Skandagupta:

• • He was the last of the great kings, and after him, the empire started to fall apart.
  • The Sudarshana Lake was restored thanks to his administration, according to the Junagarh Inscription. It was originally constructed by the Mauryas.
  • The Gupta dynasty’s final monarch was Vishnugupta.

Pala Dynasty

• The dynasty’s first ruler was Gopala. He was chosen democratically.
• Gopala founded the Buddhist Mahavihara of Odantipur, which is currently located in Bihar Sharif.
• After taking control of Kannauj, Dharmapala assumed the name Uttarapatha Swamin (“Lord of the North”).
• Dharmapala founded Vikramshila University in Bhagalpur.
• They were adherents of both the tantric and the Mahayana schools of Buddhism.
• They also built numerous temples, with Konark’s Sun Temple being the most notable.

Related Links:

Medieval History of Bihar

• • During the Gupta Period, which began in the middle of the 7th or 8th century A.D., Bihar enjoyed a great history that lasted until nearly all of northern India was conquered by invaders from the middle east. 
  • At that point, the Gupta dynasty also perished. 
  • The medieval History of Bihar is commemorated by the foreign invasion and dynasty that ruined the glory of Bihar.
  • In medieval times Bihar lost its prestige as the political and cultural centre of India. 
  • The Mughal period was a period of unremarkable provincial administration from Delhi. 
  • The only remarkable person of these times in Bihar was Sher Shah, or Sher Khan Sur, an Afghan.

• Bakhtiyar Khilji:

• • • He was one of Qutubuddin Aibak’s generals.
    • Many monasteries and viharas were demolished by him.
    • Bakhtiyarpur was also established by him.
    • He died in Bihar and his mausoleum is also built-in Bihar Sharif.
    • The majority of Bihar was governed by Turks while the Slave dynasty was in power. Thus, there was constant combat to regain authority.
    • The rulers of Lakhnauti and Tirhut waged strong opposition.
    • Throughout the Tughlaqs’ control in Bihar, the Noohani Dynasty grew to be a significant one.
    • The Jagdishpur fair was started by Fulchand, a monarch of the Chera Dynasty.

Sur Dynasty

During the Middle Ages, it was the most significant dynasty in Bihar. During Sher Shah Suri’s administration, Bihar had a time of greatness.

• Sher Shah: 
  • Sher Shah Suri’s reign was a time of greatness for Bihar.
  • Sher Shah defeated Humayun twice: once at Chausa in 1539 AD and then again at Kannauj (in the present state of Uttar Pradesh or U.P.), claiming the title of Sultan-e-Adil in the process.
  • Sher Shah established control over a realm through conquest that once more reached as far as the Punjab.
  • He was renowned for being both a fierce warrior and a great administrator, following in the footsteps of Ashok and the Gupta kings. 
  • He had a very efficient administration. His revenue model was later adopted by Akbar.
  • He is credited with a number of land reform initiatives. 
  • Today’s Sasaram (Sher Shah’s maqbara) contains the remnants of a massive mausoleum he constructed for himself. 
  • He also built the current Grand Trunk highway.

• Later, Akbar expanded his kingdom by annexing Bengal and Bihar. The first Mughal emperor sworn in at Patna was Farrukhsiyar. As the Mughals fell from power, the Nawabs of Bengal came to rule over Bihar. Patna was rebuilt and named Azimabad by subedar Azim-ush-shan who was the grandson of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Azim.
• Following the Battle of Buxar, the British effectively took over control of Bihar.

For more details on Early Medieval India, aspirants must visit the attached link. It would help them prepare for the exam better.

Modern History of Bihar

Bihar was ruled from Calcutta for the majority of the British Empire when it was a part of the Bengal Presidency. As a result, the Bengali population dominated this region to a great extent. The state is located in one of India’s most fertile regions, which the Ganga river drains. The manufacture of cotton, textiles, saltpetre, and indigo is well known in Bihar. Due to the availability of such valuable resources, Europeans leveraged India’s trade routes to their fullest advantage from the ancient to the medieval period.

The following topics in the modern history of Bihar will be useful for the aspirants preparing for the BPSC examination.

Arrival of Europeans

• Portuguese:
  • The first Europeans to arrive in Bihar were Portuguese.
  • They traded primarily in spices for textiles, particularly in areas where cotton is produced.
  • The Portuguese built their first factory in the area of Hooghly in 1579-1580 after receiving permission from Emperor Akbar through Portuguese commander Pedro Tavares.
  • The first Christian church in Bengal, popularly known as the “Bandel Church,” was built in Bandel by Portuguese traders in 1599.
• British:
  • After the Portuguese, the second Europeans to enter Bihar were English.
  • 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..

