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Rajputs in Bihar are members of the Rajput community living in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Locally they are sometimes called Babu Saheb which is a term or sobriquet used mainly in the Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. They traditionally formed part of the feudal elite in the society of Bihar.Pressed with the Zamindari abolition and Bhoodan movement in post independence India, they along with other Forward Castes lost significant position in the agrarian society of Bihar, leading to the rise of OBCs.

History

From 1200 CE, many Rajput groups moved eastwards towards the Eastern Gangetic plains forming their own chieftaincies. These minor Rajput kingdoms were dotted all over the Gangetic plains in modern-day Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. During this process, petty clashes occurred with the local population and in some cases, alliances were formed. Among these Rajput chieftaincies were the Bhojpur zamindars and the taluks of Awadh.

The immigration of Rajput clan chiefs into these parts of the Gangetic plains also contributed the agricultural appropriation of previously forested areas, especially in South Bihar. Some have linked this eastwards expansion with the onset of Ghurid invasion in the West.

The Ujjainiya clan of Parmar Rajputs is one such group. Gajpati Ujjainia of the same clan was a chieftain and commander in the army of Sher Shah Suri. Kunwar Dhir, a Rajput Zamindar of Bhojpur district rebelled and fought against Mughal empire during early 18th century.

Similarly, Gidhaur Raj, Deo Raj, Kharagpur Raj were founded by the Rajput migrants to the region of Bihar in medieval age.Gandhavariya is another clan of Rajputs controlled significant portion of North Bihar in medieval age. Sonbarsa Raj also belonged to this clan.

From as early as the 16th century, Rajput soldiers from the eastern regions of Bihar and Awadh, were recruited as mercenaries for Rajputs in the west, particularly in the Malwa region. During the Great Uprising of 1857, a section of Rajputs took active participation under the leadership of Kunwar Singh, who was the prime mover of the revolution in Bihar.

In the traditional agrarian society of Bihar in the pre-independence period, the Rajputs were among the upper castes that controlled the agricultural production through the Zamindari rights. Some of the upper-castes were also recruited to the lower rung of administration under the British rulers. Less literate relative to other upper-castes, the Rajputs played a limited role in public administration and were primarily property holders. Between 1900-1920, it was noted that Rajputs formed a large chunk of the population of some of the region of south Bihar. In Shahabad region where they were prominent, it was recorded t hat they took little or no interest in intellectual pursuits. The literacy rate of the region and Bihar as a whole was also in precarious state.

Pressed with the Zamindari abolition and Bhoodan movement in post independence India, the Rajputs along with other upper castes lost their prominence in the agrarian society of Bihar.

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In the Shahabad district, Rajput and Bhumihar landowners frequently raped lower-caste women, and by 1930s, the Triveni Sangh gave the abused women a platform to express their frustration. In a survey conducted in a few villages in Bhojpur, rape of lower caste women from Musahar and Chamar caste, by the Rajput and Bhumihar landlords was a major cause of anguish until Naxalism emerged on the scene. As per one opinion, in parts of central Bihar, "Even as late as the 1970s , the rape of lower caste women by Rajputs and Bhumihars had almost become a tradition, an accepted social evil, a fate which many bore unquestioningly". Ranabir Samaddar cited example of one Anwa Village where upper-caste Rajputs practiced Dola Pratha in which the newly wed bride of the Dalits and landless labourers (who worked for wages in their fields), had to spend one night with the landlord before commissioning of her nuptial rites. A report from a particular village of Bihar called Sonatola tells that in neighbouring village Berath, some Dalit women alleged that when the lower caste women rejected the landlord's proposal of sexual contact, it was common for the landlords of the village to falsely implicate the male members of their families and their kin in criminal cases. Besides sexual assaults, the drawing of water from the village wells and walking on the pathways alongside the landlords in that particular Rajput village were also forbidden for the lower castes as per their allegations. By the 1960s, most of the prevalent feudal practices came to an end due to the activism of Kisan Sabhas, the organization led by middle peasant castes who also brought the issues of women rights and dignity within its fold and allowed the agricultural labourer women to voice for themselves.

Later, assertion of many left wing organization took place in Bihar, the most prominent among them being Maoist Communist Centre of India, which were far-left in ideology and had waged wars against the landlords for the cause of lower castes. The prime targets of this organisation in Bihar were the Rajputs, against whom most of the caste-inspired massacres were committed. The events at "Darmian" and Dalelchak-Baguaura among others are considered as notable caste based violence perpetrated by the MCC against the Rajputs.

In the 1990s, accession of Lalu Prasad Yadav to the premiership of Bihar brought socio-economic changes in the feudal society of Bihar. Under the leadership of Anand Mohan Singh, an Anti-Mandal agitation was undertaken in the state. The movement was also in the defiance of the rule of Lalu Prasad Yadav. However, Pappu Yadav, an associate of Yadav and a Janta Dal leader, led violent terror campaign against the "Upper Castes".

Politics

At the time of independence, the Rajputs along with other upper-caste enjoyed monopoly in the Indian National Congress and the state politics. Over time, the tussle within the upper-caste groups emerged in the Congress and Rajputs and Bhumihars emerged as major challengers of the dominance of the Kayastha caste. This period saw the emergence of Bhumihars as the most significant caste group within the Congress and in order to counter the Bhumihars, the Rajputs joined hand with the Kayastha. This led to intense inter-caste conflicts at all level of politics in Bihar and rise of caste based political patronage, crippling the state's politics in later years.

According to Sanjay Kumar, before 1990s, the dominance of the upper castes i.e. the Rajputs, Brahmins, Bhumihars and Kayasthas in social and political arenas as well as judiciary and bureaucracy in Bihar prevented the implementation of "land reforms" in the state which could have helped the Scheduled Castes and the backwards. In the post Mandal phase Kurmi, Koeri and Yadav, the three backward castes who constitute the upper-OBC due to their advantageous position in the socio-economic sphere of agrarian society became the new political elite of the state. One of the causes of this transformation was weakening of Indian National Congress in the state, which was dominated by upper-caste for long. The rising Kulaks from the upper-OBC rode on the Lok Dal political party for their emancipation and jostled with the erstwhile political elites, the upper-castes. According to Sanjay Kumar, after a long and protracted struggle the upper-caste accepted the leadership of OBCs during this phase.However, in recent years upper-castes are back in power structure, holding prominent positions.

Some of the leaders of the community had also played important role in Rashtriya Janata Dal led government in later years, which includes Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who conceptualised the biggest Anti-Poverty scheme of india called MNREGA. Radha Mohan Singh has been credited for the BJP's growth in the state while being state chief from 2006 to 2009.

Present circumstances

According to a report of Institute of human development studies, Brahmins topped in average per capita income with Rs 28,093, the other upper castes of Bihar which comprises Rajputs have an average per capita income of Rs 20,655, closely followed by middle agrarian castes like Kushwahas and Kurmis earning Rs 18,811 and Rs 17,835 respectively as their average per capita income. In contrast, Yadavs’ income is one of the lowest among OBCs at Rs 12,314, which is slightly less than the rest of OBCs (Rs 12,617). Hence; despite the political mobilisation of backward castes in post mandal period, the Rajputs are still among the high income groups in Bihar. According to this report, the economic benefits of the Mandal politics could be seen as affecting only few backward castes of agrarian background leading to their upward mobilisation.

Kingdoms and chieftaincies founded by Rajputs in Bihar

• Sonbarsa Raj founded by Gandhavariya Rajputs in medieval age.
• Kharagpur Raj founded in the 16th-century by Kinwar Rajputs
• Gidhaur chieftaincy founded in the 14th-century by Chandel Rajputs
• Jagdishpur Raj and Dumraon Raj founded by the Ujjainiya Rajputs
• Deo Raj founded in the 15th century by Rajputs migrants in Bihar.

Notable people

• Harihar Singh - 9th Chief Minister of Bihar
• Kunwar Singh - Zamindar and Military commander who participated in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
• Anugrah Narayan Sinha - Indian nationalist statesman known as Bihar Vibhuti.
• Raja Narain Singh - Chieftain of the Seris and Kutumba estate in Aurangabad district and participant in the 1781 revolt in Bihar
• Gajpati Ujjainia - Commander in the army of the Sur Empire under Sher Shah Suri

References

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