Complete History Notes on Bihar’s Role in Indian national Movement available for BPSC and for other Competitive Exams aspirants in 2025
History of Bihar-16
Here is a detailed explanation of Bihar’s role in the major phases of the Indian National Movement: the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22), the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34), and the Quit India Movement (1942) — tailored for BPSC preparation with key events, leaders, districts, and outcomes.
Bihar’s Role in Indian National Movement
I. Bihar in the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922)
Background
- Launched by Mahatma Gandhi in response to:
- Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919)
- Khilafat issue
- Rowlatt Act
- Marked the first mass participation of Indians in a national political movement.
Role of Bihar
| Aspect | Details |
| Mass Participation | Thousands of students left schools; people boycotted courts and British goods. |
| Educational Impact | Establishment of National Schools like the Bihar Vidyapeeth (founded by Rajendra Prasad in Patna, 1921). |
| Protest Movements | Protests held in Patna, Muzaffarpur, Champaran, Gaya, and other districts. |
| Champaran Legacy | Gandhi’s success in the Champaran Satyagraha (1917) helped mobilize peasants. |
| Key Leaders | Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Mazharul Haque, Shafi Daudi, Srikrishna Sinha, and Jaglal Choudhary. |
End of the Movement
- Following the Chauri Chaura incident (Feb 1922), Gandhi suspended the movement.
- In Bihar, though disappointed, leaders respected Gandhi’s call and resumed constructive work.
II. Bihar in the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1934)
Background
- Launched by Gandhi in March 1930 with the Dandi Salt March.
- Demanded Purna Swaraj (complete independence) as declared in the Lahore Session (1929).
Role of Bihar
| Aspect | Details |
| Salt Satyagraha | Organized salt protests in Bettiah (Champaran), Patna, and Gaya. |
| Peasant Participation | Strong in Shahabad, Champaran, Gaya, and Monghyr; peasants refused to pay taxes. |
| Student Movements | Massive student support in Patna University, Gaya College, and rural areas. |
| No-tax campaigns | Peasants joined No-rent and no-revenue campaigns, especially in north Bihar. |
| Arrests and Repression | Mass arrests of leaders like Rajendra Prasad, Shafi Daudi, and K.B. Sahay. |
| Emerging Leaders | Jayaprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia became active in the 1930s. |
1934 Earthquake and Civil Work
- In 1934, Bihar was devastated by a massive earthquake.
- Gandhi visited Bihar for relief work, which boosted Congress’s moral authority and social reach.
III. Bihar in the Quit India Movement (1942)
Background
- Launched on 8 August 1942 by the All India Congress Committee at Bombay.
- Gandhi’s call of “Do or Die” resonated strongly in Bihar.
Bihar’s Prominent Role
| Aspect | Details |
| Widespread Revolt | Bihar witnessed violent uprisings, sabotage of communication lines, attacks on police stations, and symbolic declaration of independence. |
| Parallel Governments | In Tajpur (Darbhanga), Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Saran, rebels established parallel governments. |
| Disruption of British Control | Rail lines uprooted, telegraph wires cut, and government offices torched. |
| British Repression | Movement was crushed using brutal force, including aerial bombings in some districts. |
| Key Leaders | Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), Ram Manohar Lohia, Yadunandan Prasad Mehta, Srikrishna Sinha, Anugrah Narayan Sinha. |
JP’s Heroic Escape:
- Jayaprakash Narayan escaped from Hazaribagh Jail (Nov 1942) and went underground.
- He became a symbol of armed underground resistance against British rule in Bihar.
Impact of the National Movement in Bihar
| Movement | Impact |
| Non-Cooperation (1920) | Initiated mass awakening; peasants, students, and urban middle class joined. |
| Civil Disobedience (1930) | Increased peasant radicalism, student activism, and Congress’s rural base. |
| Quit India (1942) | Marked Bihar as a major centre of revolutionary and underground activity. |
BPSC-Oriented Quick Revision Table
| Movement | Year | Major Leaders | Major Districts Involved | Special Notes |
| Non-Cooperation | 1920–22 | Rajendra Prasad, Mazharul Haque | Patna, Gaya, Champaran | Bihar Vidyapeeth founded (1921) |
| Civil Disobedience | 1930–34 | Shafi Daudi, Jayaprakash Narayan | Bettiah, Shahabad, Gaya | Salt Satyagraha and peasant protests |
| Quit India | 1942 | Jayaprakash Narayan, Anugrah Sinha | Gaya, Bhagalpur, Saran, Darbhanga | JP’s jail escape and underground struggle |
Key Facts for MCQs (BPSC) on Indian national Movement
- Bihar Vidyapeeth was founded by Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1921 in Patna.
- Jayaprakash Narayan escaped from Hazaribagh Jail in 1942.
- Tajpur (Darbhanga) saw formation of a parallel government during Quit India Movement.
- Champaran remained a stronghold of both peasant resistance and Gandhian experiments.
Bihar during freedom movement