# List of people from Bihar
The list of people from Bihar covers notable people associated with Bihar, a state in eastern India whose present boundaries date to its separation from the [Bengal Presidency](https://www.edgepedia.org/bengal-presidency) and, later, from [Jharkhand](https://www.edgepedia.org/jharkhand) in 2000. The state's rolls include ancient rulers and scholars of Magadha, figures of the [Indian independence movement](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-independence-movement), chief ministers, writers and poets of Hindi, Maithili, and Bhojpuri, classical musicians and painters, film actors, and international athletes.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ancient figures | Aryabhata (476–550 CE), Chanakya (350–275 BCE), Ashoka (301–232 BCE per the state's list), and Vidyapati (1352–1448 CE)[1](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar) |
| Head of state | Rajendra Prasad (1884–1963), the first President of the Republic of India[1](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar) |
| First chief minister | Shri Krishna Sinha, "Bihar Kesari", held the office from 1946 until his death in 1961[2](https://www.knowbihar.in/en/person/shri-krishna-sinha/) |
| Political mobilizer | Jayaprakash Narayan (1902–1979), called Loknayak, led the 1974 "total revolution" movement and received the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1999[3](https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?lang=2®=48&relid=148928) |
| Music | Ustad Bismillah Khan (1916–2006) brought the shehnai to the status of classical music[1](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar) |
| Contemporary cinema and art | Manoj Bajpayee of West Champaran and the visual artist Subodh Gupta[4](https://www.biharstory.com/inspiration/top-famous-people-from-bihar/) • [1](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar) |
## Ancient and medieval figures
Bihar's early history, centered on the ancient kingdom of Magadha and its capital [Pataliputra](https://www.edgepedia.org/pataliputra) (modern [Patna](https://www.edgepedia.org/patna)), produced figures the state government counts among its famous people: **Aryabhata**, the mathematician and astronomer of 476–550 CE, **[Chanakya](https://www.edgepedia.org/chanakya)**, the political advisor and author of the *Arthashastra* (350–275 BCE), and the Mauryan emperor **Ashoka**, dated 301–232 BCE in the state's list, who embraced Buddhism at the height of his power[1](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar). The poet **Vidyapati** of Mithila (1352–1448 CE) wrote extensively on Krishna and Radha[1](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar), and **Guru Gobind Singh**, the tenth Guru of the Sikh faith (1666–1708), was born at Patna Sahib in Patna in 1666[5](https://state.bihar.gov.in/health/Content.html?links=&page=History+of+Bihar).
## The independence movement and political leadership
**1857.** The state's contribution to the freedom struggle reaches back to the [Indian Rebellion of 1857](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-rebellion-of-1857), when **Babu Kunwar Singh**, nearly eighty and in failing health, led the uprising against the British in Bihar. He returned to his palace on 23 April 1858 and died on 26 April 1858[5](https://state.bihar.gov.in/health/Content.html?links=&page=History+of+Bihar).
**The Champaran turning point.** In 1917, at the urging of the Champaran farmer Raj Kumar Shukla, Mahatma Gandhi traveled to Motihari and took up the cause of indigo farmers, launching the civil-disobedience movement that spread across India. Many people from Bihar became leading participants in the independence struggle that followed[5](https://state.bihar.gov.in/health/Content.html?links=&page=History+of+Bihar). Among them were **Rajendra Prasad** of Jiradei in Saran district, who became the first President of the Republic of India and served from 26 January 1950 to 13 May 1962[1](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar) • [6](https://kgs-v2.akamaized.net/kgs/pdfs/bc995935-0f26-41c3-bcf3-a7cdce11a003.pdf), and **Anugrah Narayan Sinha**, his partner in the [Champaran Satyagraha](https://www.edgepedia.org/champaran-satyagraha)[5](https://state.bihar.gov.in/health/Content.html?links=&page=History+of+Bihar).
**Shri Krishna Sinha**, honored as "Bihar Keshari" (Lion of Bihar), gave up his law practice in 1921 for Gandhi's non-cooperation movement and served as Bihar's first Chief Minister from 1946 until his death in 1961, leading a temple-entry movement for Dalits at Baidyanath Dham in 1953[2](https://www.knowbihar.in/en/person/shri-krishna-sinha/). **Satyendra Narayan Singh** (1917–2006) took part in the independence movement and later served as Chief Minister of Bihar[1](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar).
