History of modern Bihar after independence

The first Bihar governments in 1946 were led by two eminent leaders Sri Babu (Dr. Sri Krishna Sinha) and Anugrah Babu (Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha) who were men of unimpeachable Integrity and great public spirit.They ran an exemplary government in Bihar. After Independence of India, the power was shared by these two great Gandhian nationalists Dr. Sri Krishna Sinha who later became the first Chief Minister of Bihar and Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha who decidedly was next to him in the cabinet and served as the first Deputy Chief Minister cum Finance Minister of Bihar. Bihar was rated as the best administered among the states in the country at that time.In late 60’s death of central railway minister late Mr. Lalit Narayan Mishra (who was killed by a hand grenade attack for which central Leadership is blamed most of the time) pronounced the end of indigenous work oriented mass leaders. For two decades congress ruled the state with the help of puppet chief ministries hand in glove with the central government (Mrs. Indira Gandhi) ignoring the welfare of the people of the state. It was the time when a prominent leader like Satyendra Narayan Singh took sides with the Janata Party and deserted congress from where his political roots originated, following the ideological differences with the congress.

After independence also, when India was falling into an autocratic rule during the regime of Indira Gandhi, the main thrust to the movement to hold Elections came from Bihar under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan. In 1974, JP led the student’s movement in the state of Bihar which gradually developed into a popular people’s movement known as the Bihar Movement. It was during this movement that Narayan gave a call for peaceful Total Revolution together with V. M. Tarkunde, he founded the Citizens for Democracy in 1974 and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties in 1976, both NGOs, to uphold and defend civil liberties.On 23 January 1977, Indira Gandhi called fresh elections for March and released all political prisoners. Emergency officially ended on 23 March 1977.The Congress Party, suffered a defeat at the hands of the Janata Party coalition of several small parties created in 1977 and the alliance came to power, headed by Morarji Desai, who became the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India. In Bihar, the Janata Party won all the fifty-four Lok Sabha seats in 1977 general elections under the mentorship of Narayan and rose to power in Bihar assembly also. Karpoori Thakur became Chief Minister after winning a contest from the then Janata Party President Satyendra Narayan Sinha.

Bihar movement’s campaign warned Indians that the elections might be their last chance to choose between “democracy and Dictatorship.” This resulted in two things:

The identity of Bihar (from the word Vihar meaning monasteries) representing a glorious past was lost. Its voice often used to get lost in the din of regional clamour of other states, specially the linguistic states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh etc.
Bihar gained an anti-establishment image. The establishment-oriented press often projected the state as indiscipline and Anarchy.

Idealism did assert itself in the politics from time to time, viz, 1977 when a wave defeated the entrenched Congress Party and then again in 1989 when Janata Dal came to power on an anti Corruption wave. In between, the socialist movement tried to break the stranglehold of the status quoits under the leadership of Mahamaya Prasad Sinha and Karpoori Thakur. This could not flourish, partly due to the impractical idealism of these leaders and partly due to the machinations of the central leaders of the Congress Party who felt threatened by a large politically aware state. Communist Party in Bihar was formed in 1939. In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s the Communist movement in Bihar was a formidable force and represented the most enlightened section in Bihar. The movement was led by veteran communist leaders like Jagannath Sarkar, Sunil Mukherjee, Rahul Sankrityayan, Pandit Karyanand Sharma, Indradeep Sinha, and Chandrashekhar Singh. It was under the leadership of Sarkar that the Communist party fought “total revolution” led by Jayprakash Narayan, as the movement in its core was anti-democratic and challenged the very fabric of Indian democracy. Since the regional identity was slowly getting sidelined, its place was taken up by caste-based politics, power initially being in the hands of the Brahmins, Bhumihars and Rajputs.

