The Indian State of Bihar is known as a poor and overpopulated region of Eastern India. The people are largely illiterate It is known for poor government. Yet this rather negative outlook is largely misleading. Bihar has a very long and illustrious history, and was at the very center of India’s struggle for Independence.
It is an area rich in history, deep in tradition, and almost unlimited in potential.
Bihar was known as Magadha in ancient times. It was the center of what was called the Mauryan empire. This empire dominated the Indian subcontinent from 325 BC to 185 BC. For the next one thousand years, Bihar was a center of power. It was also at the forefront of Indian culture, and an important center of education. Two very ancient Universities were located in Bihar, but both were totally destroyed by invaders during the Middle Ages.
As in other parts of India, religion has always played an important role in the life of Bihar.
It is known as the birth place of more than one religion. Buddha was in the town of Bodh Gava in the modern district of Gava Mahavira when he was said to have attained his Enlightenment. Another religion called Jainism also had its earliest origins in Bihar. Its founder, Mahavira, was born in Vaishali. Even the name Bihar itself has a religious meaning. Its origin is from the Sanskrit word, Vihara, which means Monasteries. It referred to the many “viharas” that at one time were to found all over the district. There is even a tradition that Buddha’s ashes were entombed in Bihar.
In the years since the Medieval period, Bihar has passed from hand to hand, as it was the time of foreign intervention in all of India. Bihar was involved in the wars and power struggles of this turbulent period. Sometimes its fortunes were on the rise, and other times on the wane.
The years of endless war and strife took a toll on the area. Foreign exploitation was largely responsible for the poor conditions in the region today.
Bihar played a major role in India’s struggle for Independence. Mahatma Gandhi came to Bihar on his return from South Africa, and started the freedom movement in the Champaran District of Bihar. He began what was called the satyagraha, a word for his form of non-violent confrontation. The first issue of this struggle was on behalf of local farmers who were being forced to plant indigo, which was profitable for the British rulers, but was very harmful to the soil, and was contributing to the poverty of the area.
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