Introduction
The study of Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience in Bihar forms a critical sub‑component of the larger Modern Indian History syllabus for the BPSC. Bihar was not a passive spectator to the national struggle; rather, it emerged as one of the most vibrant theatres of mass resistance under the leadership of both national icons and local stalwarts. Between 1917 and 1942, the region witnessed a series of movements that ranged from peasant satyagrahas to urban boycotts, from salt agitation to individual civil disobedience. The BPSC has consistently drawn questions from this domain – 13 of the previous year questions (PYQs) provided in the input cover aspects as diverse as the identity of satyagrahis, the nature of revenue boycotts, specific campaigns like the Ambari Satyagraha and Sarabandi Campaign, and the role of key figures such as Swami Sahajanand, Rahul Sankrityayan, and Vinoba Bhave. These questions are not mere trivia; they test a candidate’s ability to connect local events with the broader national narrative, to distinguish between different phases of the freedom movement, and to recall precise details of leadership and chronology.
For the serious BPSC aspirant, this chapter will equip you with:
- A conceptual understanding of how Gandhian methods were adapted to Bihar’s agrarian and social landscape.
- A detailed narrative of the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920‑22) in Bihar, including its peasant wing, the role of Swami Vidyanand, and the parallel campaigns against the Chowkidari tax.
- A thorough treatment of the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930‑34), with emphasis on the Salt Satyagraha in Bhagalpur, the boycott of the Chowkidari tax, and the Ambari Satyagraha of 1939.
- An analysis of the Individual Satyagraha of 1940‑41, with the first satyagrahi (Vinoba Bhave) and the third satyagrahi (Brahma Dutt) both being figures from or closely linked to Bihar.
- The interrelated peasant movements led by Swami Sahajanand and the Kisan Sabha, which were contemporaneous with the Civil Disobedience phase.
- A clear taxonomy of the different satyagrahas, their leaders, and their outcomes, supported by mnemonics and comparison tables designed for last‑minute revision.
The BPSC has tested this subtopic at a moderate difficulty level – factual recall of names, dates, and events dominates, but there is a growing trend towards analytical questions that require the candidate to connect a specific event (e.g., the Sarabandi Campaign) to its leader (Sardar Patel) or to understand the rationale behind a particular protest (opposing the Chowkidari tax). By the end of these notes, you will be able to navigate any question on Non‑Cooperation and Civil Disobedience in Bihar with confidence.
Core Concepts & Foundations
Before diving into the specific Bihar narrative, it is essential to build a solid conceptual foundation. Every term used in the PYQs – satyagraha, Non‑Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Individual Satyagraha, Purna Swaraj, Chowkidari tax, Sarabandi Campaign, Ambari Satyagraha – must be understood from first principles.
Satyagraha: A philosophy and practice of non‑violent resistance pioneered by Mahatma Gandhi. It combines the Sanskrit words satya (truth) and agraha (insistence or holding firmly). Unlike passive resistance, satyagraha actively seeks to convert the opponent through self‑suffering and moral force. In the context of Bihar, satyagraha was used by peasants, students, and lawyers to protest against oppressive taxes, forest laws, and colonial authority.
Non‑Cooperation Movement (1920‑1922): The first nationwide mass movement launched by the Indian National Congress under Gandhi’s leadership, following the Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Its programme included renunciation of titles, boycott of legislative councils, law courts, and foreign goods, and promotion of swadeshi. In Bihar, the movement gained momentum through the active participation of the Kisan movement and the leadership of Swami Vidyanand, Rajendra Prasad, and Shri Krishna Singh.
Civil Disobedience Movement (1930‑1934): A more confrontational phase of the freedom struggle, initiated with Gandhi’s Dandi March (March‑April 1930) to break the salt laws. The movement involved the deliberate violation of unjust laws – salt manufacture, forest laws, and tax refusal. In Bihar, the movement saw the salt satyagraha at places like Bhagalpur (led by Mahadev Lal Sarraf) and a widespread refusal to pay the Chowkidari tax.
Individual Satyagraha (1940‑41): Launched by Gandhi during World War II to affirm the right of free speech and non‑violent protest against the war, while avoiding mass civil disobedience. Each satyagrahi would individually declare his or her opposition to the war. The first satyagrahi was Vinoba Bhave (Bihar‑connected), and the third was Brahma Dutt, a prominent figure from Bihar.
Purna Swaraj: Complete independence, declared as the goal of the Indian National Congress on 19 December 1929 at the Lahore session. The date 26‑01‑1930 was celebrated as the first Purna Swaraj Day (tested in BPSC 2020). This declaration provided the ideological impetus for the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Chowkidari Tax: A local tax imposed on villagers to fund the village watchman (chowkidar). During the Salt Satyagraha in Bihar, activists added the refusal to pay this tax as a parallel form of protest – tested in BPSC 2018. Because the tax was collected by the district administration, withholding it was a direct challenge to colonial authority.
Sarabandi Campaign (1922): A no‑tax campaign in Gujarat (specifically in the Kheda and Bardoli regions) led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The term refers to the voluntary surrender of land and property to the government as a form of protest. Tested in BPSC 2019, the question correctly identifies Sardar Patel as its leader – it is not a Bihar event but appears in the PYQ list and must be distinguished from Bihar‑specific movements.
Ambari Satyagraha (1939): A satyagraha at the Ambari forest area in Bihar (modern‑day Jharkhand region) led by Rahul Sankrityayan, a renowned Buddhist scholar and Buddhist monk. It was a protest against the government’s ban on the collection of forest produce (tendu leaves, mahua, etc.) by local adivasi and peasant communities. Tested in BPSC 2019.
Peasant Movement in Bihar: A sustained struggle of the agrarian classes against zamindari oppression, high rents, and forced labour. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was the most prominent leader, founding the Bihar Kisan Sabha in 1929. His movement intersected with both the Non‑Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements. Tested in BPSC 2020 as being related to the peasant movement.
Chauri Incident (not to be confused with the Chauri Chaura incident of 1922): The question in BPSC 2021 asks about the Chauri Revolt of Bihar in 1798. This refers to an early tribal/peasant uprising against the East India Company’s revenue policies in the Chauri (or Chaur) region. It is distinct from the Chauri Chaura incident in Uttar Pradesh. The correct date is 1798, testifying to Bihar’s long history of resistance.
Armed with these definitions, we can now explore the deep‑dive sections that follow. The themes below are arranged chronologically and thematically, ensuring full coverage of the official syllabus points while integrating every PYQ element.