Janata Dal came to power in the state in 1990 on the back of its victory at the national stage in 1989. Lalu Prasad Yadav became Chief Minister after winning the race of legislative party leadership by a slender margin against Ram Sundar Das, a former chief minister from the Janata Party and close to eminent Janata Party leaders like Chandrashekhar and S N Sinha. Later, Lalu Prasad Yadav gained popularity with the masses through a series of popular and populist measures. The principled socialists, Nitish Kumar included, gradually left him and Lalu Prasad Yadav was the uncrowned king by 1995 as both Chief Minister as well as the President of his party, Rashtriya Janata Dal. He was a charismatic leader who had people’s support and Bihar had got such a person as the chief minister after a long time. But he couldn’t bring the derailed wagon of development of the state on to the track. When corruption charges got serious, he quit the post of CM but anointed his wife as the CM and ruled through proxy. In this period, the administration deteriorated fast.

By 2004, 14 years after Lalu’s victory, The Economist magazine said that “Bihar [had] become a byword for the worst of India, of widespread and inescapable POVERTY, of corrupt politicians indistinguishable from mafia-dons they patronise, caste-ridden social order that has retained the worst feudal cruelties”. In 2005, the World Bank believed that issues faced by the state was “enormous” because of “persistent poverty, complex social stratification, unsatisfactory Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE and weak governance”. In 2005, as disaffection reached a crescendo among the masses, middle classes included, the RJD was voted out of power and Lalu Prasad Yadav lost an election to a coalition headed by his previous ally and now rival Nitish Kumar. Nitish Kumar has regained Bihar’s true identity, which is the place from where people who changed the world come like Gautam Buddha or Asoka or Sher Shah Suri or the Sikh Gurus. Despite the separation of financially richer Jharkhand, Bihar has actually seen more positive Growth in recent years. Currently, there are three main political formations: Janata Dal, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal led coalition which also has the Indian National Congress. There are myriad other political formations. Ram Vilas Paswan led Lok Janshakti Party is a constituent of the NDA at the centre, and does not see eye to eye with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD in Bihar. Bihar People’s Party is a small political formation in north Bihar. The Communist Party of India had a strong presence in Bihar at one time, but has got weakened now. CPM and Forward Bloc have minor presence. Ultra left parties like CPML, Party Unity etc. have presence in pockets and are at war with the state.,

Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the third-largest state in India by Population, after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The state is bordered by Nepal to the north, Uttar Pradesh to the west, Jharkhand to the south, and West Bengal to the east. The capital of Bihar is Patna.

Bihar was part of the ANCIENT KINGDOM of Magadha, which was one of the most powerful kingdoms in India during the time of the Buddha. The state was also home to the Nalanda University, which was one of the most prestigious universities in the world during the Middle Ages.

Bihar became a part of British India in the 18th century. After independence in 1947, Bihar became a state of the Indian Union.

The first two decades of independence were a time of great change and upheaval in Bihar. The state was still recovering from the Partition of India, and it was also dealing with the aftermath of the Bengal famine. In addition, Bihar was experiencing a period of political instability, as different parties vied for control of the state.

The period from 1967 to 1977 was a time of economic and social progress in Bihar. The state experienced rapid industrialization, and its agricultural sector also grew significantly. In addition, Bihar made progress in Education and healthcare. However, the period was also marked by political instability, as the Janata Party and the Congress Party alternated in power.

The period from 1977 to 1990 was a time of economic stagnation in Bihar. The state’s Industrial Sector declined, and its agricultural sector also suffered. In addition, Bihar experienced a rise in crime and violence. The period was also marked by political instability, as the Janata Party and the Congress Party continued to alternate in power.

The period from 1990 to 2005 was a time of economic recovery in Bihar. The state’s industrial sector began to grow again, and its agricultural sector also improved. In addition, Bihar made progress in education and healthcare. The period was also marked by political stability, as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party came to power and remained in power for most of the period.

The period from 2005 to the present has been a time of rapid Economic Development in Bihar. The state’s industrial sector has grown significantly, and its agricultural sector has also improved. In addition, Bihar has made progress in education and healthcare. The period has also been marked by political stability, as the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) party has been in power for most of the period.

Bihar is a state with a rich history and culture. The state is home to a number of important historical sites, including the Mahabodhi Temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bihar is also home to a number of important cultural festivals, including the Chhath Puja and the Durga puja.

