Bihar

Home > Places > Asia > Indian Political Geography

Bihar or Behar , state (2001 provisional pop. 82,878,796), 36,420 sq mi (94,328 sq km), E central India. Patna is the capital. Bihar is bounded by Nepal (N) and by Indian states—West Bengal (E), Jharkhand (S), and Uttar Pradesh (W). Bihar is a rich agricultural area, crossed by the Ganges River. Rainfall, frequently inadequate, is supplemented by irrigation. Rice is grown where possible; corn, wheat, barley, sugarcane, tobacco, and oilseed are important crops. Jute is the main cash crop in the east. Transportation lines run east and west, linking northern and central India with the Bengal ports. Despite its agricultural wealth, Bihar is India's poorest state, with high illiteracy and infant mortality rates. The population, c.80% Hindu, is unusually homogeneous for India. Bihari, an Indo-European language, is predominant. Bihar is governed by a chief minister and a cabinet responsible to a bicameral legislature with one elected house and by a governor appointed by the president of India.

Bihar was part of the ancient kingdom of Magadha , and contains many sites associated with the Buddha's early life, including Bodh Gaya , the site of his enlightenment. Muslims occupied it in 1193 and the Delhi sultans in 1497. In 1765 the British took over Bihar and merged it with Bengal. The province of Bihar and Orissa was formed in 1912; Bihar became a separate province in 1936. About 3,150 sq mi (8,160 sq km) situated along Bihar's eastern boundary were transferred to West Bengal state in 1956. The southern half of Bihar became the state of Jharkhand in 2000. Violence, intimidation, and fraud have often accompanied elections in the state, and direct federal rule was imposed during the election period in 1995.

Bihar Sharif or Bihar, city (1991 pop. 201,323), on a tributary of the Ganges River, was the former capital of Magadha. It has many Muslim sites of pilgrimage.

Bihar A region in India comprising the middle Ganges plains and the Chota Nagpur plateau in north-eastern India. The region had its ‘golden age’ during the evolution of early Indian civilization. Among its ancient kingdoms was Magadha, where both Gautama BUDDHA and the Jain Seer, Mahavira, preached. Its capital, Pataliputra (now Patna), was adopted by several notable empire builders, including the Mauryas and the GUPTAS. About 1200 it came under Muslim influence and remained subservient to the Delhi sultans until becoming a province of the MOGUL empire in the 16th century. In 1765 British victories resulted in its amalgamation with Bengal and the introduction of indigo plantations.

Bihār, India A state and a city. They take their name from the Sanskrit vihāra ‘monastic retreat’. The city is sometimes called Bihārsharīf. It was a great religious centre, particularly for Buddhists. Here sharīf means ‘exalted’ or ‘noble’ in the sense that it enhances the status of the religious centre, thus ‘Bihār the Noble’. Sharīf has other meanings (see Mazār‐e Sharīf). Bihār has several mosques.

Bihar State in ne India; the capital is Patna. Bihar was a centre of Indian civilization from the 6th century bc to the 7th century ad. It became a province in the Mogul Empire. A rich agricultural region, drained by the River Ganges, it produces more than 40% of India's total mineral output. In 2000 the state of Jharkhand was carved out from part of Bihar. Industries: mica, coal, copper and iron ore. Area: 94,163sq km (36,356sq mi). Pop. (2001) 82,878,796.

Bihar •aargh, Accra, afar, ah, aha, aide-mémoire, ajar, Alcazar, are, Armagh, armoire, Artois, au revoir, baa, bah, bar, barre, bazaar, beaux-arts, Bekaa, bête noire, Bihar, bizarre, blah, Bogotá, Bonnard, bra, cafard, café noir, Calabar, car, Carr, Castlebar, catarrh, Changsha, char, charr, cigar, comme ci comme ça, commissar, coup d'état, de haut en bas, devoir, Dhofar, Directoire, Du Bois, Dumas, Dunbar, éclat, embarras de choix, escritoire, fah, famille noire, far, feu de joie, film noir, foie gras, Fra, galah, gar, guar, guitar, ha, hah, ha-ha, Halacha, hurrah, hussar, huzza, insofar, Invar, jar, je ne sais quoi, ka, kala-azar, Kandahar, Khorramshahr, knar, Krasnodar, Kwa, la-di-da, lah, Lehár, Loire, ma, mama, mamma, mar, Mardi Gras, ménage à trois, mirepoix, moire, Navarre, noir, objet d'art, pa, pah, Panama, papa, par, Pará, Paraná, pas, pâté de foie gras, peau-de-soie, pietà, Pinot Noir, pooh-bah, poult-de-soie, pya, rah, registrar, Saar, Salazar, Sana'a, sang-froid, scar, schwa, Seychellois, shah, Shangri-La, shikar, ska, sol-fa, spa, spar, star, Starr, Stranraer, ta, tahr, tar, tartare, tata, tra-la, tsar, Twa, Villa, voilà, waratah, yah