Early Nationalism in Bihar | BPSC Preparation: All subjects - BPSC (Bihar) PDF Download

Early Nationalism in Bihar

• Early nationalism and political activities in Bihar began with the establishment of the Boys' Association (youth club) and the Saraswati Academy in 1901 at Darbhanga.
• The Boys' Association, founded on March 3, 1899, by Suryadev Narayan Sharma and chaired by Afak Khan, became a hub for political activities in the region until 1920.
• Protests against the partition of Bengal were widespread in Bihar, with events like Rakhi Bandhan Divas on October 16, 1905, in Darbhanga, inspiring the youth.
• The Swadeshi Movement influenced the youth, with figures like Surendra Nath Banerjee inspiring them through speeches.
• The Bihari Student's Conference, established in 1906, played a crucial role in Bihar's nationalism.
• In 1908, an important meeting at the Sonepur fair led to the formation of the Bihar Provincial Congress Committee (BPCC), which held its first session in Patna the same year.
• The BPCC's first meeting included the selection of delegates for the Congress session in Madras in December 1908.
• A meeting in Patna Library in September 1909 highlighted the collaboration of Muslims and non-Muslims in Bihar for national causes, setting an example for India.

Champa Satyagraha

• Background: The Champa Satyagraha in 1917 marked Mahatma Gandhi's first major involvement in the Indian struggle for independence. It was a response to the exploitation of farmers by European planters in Bihar, who enforced the Tinkathia system, compelling peasants to grow indigo on a fraction of their land. This system led to severe poverty and starvation as farmers were unable to cultivate sufficient crops.
• Role of Rajkumar Shukla: Rajkumar Shukla, a resident of Murli Bhitiharwa village, played a crucial role in bringing the plight of the indigo farmers to Gandhi's attention. During the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress in 1916, Shukla and another individual, Sant Raut, invited Gandhi to investigate the issues faced by the indigo planters. Shukla's persistent efforts convinced Gandhi to visit Champaran and witness the struggles of the farmers firsthand.
• Gandhi's Arrival in Champaran: Gandhi arrived in Champaran on April 10, 1917, and began his work by staying at the home of Sant Raut in Amolwa village. His presence in Champaran aimed to address the grievances of the farmers and to initiate the concept of Satyagraha as a form of non-violent resistance against injustice.
• Establishment of Basic School: On November 13, 1917, Gandhi established the first basic school in Barharwain Lakhansen village. This initiative was part of his broader vision to uplift the local community and provide education to the children in the region.
• Meetings and Growing Support: Gandhi's efforts included meeting with various stakeholders to garner support for the farmers. On April 11, 1917, he met with the Minister of the Bihar Planters Association in Muzaffarpur to seek assistance for the farmers. As the movement gained momentum, several leaders joined Gandhi, including Rajendra Prasad, Anugrah Narayan Singh, and Mazhar-ul-Haque, among others.
• British Government's Suppression: In response to the growing movement, the British government attempted to suppress the Satyagraha through various measures. However, the strong participation of the peasantry and the commitment to non-violence, as advocated by Gandhi, provided resilience to the movement.
• Impact of Champaran Satyagraha: The Champaran Satyagraha was a significant event in India's struggle for independence as it showcased the effectiveness of non-violent resistance and set the stage for Gandhi's future involvement in the freedom movement. It highlighted the issues of agrarian distress and the exploitation of farmers, bringing these concerns to the forefront of the national discourse.

Outcomes of the Movement

• In response to the widespread agitation, the British Government decided to reform its administrative policies.
• On June 10, 1917, Lieutenant Governor Adbert Gate established the Champaran Agrarian Committee to investigate the issues raised by the peasants.
• Following the committee's recommendations, the Tinkathia system was abolished, rents were reduced, and peasants were compensated on March 4, 1918.
• The Champaran Agrarian Act was also enacted by the committee on May 1, 1918, further addressing the concerns of the peasants.

Bihar and Khilafat Movement

• The Khilafat Movement began in 1919 in response to the harsh terms imposed on the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) by the British after Turkey's defeat in World War I.
• The movement was initiated by the Ali brothers and garnered significant support from Muslims. The Congress party also adopted the movement, which received backing from the people of Bihar.
• Notable events and developments in the Khilafat Movement in Bihar included:
• Maulana Sajjad's inauguration of a Khilafat Committee in Gaya.
• A meeting in Patna on February 16, 1919, where public opinion was mobilized for fair treatment of the Caliph by the Allied powers.
• A statewide Hartal called by Muslims of Bihar on March 19, 1920, to protest.
• Maulana Shaukat Ali's visit to Patna in April 1920, which helped spread the movement in Bihar.
• Major centres of the movement included Patna, Darbhanga, Gaya, Bihar Sharif, Chhapra, Munger, and Bhagalpur.
• Khilafat Diwas was celebrated nationwide on October 19, 1919.
• A mass meeting at Anjuman Islamia Hall in Patna on November 30, 1919, to support the movement, with similar meetings held in other towns.
• Prominent supporters from Bihar included Rajendra Prasad, Muhammad Safi, and Maulana Narul Hassan.
• March 19, 1920, was observed as Second Khilafat Day, a day of national mourning and protest throughout Bihar.

