Bihar Province

Bihar Province was a province of British India, created in 1936 by the partition of the Bihar and Orissa Province.

Bihar Province
Province of British India
1936–1947
Flag Coat of arms
Bihar Province in a 1940 map of British India
Capital	Patna
History
• Bifurcation of Bihar and Orissa Province	1936
• Independence of India	1947
Preceded by Succeeded by Bihar and Orissa Province Bihar Jharkhand
Today part of	Bihar Jharkhand

History

In 1756, Bihar was part of Bengal. On 14 October 1803, Orissa was occupied by the British Raj.^[1] On 22 March 1912, both Bihar and Orissa were separated from Bengal as Bihar and Orissa Province.^[2] On 1 April 1936, Bihar and Orissa became separate provinces.^[3]

The Government of India Act provided for the election of a provincial legislative assembly and a responsible government. Elections were held in 1937 and the Indian National Congress took a majority of the seats but declined to form the government. A minority provisional government was formed under Muhammad Yunus.^[4]

Minister	Portfolio
Muhammad Yunus	Home and Education
Ajit Prasad Singh Deo	Local Self-Government (including Medical and Excise)
Abdul Wahab Khan	Finance and Irrigation
Gur Sahay Lal	Revenue and Development

The Congress reversed its decision and resolved to accept office in July 1937. Therefore, the Governor invited Shri Krishna Sinha to form the government.

Minister	Portfolio
Shri Krishna Sinha	Premier,
Anugrah Narayan Sinha	Deputy Premier, Finance and Local Self Government
Syed Mahmud	Education
Jaglal Choudhary	Public Health and Excise

In 1939, along with Congress ministries in other provinces, Sinha resigned in protest of the Governor-General's declaration of war on Germany without consulting with Indian leaders and Bihar came under Governor's Rule. Another round of elections were held in 1946, yielding another Congress majority and Sinha again became Premier.

Finally on 15 August 1947, Bihar Province became part of independent India.^[5]

Governors

• 1 Apr 1936 – 11 Mar 1937 Sir James David Sifton (s.a.)
• 11 Mar 1937 – 5 Aug 1939 Sir Maurice Garnier Hallett (b. 1883 – d. 1969)
• 5 Aug 1939 – 9 Jan 1943 Sir Thomas Alexander Stewart (b. 1888 – d. 1964) (acting to Sep 1939)
• 9 Jan 1943 – 6 Sep 1943 Sir Thomas George Rutherford (b. 1886 – d. 1957) (1st time)
• 6 Sep 1943 – 23 Apr 1944 Sir Robert Francis Mudie (acting) (b. 1890 – d. 1976)
• 23 Apr 1944 – 13 May 1946 Sir Thomas George Rutherford (s.a.) (2nd time)
• 13 May 1946 – 15 Aug 1947 Sir Hugh Dow (b. 1886 – d. 1978)

Premiers

• 1 Apr 1937 – 19 Jul 1937 Mohammad Yunus (b. 1884 – d. 1952) MIP
• 20 Jul 1937 – 31 Oct 1939 Shri Krishna Sinha (1st time) (b. 1888 – d. 1961) INC
• 31 Oct 1939 – 23 Mar 1946 Governor's Rule
• 23 Mar 1946 – 15 Aug 1947 Shri Krishna Sinha (2nd time) (s.a.) INC

See also

• List of governors of Bihar

References

1. Newalpuri, Hafeezullah. Orissa Mein Urdu (in Urdu) (2001 ed.). New Delhi: National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language. p. 30.
2. O'malley, L. S. S. (1924). Bihar And Orissa District Gazetteers Patna. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 9788172681210.
3. ଇତିହାସ ଓ ରାଜନୀତି ବିଜ୍ଞାନ (ଶ୍ରେଣୀ ୧୦) [Oriya History and Political Science (10th Class)] (in Odia) (2018 ed.). Government of Odisha. pp. 62, 69.
4. "PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS (MINISTERS)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 19 April 1937. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
5. Provinces of British India

25.6°N 85.1°E / 25.6; 85.1