Bihar Diwas is observed on March 22 every year. The day is celebrated to mark the separation of the state from the Bengal Presidency by the British in 1912.
Each year the Government of Bihar declares the day as a public holiday that applies to companies, offices, and schools that comes under the jurisdiction of the State and Central government.
Why Bihar Diwas is celebrated?
On October 22, 1764, the Battle of Buxar was fought between the forces of the East India Company led by Hector Munro and the joint army of the Nawab of Bengal, the Nawab of Awadh, and the Mughal King Shah Alam II.
The battle was fought at Buxar and was a massive victory for the East India Company. The defeat resulted in the Mughals and Nawabs of Bengal losing control over the territories and the East India Company according to the Diwani rights the right to administer the collection and management of revenues.
The territories consisted of the current state of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, and Bangladesh.
In 1911, King George V was coronated in Delhi and the capital of British India was shifted to Delhi. On March 21, 1912, Thomas Gibson Carmichael, the new governor of Bengal took charge and announced that from the next day, March 22, the Bengal Presidency will be split into four Subhas of Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, and Assam.
Bihar Diwas 2021 celebrations:
The day is celebrated by organising programmes and events including performances by Bollywood personalities and the announcement of initiatives by the government.
However, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Bihar Diwas events will be a low-key affair. Keeping in mind the surge of Covid-19 cases in other states, the Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC), the nodal agency for the Bihar Diwas celebrations, has decided to celebrate the event on a small-scale with no cultural events and activities to avoid gatherings.
The event will take place in Gyan Bhawan.
