Anushilan Samiti in Patna/Bihar
Anushilan Samiti was a revolutionary organization originally founded in Bengal (early 1900s) that aimed to overthrow British colonial rule through armed resistance and revolutionary activities. While it was predominantly a Bengal-based movement, it had connections and offshoots in neighboring regions, including Bihar.
Key Points about its Presence in Patna/Bihar:
Background:
- The Samiti was founded in Calcutta by Pramathanath Mitra in 1902, with branches spreading across Bengal and into neighboring provinces
- Bihar, being geographically close to Bengal and under the same Bengal Presidency administration until 1912, saw influence from this revolutionary movement
Activities and Influence:
- Revolutionary ideas and literature from the Samiti spread to Bihar through students and young nationalists who had connections with Bengali revolutionaries
- Secret societies inspired by Anushilan Samiti’s philosophy of physical culture, moral training, and revolutionary nationalism emerged in parts of Bihar
- Patna, being a major city and later the capital of Bihar (after 1912 separation from Bengal), became a center where such revolutionary ideas found some following among youth and students
Connection to Bihar’s Freedom Movement:
- Many young Biharis traveled to Bengal for education and came into contact with Anushilan Samiti members
- The organization’s ideology influenced local revolutionary groups and individuals in Bihar
- This laid groundwork for later revolutionary activities in Bihar during the broader Indian independence movement
Bihar Provincial Congress Committee (BPCC)
Formation and Background
The Bihar Provincial Congress Committee was formed as the regional unit of the Indian National Congress for the Bihar region, with its headquarters established at Patna.
Timeline
- Some sources suggest it was organized around 1908, even before Bihar’s formal separation from Bengal (1912). Other references tie its more formal/active organization to post-1912 (after Bihar became a separate province)
- Bihar was separated from the Bengal Presidency in 1912, becoming a separate province
- Following this administrative separation, there was a need for a dedicated provincial Congress organization to represent Bihar’s political interests
- The Bihar Provincial Congress Committee was subsequently organized to coordinate nationalist political activities within the newly formed province
Significance
Why Patna as Headquarters:
- Patna became the capital of Bihar after the 1912 partition from Bengal
- Natural choice as the administrative and political center of the new province
Role of BPCC:
- Coordinated Indian National Congress activities throughout Bihar
- Organized local participation in major national movements:
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22)
- Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34)
- Quit India Movement (1942)
- Served as a platform for prominent Bihari leaders
Notable Leaders Associated with BPCC
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad (later became first President of India)
- Anugrah Narayan Sinha
- Shri Krishna Sinha (Bihar’s first Chief Minister)
- Braj Kishore Prasad