Rowlatt Agitation

• Gandhiji called for a nationwide protest against the Rowlatt Bill, but the agitation was not strongly felt in Bihar.
• The Bihar Satyagraha Sabha organized meetings in Patna in February 1919, as well as in Muzaffarpur, Mansurganj, Munger, Chhapra, and Gaya, to protest the Rowlatt Bill, which aimed to curtail civil liberties.
• In districts like Patna, Munger, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Chhapra, Muzaffarpur, and Champaran, processions were carried out, and hartals and demonstrations were staged.

Non-Cooperation Movements

• Gandhiji initiated the Non-Cooperation Movement in response to the Khilafat issue, the Rowlatt Act, and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919.
• The Bihar Congress, during its provincial meeting in August 1920 under Rajendra Prasad's presidency, emphasized the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• A Hijrat Committee was formed on August 15, 1920, reflecting some Muslims' intentions to migrate from India due to government policies.
• In 1922, Gandhiji called off the Non-Cooperation Movement following the Chauri-Chaura incident.

Events during Non-cooperation Movement in Bihar

During the Non-Cooperation Movement in Bihar, several significant events took place:

• Auctions for the settlement of ferries and pounds were boycotted in Munger and Bhagalpur.
• A strike occurred at the Government Press in Patna.
• A national college was established as an alternative arrangement on the Patna-Gaya road, with Rajendra Prasad serving as Principal.
• In December 1920, Gandhiji visited Bihar and led picketing of liquor shops, particularly in Bhagalpur.
• The 'Tilak Memorial Committee' was formed in Bihar, and an article titled 'Bihar is Mourning' was published in 'The search-light' to commemorate Tilak's death.
• A police strike erupted in March-April 1921, spreading to Patna, Purnia, Munger, and Champaran.

Bihar in the Freedom Struggle

Bihar and Non-Cooperation Movement

• Gandhiji's Inaugurations: Gandhiji formally inaugurated Bihar National College on January 5, 1921, and Bihar Vidyapeeth on February 6, 1921.

• The Motherland Newspaper: Mazhar-ul-Haq started 'The Motherland' newspaper on September 30, 1921, to promote Hindu-Muslim unity and Gandhian ideology.

• Opposition to British Prince: On December 22, 1921, the British Prince visited Bihar, which was opposed by the Congress. Mahendra Prasad, Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s brother, returned the title of ‘Ray Sahab’ during the Non-cooperation Movement.

Swarajist Movement

• Gaya Congress Session (1922): The All India Congress Session in December 1922 was held in Gaya and presided over by Chittaranjan Das. This session showcased a division in Congress.

• Factions in Congress: One faction, led by CR Das, Motilal Nehru, and Ajmal Khan, supported entering the Legislative Council. The opposing faction, known as ‘No-Changers,’ included Vallabhbhai Patel, C Rajagopalachari, and MA Ansari, advocating for the Gandhian path.

• Formation of Swaraj Dal (1923): Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das established the Swaraj Dal in 1923, with Narayan Prasad as its first Chairman and Abdul Bari as its first Secretary.

• Swaraj Dal in Bihar: In February 1923, a branch of Swaraj Dal was formed in Bihar under Srikrishna Singh's leadership, but it was not very effective in the state.

Simon Commission

• Introduction to the Simon Commission: The Simon Commission, officially known as the Indian Statutory Commission and headed by John Simon, arrived in India in 1928.

• Boycott Decision: An All-Party Meeting led by Anugrah Narayan Sinha decided to boycott the Simon Commission.

• Commission's Visit to Bihar: The Commission reached Patna on December 12, 1928, and Ranchi on December 24, 1928, but was boycotted in both places.

Bihar and Civil Disobedience Movement

• Initiation of Salt Satyagraha: The Salt Satyagraha, the second major national movement led by Gandhiji against British rule, was initiated in Bihar. Dr. Rajendra Prasad outlined the plan, and April 6, 1930, was selected as the date for the Satyagraha.
• Role of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru: To ensure the success of the Satyagraha, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru traveled extensively throughout Bihar from March 31 to April 3, 1930.
• Spread of the Movement: The movement began in Champaran and Saran districts and later expanded to Patna, Bettiah, Hajipur, Darbhanga, and other areas. In Patna, the Salt Satyagraha was officially inaugurated on April 16, 1930.
• Campaign Activities: The campaign included promoting Khadi, opposing intoxicating drinks, and refusing to pay the chaukidari tax. It witnessed significant participation from women and various sections of society.
• Formation of Swadeshi Committee: A Swadeshi Committee was established in Patna in 1930 to organize such events, with Ali Imam as its leader.
• Prominent Leaders: Sachchidananda Sinha, Hasan Imam, and Sir Ali Imam emerged as key leaders of the movement from Bihar.
• Bihpur Satyagraha: Concurrently, the Bihpur Satyagraha took place. Rai Bahadur Dwarkanath resigned from the Bihar Legislative Council in protest against the lathi charge on Rajendra Prasad and Professor Abdul Bari. Prisoners in Chhapra jail also went on strike in solidarity.
• Impactful Protests: The refusal to pay the chaukidari tax by peasants gained significant traction. Activists like Chandravati Devi and Ramsunder Singh played active roles. Important districts during the movement included Champaran, Bhojpur, Purnea, Saran, and Muzaffarpur.

