Bihar
In 684 BCE, the Haryanka dynasty rose to power in Magadha from the city of Rajgriha. Two kings defined this era: Bimbisara and his son Ajatashatru. Ajatashatru imprisoned his father to seize the throne. He founded Pataliputra, which later became the capital of Magadha. This empire unified large parts of South Asia under a central rule. Another region, Mithila, was an early center of learning. The Videha Kingdom had Janakas as its rulers. Sita, daughter of one of these Janakas, married Rama according to the Ramayana epic by Valmiki. The Videha Kingdom eventually joined the Vajjika League with its capital at Vaishali. Vajji operated as a republic where the head of state was elected from the rajas. It existed before Gautama Buddha's birth in 563 BCE. This made it the first known republic in India.
Parshvanatha led the shramana order in this region during the 9th century BCE. Mahavira revived and reorganized Jainism in the 6th century BCE. Buddhism arose alongside the Maurya Empire from Magadha. Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire in 321 BCE after replacing the Nanda dynasty. Ashoka, born in Pataliputra, is considered among the most accomplished rulers in world history. The Gupta Empire originated in Magadha in 240 CE. Scholars call this period the Golden Age of India for science and philosophy. Buddhism declined due to invasions by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji. Many viharas were destroyed along with universities like Nalanda and Vikramashila. Some historians believe thousands of Buddhist monks were massacred during the 12th century. D.N. Jha suggests these incidents resulted from Buddhist-Brahmin skirmishes for supremacy. Philosophers like Kamalaśīla and Śāntarakşita studied at institutions between the 5th and 13th centuries.
The Battle of Buxar occurred in 1764. The British East India Company obtained diwani rights over Bihar, Bengal, and Odisha. Rich resources attracted foreign imperialists including the Dutch and British in the 18th century. Agriculture-based industries started by foreign entrepreneurs transformed the region. Farmers in Champaran revolted against indigo cultivation in 1914 at Pipra and 1916 at Turkaulia. Mahatma Gandhi visited Champaran in April 1917 after Raj Kumar Shukla drew his attention to peasant exploitation. The Champaran Satyagraha received support from nationalists like Rajendra Prasad and Anugrah Narayan Sinha. The Kisan Sabha began in 1929 under Swami Sahajanand Saraswati. It mobilized peasant grievances against zamindari attacks on occupancy rights. The movement culminated in forming the All India Kisan Sabha at Lucknow in April 1936. Decades following independence were full of violent conflicts between landless sections and landed elites. Landed castes used their influence to hinder redistribution programs. Unscrupulous tactics like absentee landlordism neutralized reforms architected by Krishna Ballabh Sahay.
Before 1990, politics was dominated by Forward Castes: Brahmin, Rajput, Bhumihar, and Kayastha. Numerous Other Backward Class groups received only token representation. Political scientist Sanjay Kumar notes upper castes deliberately subverted land reforms. The year 1989-90 saw implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations reserving 27% seats for backward classes. Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar took leading roles in this mobilization. By 1990, Koeri, Kurmi, and Yadav became new political elites. A caste troika consisting Kushwaha, Kurmi, and Yadav led anti-upper caste agitation. The tipping point came in the 1995 Bihar Legislative Assembly election. Forward Castes felt completely marginalized from then onwards. In 2004, The Economist magazine said Bihar had become a byword for widespread poverty. Issues included corrupt politicians indistinguishable from mafia-dons they patronize. Caste-based private armies called senas formed in response to naxalite violence. Ranvir Sena massacred Dalits in Laxmanpur Bathe. The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation controlled the struggle at upper echelons.
Nitish Kumar served as chief minister for 13 years between 2005 and 2020. His platform focused on economic development and reducing crime. Since 2010, the government confiscated properties of corrupt officials to build schools. They introduced the Bihar Special Court Act to curb crime. Alcohol sale was prohibited since March 2016. Public health shows gradual improvement despite lacking adequate facilities. Research indicates reliance on privatized hospitals creates high costs. Corruption is enabled by lack of continuity in health reporting. The state has only 50% of sub-health centers required by national standards. In 2024, health projects worth ₹850 crore were inaugurated. A ₹188 crore eye care facility opened during Nitish Kumar's ninth tenure. Transport infrastructure includes three operational airports as of 2020. Patna Metro with network length under construction as of 2022 faces delays due to land acquisition. The Gaya-Darbhanga Expressway will be Bihar's first expressway expected completed by 2024. BSRTC runs interstate buses with daily ridership around 100,000. Women-only Pink Bus services launched in 2025 across six cities.
Mithila painting traditionally practiced mainly by women passed down generation to generation. Famous painters include Smt Bharti Dayal and Mahasundari Devi. Scenes illustrate deities from ancient epics and religious plants like Tulsi. Bhojpuri painting flourished thousands of years ago primarily done on temple walls. Motifs included Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The Patna School of Painting flourished during early 18th to mid-20th centuries. It was an offshoot of the Mughal Miniature School of Painting. Artisans found refuge via Murshidabad in Patna during late 18th century. Ustad Bismillah Khan produced Hindustani classical music. Pandit Govardhan Mishra is perhaps the finest living exponent of Tappa singing. Kumar Shyamanand Singh of Banaili estate had such expertise that many great singers acknowledged his ability. Films entirely in Bhojpuri began in 1962 with Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo directed by Kundan Kumar. 1963's Lagi nahin chute ram became all-time hit with higher attendance than Mughal-e-Azam. In 2001, Saiyyan Hamar raised actor Ravi Kishan to prominence. The industry produces over one hundred films per year.
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Common questions
When did the Haryanka dynasty rise to power in Magadha?
The Haryanka dynasty rose to power in 684 BCE. This era was defined by two kings, Bimbisara and his son Ajatashatru.
What year did the Battle of Buxar occur in Bihar history?
The Battle of Buxar occurred in 1764. The British East India Company obtained diwani rights over Bihar, Bengal, and Odisha following this battle.
Who served as chief minister of Bihar between 2005 and 2020?
Nitish Kumar served as chief minister for 13 years between 2005 and 2020. His platform focused on economic development and reducing crime during this tenure.
Which year did alcohol sale become prohibited in Bihar state?
Alcohol sale was prohibited since March 2016. Public health shows gradual improvement despite lacking adequate facilities under this prohibition.
When did films entirely in Bhojpuri language begin production in Bihar?
Films entirely in Bhojpuri began in 1962 with Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo directed by Kundan Kumar. The industry produces over one hundred films per year today.