Battle of Buxar

• The joint force of the Mughals led by Shah Alam II, Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, and Shuja-Ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Awadh, was defeated by the British under Hector Munro in the battle of Buxar on 22nd October 1764.
• After the battle was over there were two different Treaties signed in Allahabad.
  • on August 12th, 1765, with the Mughals
  • on August 16th, 1765, with the Nawab of Awadh.
• According to the treaties signed:
  • The Nawab of Awadh made large payments and even ceded some of his lands.
  • The Mughals and the Nawab of Bengal effectively lost control of the Bengal province, which includes modern-day West Bengal, Bangladesh, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand.
  • The Company obtained Diwani Rights, or the right to collect taxes, in these provinces.

To read in detail about the Battle of Buxar, aspirants can visit the linked article.

Administration of Bihar by the Company

• 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.
• Several changes to the British governmental structure occurred after 1905: Delhi became the capital of British India (resulting due to Delhi Durbar of 1911 which was attained by King George V).
• Bihar was constituted on March 22nd, 1912. Patna was made the capital city of the new province and expanded westward to accommodate the administrative centre. For instance, Bankpore Township developed along Bailey Road.
• Many educational institutions were established in Bihar under the British government:
  • Patna Veterinary College
  • Patna Science College
  • Patna College
  • Prince of Wales Medical College
  • Bihar College of Engineering

Bihar and Bengal Famine: 1770 and 1783

• 30 million people were impacted by the Bengal Famine of 1770, which occurred in Bengal and Bihar between 1769 and 1770.
• The famine occurred during a period of dual governance in Bengal.
• The misery of the local farmers and others was entirely disregarded as the company was just concerned with increasing income and profits for itself.
• The primary causes of the famine were believed to be crop failures in the autumn of 1768 and the summer of 1769, together with an epidemic of smallpox. 
• Due to a lack of trained administrators, the Company outsourced tax collection, and the prevailing level of uncertainty may have exacerbated the effects of the famine.
• It was estimated that between seven and ten million people or between a quarter and a third of the population died.
• According to estimates, a third of the total amount of cultivation was lost.
• When famine struck once more in 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.

Aspirants can read about the Famine of 1770 in detail, by visiting the page in the linked article.

Permanent Settlement of Zamindari System in Bihar:

• 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. 
• Zamindars were free to fix the rent and exploit the tenants. This led to widespread discontent among the tenants.
• Due to increasing dissatisfaction among the tenants with zamindars, the Bengal Tenancy Act was introduced in 1885 to define the rights of tenants.

Read in detail about the Permanent Settlement in detail in the linked article.

Revolt of 1857 in Bihar:

• 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. On July 1, 1857, he successfully took control of Arrah. Later, he and Nana Saheb defeated British forces in Azamgarh.
• On July 25, 1857, the Danapur Cantt uprising signalled the start of a general uprising in Bihar, but the Maharajas of Darbhanga, Dumrao, and Hatwa and their fellow landowners provided the British with the manpower and resources they needed to put an end to the uprising.

Read in detail about the Revolt of 1857 in the linked article.

Freedom Fighters of Bihar

The state of Bihar has contributed as much to the Indian freedom struggle. Various freedom fighters were from Bihar. Both Prafulla Chaki and Upendra Narayan Jha, also known as “Azad,” were active Bihar revolutionaries. A few other were:

• Swami Shahjanand Saraswati
• Shaheed Baikuntha Shukla
• Biahr Bibhuti Anurag Narayan Singh
• Maulana Mazhar-Ul-Haq
• Loknayak Jaiparakash Narayan
• Bhadra Yajee, Pandit Yamuna Karjee
• Dr. Maghfoor Ahmed Ajazi 

To learn more about the Important Indian Freedom Fighters and their contributions, visit the linked article.

Freedom Movements in Bihar

Bihar was one of the actively involved states in the uprisings and movements of the anti-British liberation fights. Some of the important movements are given below in the table:

Candidates preparing for the State service commission or UPSC must visit the following links in order to prepare History:

• Ancient History Notes for UPSC
• Medieval History Notes for UPSC
• Modern History Notes

Conclusion

Bihar is proud of the resources that time has bestowed upon it because of its geographic location, natural beauty, mythological significance, and historical significance. In addition, it has no rivals for its moral contributions to the arts, literature, religion, and spiritualism; even today, people still tell stories about this region that are hundreds of years old. The state is the same kingdom that formerly ruled both the nation and its neighbouring nations. Bihar was the “Karmabhumi” of Buddha and Mahavir, as well as the many other great leaders who have lived here. Thus, Bihar has a rich history and all aspirants must study all to perform better in the exam.

BPSC Notes- History Of Bihar-Download PDF Here

Aspirants can also read important topics related to the Indian Freedom Struggle linked below: