The Man Who Wrote the History of Bihar

Shri Krishna Sinha was the first Chief Minister of Bihar, who served as the head of the state ever since independence, up to his death on January 31, 1961 (leaving the time in 1942 when he was imprisoned for his involvement in the freedom struggle).

An Indian postal stamp dedicated to the leader; Source: Wikipedia; Public Domain

A true visionary and a proponent of democratic governance in every sense, Shri Krishna Sinha was the first Chief Minister of Bihar in independent India. He was born in 1887, in the Sheikhpura district of modern-day Bihar, although it came under the Munger district of the Bengal Presidency in the days of colonial rule over India. Shri Krishna, who was popularly known as Shri Babu, lost his dear mother at the early age of five. Nevertheless, he faced his struggles with commendable grit – he was educated at the local village school, after which he went on to eventually achieve a doctorate of law from Patna University.

Although he had set up a quaint legal practice of his own by 1915 in Munger, he stumbled upon the nationalist movement the very next year. In 1916, he met Mahatma Gandhi in Benares. By the next five years, Sinha had vowed to give up his legal practice in order to fight for India’s independence.

He left his profession to participate in the non-cooperation movement. There was no looking back after that – in a few years, he became an official member of the Congress committee.

Due to his captivating speeches and recurring arrests by the British administration, Shri Babu earned the sobriquet of Bihar Kesari for his qualities which resembled that of a lion. He took a keen interest in administrative affairs and legislative politics - he had entered the Bihar Legislative Assembly by 1935. He was also an active member of the Provincial Working Committee of the state for more than thirty years. It is not surprising that even modern-day politicians of Bihar are inspired by the dedication and principles with which Sri Krishna Sinha laid the foundation for the state of Bihar.

Shri Babu’s story would be incomplete without talking about the duo he had formed with Anugrah Narayan Sinha, known as Bihar Vibhuti (a symbolisation of power). Together, Bihar Kesari and Bihar Vibhuti were regarded as the architects of Bihar. Rightly so, as the two served the state relentlessly to abolish the zamindari system, to uplift the castes that suffered discrimination and to build a modern state which had recently been freed from the clutches of British oppression. Not only did he bring several industrial projects into the state, but was actively involved in promoting social and cultural projects as well. Shri Babu was awarded the Bharat Ratna for his work.

Shri Babu was the first Chief Minister of Bihar, who assumed the position from 1946 till his death on January 31, 1961. Even before India had attained independence, he had formed the cabinet in 1937 under the Government of India Act, serving as the Premier of Bihar Province. Thus, barring the time he was jailed for his participation in the Quit-India Movement, Shri Krishna Sinha was constantly in service of the state as its head, from 1937 right up to 1961.