Individual Civil Disobedience

• 53rd Congress Session (1940): The Congress session was held in Ramgarh (now in Jharkhand) under Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's leadership.
• Launch of Individual Civil Disobedience: Gandhiji announced the Individual Civil Disobedience Movement, allowing only selected individuals to engage in Satyagraha.
• First Individual Satyagrahi from Bihar: On November 27, 1940, Shri Krishna Singh became the first individual Satyagrahi from Bihar, followed by Anugraha Narayan Sinha. Others, like Gauri Shankar Singh and Shyam Narayan Singh, also participated from different regions.

Kisan Sabha in Bihar

• Inspired by the Champaran incident, Swami Vidyanand initiated the Kisan Sabha in Madhubani. This sparked similar movements in Munger, Shahabad, Patna, Saran, and Muzaffarpur, where farmers began to organize themselves.
• On October 27, 1920, a Kisan Sabha was organized by Jagannath Pathak at Hilsa, presided over by Shah Ghafoor.
• In 1922-23, the Kisan Sabha was established in Munger by Shri Krishna Singh and Shah Mohammad Zubair.
• Swami Sahajanand Saraswati founded the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha (BPKS) in 1929 to address peasant grievances regarding zamindari encroachments on their occupancy rights.
• In response, zamindars formed the United Political Party to counter the peasants' efforts.
• The All India Kisan Sabha was established in Lucknow in 1936. Under Rajendra Prasad, a committee was formed to investigate the conditions of farmers.
• In North and Central Bihar, the peasant movement emerged as a significant aspect of the independence struggle, aiming to dismantle the feudal zamindari system imposed by the British. This movement was led by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati and his associates, including Pandit Yamuna Karjee and Rahul Sankrityayan.
• Pandit Yamuna Karjee and Rahul Sankrityayan, along with other Hindi writers, began publishing a Hindi weekly called Hunkar from Bihar in 1940. This publication later became the voice of the Peasant Movement and the Agrarian Movement in Bihar.

Labor Movements

• Like the peasants, laborers in Bihar also organized themselves and formed a labor movement. In 1937-38, numerous strikes were held in various factories across Bihar, including Rohtas Industry (Dalmianagar), Gaya Cotton Mills, Tatanagar Foundry Company, and Japala Cement Works.
• The Bihar Trade Union was established, with its inaugural session taking place on June 10, 1944, in Giridih. The labor movements in Bihar played a crucial role in uniting people for a collective struggle for freedom. From June 17 to 20, 1947, labor conferences were organized by various groups in Patna under the leadership of the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Bihar Socialist Party

• In 1931, Ganga Sharan Sinha, Rambriksh Benipuri, and Ramanand Mishra established the Bihar Socialist Party.
• Later, in 1934, Jayaprakash Narayan convened a meeting in Anjuman Islamia Hall in Patna, formally launching the Bihar Congress Socialist Party.
• Acharya Narendra Dev was appointed President of the party, and Jayaprakash Narayan became General Secretary. The party coordinated closely with Congress for the welfare and organization of peasants and workers and participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942.

Quit India Movement

• In Bihar, on July 31, 1942, Dr. Rajendra Prasad led a Congress Committee to outline the Quit India Movement.
• On August 8, 1942, the Indian National Congress officially approved the Quit India Movement, with Gandhiji's rallying cry of "Do or Die" (Karo Ya Maro). However, the British government responded by imprisoning key leaders like Sri Narayan Singh and Sukhlal Singh.
• The Congress was banned on August 9, 1942, along with a ban on newspapers. Strikes erupted, and the national flag was prominently displayed on many buildings.
• On August 11, 1942, students raised the national flag on the Patna Legislative Assembly. In response, Collector WG Archer ordered open fire, resulting in the deaths of seven students.
• In the aftermath, Patna observed a complete strike on August 12, 1942. Meetings were held to plan the shutdown of communication lines and cessation of government work, prompting severe British reprisals.
• With senior leaders arrested, Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Aruna Asaf Ali took charge of the movement. In 1943, Jayaprakash Narayan organized the Azad Dasta to continue the struggle.