With the Battle of Buxar (1764 CE) and the grant of Diwani rights (1765 CE), Bihar, along with Bengal and Orissa, came under the administration of the English East India Company. This marked the beginning of British rule in Bihar, which continued until India’s independence in 1947.
Table of Contents
Early British Administration
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After 1765, the Company directly collected revenue from Bihar, making Patna an important administrative and commercial center.
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The Permanent Settlement of 1793, introduced by Lord Cornwallis, fixed land revenue and created the class of zamindars in Bihar, leading to the exploitation of peasants.
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Bihar became a supplier of raw materials such as indigo, opium, saltpetre, and textiles to serve British trade interests.
Economic Impact
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The commercialization of agriculture led to widespread indigo and opium cultivation, which was often forced on peasants.
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Famines struck Bihar repeatedly in the late 18th and 19th centuries due to exploitative policies.
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Artisans and weavers suffered due to competition with British machine-made goods.
Social and Cultural Developments
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Christian missionaries established schools and colleges in Bihar.
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Western education spread in the 19th century, with institutions like Patna College (1863) and later Patna University (1917) becoming centers of modern learning.
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The period also saw the rise of social reform movements and the revival of interest in Bihar’s ancient heritage, like Nalanda and Vikramshila Universities.
Revolt of 1857 in Bihar
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Bihar played an active role in the Revolt of 1857.
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Babu Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur, a zamindar of Bhojpur, became one of the most prominent leaders of the rebellion in Bihar.
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His guerrilla warfare against the British inspired future generations of freedom fighters.
Bihar in the National Movement
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Bihar became an important center of the Indian freedom struggle in the 20th century.
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Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, hailed from Bihar.
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Champaran Satyagraha (1917), led by Mahatma Gandhi, took place in Bihar, marking Gandhi’s first active participation in Indian politics. It protested against the forced indigo cultivation by British planters.
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Bihar also contributed significantly to the Quit India Movement (1942).
Separation from Bengal
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In 1912, Bihar and Orissa were separated from Bengal Presidency, and Patna was made the capital of the new province.
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Later in 1936, Bihar was made a separate province, with Orissa carved out as an independent entity.
Legacy
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Under British rule, Bihar faced economic exploitation, famines, and poverty, but also became a strong center for education, reform, and nationalism.
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Leaders from Bihar played a key role in shaping the destiny of modern India.
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The struggle against British exploitation in Bihar, from Kunwar Singh to Champaran Satyagraha, made it a cradle of resistance and freedom movement.