Bihar is a state with a lot of potential. The state has a young population, and it is located in a strategic location. Bihar is also a state with a lot of natural Resources. With the right policies and investments, Bihar can become a prosperous state.

Here are some of the challenges that Bihar faces:

Poverty: Bihar is one of the poorest states in India. The state has a high rate of poverty, and many people live in slums.
Illiteracy: Bihar also has a high rate of illiteracy. The state has a low Literacy rate, and many people do not have access to education.
Crime: Bihar is also a state with a high crime rate. The state has a high rate of violent crime, and many people do not feel safe.
Corruption: Bihar is also a state with a high rate of corruption. The state has a poor record of governance, and many people feel that the government is not working in their interests.

Despite these challenges, Bihar is a state with a lot of potential. The state has a young population, and it is located in a strategic location. Bihar is also a state with a lot of Natural Resources. With the right policies and investments, Bihar can become a prosperous state.

Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the history of modern Bihar after independence:

What was the state of Bihar like before independence?
Bihar was a princely state before independence. It was ruled by the Maharaja of Darbhanga.
What happened to Bihar after independence?
Bihar became a part of the Indian Union in 1947. It was initially a part of the United Provinces, but it was separated from the United Provinces in 1950 and became a separate state.
Who was the first Chief Minister of Bihar?
Sri Krishna Sinha was the first Chief Minister of Bihar. He was elected in 1946 and served until 1961.
What were some of the major events that happened in Bihar after independence?
Some of the major events that happened in Bihar after independence include the following:
The partition of India in 1947 led to a large influx of refugees into Bihar.
The Bihar famine of 1966-67 killed an estimated 1 million people.
The Naxalite Movement began in Bihar in the 1960s.
The Mandal Commission report was implemented in Bihar in 1990.
The Patna floods of 2008 caused widespread damage and displacement.
What are some of the challenges that Bihar faces today?
Some of the challenges that Bihar faces today include the following:
Poverty
Illiteracy
Lack of infrastructure
Corruption
Naxalism
What are some of the opportunities that Bihar has for the future?
Some of the opportunities that Bihar has for the future include the following:
Its large population
Its rich natural resources
Its strategic location
Its young population
What is the future of Bihar?
The future of Bihar is uncertain. The state faces many challenges, but it also has many opportunities. It is up to the people of Bihar to decide what kind of future they want for their state.

Sure, here are some MCQs about the history of modern Bihar after independence:

Which of the following was not a major event in the history of modern Bihar after independence?
(A) The partition of India
(B) The formation of the state of Bihar
(C) The Naxalite movement
(D) The Mandal Commission report
Who was the first Chief Minister of Bihar after independence?
(A) Shri Krishna Sinha
(B) Bhola Paswan Shastri
(C) Jagannath Mishra
(D) Lalu Prasad Yadav
Which of the following is not a major river in Bihar?
(A) The Ganges
(B) The Brahmaputra
(C) The Son
(D) The Narmada
Which of the following is not a major language spoken in Bihar?
(A) Hindi
(B) Urdu
(C) Maithili
(D) Bengali
Which of the following is not a major city in Bihar?
(A) Patna
(B) Gaya
(C) Ranchi
(D) Kolkata
Which of the following is not a major agricultural product of Bihar?
(A) Rice
(B) Wheat
(C) Sugarcane
(D) Tea
Which of the following is not a major mineral resource of Bihar?
(A) Coal
(B) Iron Ore
(C) Mica
(D) Bauxite
Which of the following is not a major Industry in Bihar?
(A) Steel
(B) Cement
(C) Jute
(D) Automobiles
Which of the following is not a major educational institution in Bihar?
(A) Patna University
(B) Nalanda University
(C) Indian Institute of Technology Patna
(D) Jawaharlal Nehru University
Which of the following is not a major tourist attraction in Bihar?
(A) Mahabodhi Temple
(B) Rajgir
(C) Nalanda
(D) Bodh Gaya

I hope these MCQs are helpful!