Introduction: Two Regions, One Colonial Frame
The history of Orissa (Odisha) and Bihar under British rule is a story shaped less by cultural affinity and more by colonial administrative convenience. Though geographically adjacent, the two regions differed sharply in language, culture, economy, and historical evolution. Their temporary union under British India—and eventual separation—played a crucial role in shaping modern eastern India.
Early British Administration: Separate Identities, Shared Fate
Before British conquest, Orissa and Bihar followed distinct political and cultural trajectories.
Orissa had a long tradition of political unity under the Gajapati rulers and a strong Odia linguistic identity.
Bihar, rooted in the legacy of Magadha, was culturally linked to the Gangetic plains, with Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Magahi linguistic traditions.
After the British East India Company defeated the Marathas in 1803, Orissa was annexed and placed under the Bengal Presidency. Bihar, too, was administered as part of Bengal. This arrangement was based purely on colonial convenience, not social coherence.
The Bengal Presidency and Administrative Overstretch
By the mid-19th century, the Bengal Presidency had become unwieldy:
Vast territory
Diverse languages
Administrative inefficiency
Both Orissa and Bihar suffered under this centralized system:
Odia language faced marginalization in education and administration.
Bihar’s agrarian economy was exploited through the Permanent Settlement.
Regional aspirations found little space within the Presidency’s governance structure.
1905 Partition of Bengal and Its Aftermath
The British decision to partition Bengal in 1905 intensified political unrest. Although primarily focused on Bengal, the move highlighted the flaws of oversized presidencies and renewed debates on administrative reorganization.
For leaders in Bihar and Orissa, it became evident that:
Regional identities required separate political recognition
Administrative efficiency demanded smaller, more coherent units
Formation of the Province of Bihar and Orissa (1912)
In response to growing pressure, the British government dissolved the Bengal Presidency in part and created a new province of Bihar and Orissa in 1912.
Why the Union Was Formed
Administrative manageability
Geographic contiguity
British belief that Orissa was too small to stand alone
Structure
Bihar and Orissa were governed under a single provincial administration
Patna became the provincial capital
Orissa remained administratively subordinate
Challenges of the Union
Despite being grouped together, the union faced inherent contradictions:
Cultural and Linguistic Differences
Bihar: Indo-Gangetic culture, multiple dialects
Orissa: Coastal–tribal synthesis, Odia language
Administrative Marginalization of Orissa
Odia areas received limited political representation
Odia language interests were often sidelined
Development remained uneven
Many Odia leaders felt the union merely replaced Bengali dominance with Bihari administrative dominance.
Rise of the Odia Linguistic Movement
The dissatisfaction within Orissa gave rise to a strong linguistic and cultural movement led by figures like:
Madhusudan Das
Utkala Sammilani
Their demand was clear:
All Odia-speaking tracts must be unified into a separate province.
This was among the earliest linguistic statehood movements in India.
British Commissions and Prolonged Delay
The British appointed multiple committees to examine the demand for separation:
Risley Commission
Hare Committee
Simon Commission observations
While most acknowledged the legitimacy of Odia claims, implementation was repeatedly delayed due to:
Administrative hesitation
Political caution
Fear of setting a precedent
Separation and Birth of Orissa (1936)
After nearly three decades of sustained advocacy, the British government finally agreed.
On April 1, 1936:
Orissa was carved out as a separate province
Bihar remained a distinct province
Significance
Orissa became the first Indian province formed on linguistic basis
The separation validated language as a principle of governance
Impact of the Division
For Orissa
Political self-respect
Administrative focus
Cultural renaissance
Foundation of modern Odisha
For Bihar
Streamlined governance
Stronger political identity
Greater focus on agrarian and social reform
Legacy in Post-Independence India
The Orissa–Bihar separation:
Influenced the States Reorganisation Act of 1956
Set a precedent for linguistic federalism
Strengthened democratic accommodation of diversity
It demonstrated that unity in India could be preserved not by suppressing identities, but by recognizing them.
Conclusion
The union and division of Orissa and Bihar under British India reveal the contradictions of colonial governance. What began as an administrative experiment ended as a historic lesson in federal wisdom.
The peaceful separation of Orissa from Bihar was not an act of division—it was an act of political maturity and cultural justice, one that reshaped India’s approach to nation-building.
