बिहार का इतिहास – मगध साम्राज्य और भारत की सांस्कृतिक विरासत

Of course. Here is all the provided information about Bihar, compiled, synthesized, and structured into a single, comprehensive document.

Bihar: Administrative and Historical Overview

Administrative Division of Bihar

The table below shows the administrative data for the districts provided in your request.
(Note: This list contains 25 out of Bihar’s total 38 districts.)

State Summary:

• Total No. of Districts: 38

• Total No. of Divisions: 9

• Total No. of Blocks: 534

• Total No. of Panchayats: 8,380

• Total No. of Villages: ~45,000 (The number 55,296 might include uninhabited or census-defined villages)

Administrative Divisions of Bihar and their Districts

Bihar is organized into 9 administrative divisions, which oversee the districts within their jurisdiction.

1. Patna Division

   • Districts: Patna, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Buxar, Kaimur

2. Tirhut Division

   • Districts: Muzaffarpur, West Champaran, East Champaran, Vaishali, Sitamarhi, Sheohar

3. Saran Division

   • Districts: Saran (Chhapra), Siwan, Gopalganj

4. Kosi Division

   • Districts: Saharsa, Madhepura, Supaul

5. Darbhanga Division

   • Districts: Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur

6. Purnia Division

   • Districts: Purnia, Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj

7. Bhagalpur Division

   • Districts: Bhagalpur, Banka

8. Munger Division

   • Districts: Munger, Jamui, Khagaria, Lakhisarai, Begusarai, Sheikhpura

9. Magadh Division

   • Districts: Gaya, Aurangabad, Nawada, Jehanabad, Arwal

A Comprehensive History of Bihar

Bihar’s history is one of the most illustrious in India, a land that has been the cradle of mighty empires, the birthplace of major world religions, and a center of learning for millennia.

Ancient Era (c. 1000 BCE – 600 CE)

• Center of Civilization: Bihar’s fertile plains gave rise to some of ancient India’s most powerful kingdoms (Mahajanapadas), including Magadha, Anga, and the Vajjika League (Vaishali), which is considered one of the world’s first republics.

• Birthplace of Religions: This land holds immense spiritual significance. Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, making Bihar the crucible of Buddhism. It is also central to Jainism, as Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, was born and preached his philosophy here.

• The Mauryan Empire: Emerging from Magadha, the Mauryan Empire (c. 322–185 BCE), founded by Chandragupta Maurya, became one of the world’s largest empires. Its capital, Pataliputra (modern-day Patna), was a global center of power and administration. Emperor Ashoka the Great propagated Buddhism across Asia from here.

• The Golden Age of the Guptas: Bihar was the heartland of the Gupta Empire (c. 320–550 CE), a period often called the “Golden Age of India” for its extraordinary achievements in science, mathematics, art, and literature.

• Centers of Learning: Ancient Bihar was home to world-renowned universities like Nalanda and Vikramshila, which attracted scholars and students from across Asia for centuries.

Medieval Era (c. 600 – 1750 CE)

• Pala and Sena Dynasties: Following the Guptas, dynasties like the Pala and Sena ruled the region, continuing the patronage of Buddhism and art.

• Arrival of Islam: In the 12th century, the region came under the control of the Delhi Sultanate, marking a new wave of cultural influence.

• Mughal Rule: By the 16th century, Bihar was integrated into the Mughal Empire, and Patna grew into a major trading center.

• Sikh Connection: The 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, was born in Patna in 1666, making the city a sacred pilgrimage site (Patna Sahib) for Sikhs.

The Colonial Era (c. 1757 – 1947 CE)

• British Control: In the 18th century, the British East India Company gained control of Bihar, incorporating it into the vast Bengal Presidency. The region became a major center for the forced cultivation of indigo and opium.

• Champaran Satyagraha (1917): Bihar was the site of Mahatma Gandhi’s first Satyagraha in India. The movement in Champaran against the exploitative indigo plantation system was a turning point in India’s struggle for independence.

Post-Independence Era (1947 onwards)

• Statehood: After India’s independence in 1947, Bihar became a state within the Indian Union.

• State Reorganization: In 1956, some Bengali-speaking areas of Bihar were transferred to West Bengal during the linguistic reorganization of states.

• Creation of Jharkhand: Bihar faced significant challenges related to poverty, social inequality, and governance. In 2000, to address the unique socio-economic needs of the mineral-rich southern plateau, the state of Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar.

Today, Bihar continues its journey of development, striving to overcome historical challenges while cherishing its unparalleled historical and cultural legacy.