**Jayaprakash Narayan.** Born on 11 October 1902 in Sitab Diyara in Saran district, **Jayaprakash Narayan** joined the freedom movement after leaving Patna College on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's call, was jailed for civil disobedience in 1932, led the [Congress Socialist Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/congress-socialist-party) as general secretary, escaped from Hazaribagh Central Jail on a Diwali day in November 1942, and organized an "Azaad Dasta" in Nepal before his release in April 1946[3](https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?lang=2®=48&relid=148928). In June 1974 he called for peaceful "total revolution" from a public meeting at Gandhi Maidan in Patna; the movement culminated in the [Janata Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/janata-party)'s victory, the first non-Congress government at the center, in March 1977, and the [Government of India](https://www.edgepedia.org/government-of-india) awarded him the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1999[3](https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?lang=2®=48&relid=148928).
## Writers, musicians, and artists
**Hindi and Maithili letters.** **Ramdhari Singh Dinkar**, a humanist and progressive poet hailed as "Rashtra Kavi" (national poet), served as a nominated member of the [Rajya Sabha](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajya-sabha)[1](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar). **Phanishwar Nath Renu** (1921–1977) wrote *Maila Anchal*, a landmark regional (Anchalik) novel rooted in rural Purnia district[7](https://www.genoconnect.co/communities/bihar-genome-project). Reference lists of the state also record the ancient poet [Vidyapati](https://www.edgepedia.org/vidyapati) as "Bihar Kokil"[8](https://learnfinite.blr1.digitaloceanspaces.com/pdfs/Bihar_Special_%2B_NCERT_Series.pdf).
**Music and painting.** **Ustad Bismillah Khan** (1916–2006) pioneered the elevation of the shehnai to classical-music status[1](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar). **Ganga Devi** was a folk painter who brought contemporary subjects into the traditional art of Mithila, and **Subodh Gupta** is a recognized contemporary visual artist working in sculpture, photography, video, and installation[1](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar).
## Cinema and sport
The actor **Manoj Bajpayee**, from a village in West Champaran, is known for the films *Satya* and *Gangs of Wasseypur* and the series *The Family Man*[4](https://www.biharstory.com/inspiration/top-famous-people-from-bihar/). In sport, the shooter **Shreyasi Singh**, a [Commonwealth Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/commonwealth-games) gold medalist, serves as Bihar's Sports and Information Technology Minister and has set a goal of sending ten Bihar athletes to the 2036 Olympics[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/patna/cabinet-minister-shreyasi-singh-interveiw-bihar-10452994/). Recent years have brought international recognition to Bihar-born cricketers and athletes in hockey, athletics, rugby, and chess[10](https://www.jagran.com/bihar/patna-city-bihar-athletes-shine-globally-international-sports-achievements-40323448.html).
## Scope of the list
The Government of India's Padma Awards dashboard also tracks honors conferred on recipients from Bihar, including three [Padma Shri](https://www.edgepedia.org/padma-shri) awards to people from the state in 2026[11](https://padmaawards.gov.in/dashboard).
## References
1. [Famous Biharis, Tourism Department, Government of Bihar](https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/famousbihar)
2. [Dr. Shri Krishna Sinha: Biography, Legacy & History, KnowBihar](https://www.knowbihar.in/en/person/shri-krishna-sinha/)
3. [Jayaprakash Narayan: A Rebel Always, Press Information Bureau, Government of India (2016)](https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?lang=2®=48&relid=148928)
4. [Top 20 Most Famous People from Bihar, BiharStory](https://www.biharstory.com/inspiration/top-famous-people-from-bihar/)
5. [History of Bihar, Government of Bihar](https://state.bihar.gov.in/health/Content.html?links=&page=History+of+Bihar)
6. [Know Your Bihar, Government of Bihar publication](https://kgs-v2.akamaized.net/kgs/pdfs/bc995935-0f26-41c3-bcf3-a7cdce11a003.pdf)
7. [Bihar Ancestry: Ancient Roots & Bihari Figures, GenoConnect](https://www.genoconnect.co/communities/bihar-genome-project)
8. [Bihar Special + NCERT Series, Learn FINITE](https://learnfinite.blr1.digitaloceanspaces.com/pdfs/Bihar_Special_%2B_NCERT_Series.pdf)
9. [From Commonwealth gold to Cabinet: Shreyasi Singh interview, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/patna/cabinet-minister-shreyasi-singh-interveiw-bihar-10452994/)
10. [Bihar athletes shine globally, Dainik Jagran](https://www.jagran.com/bihar/patna-city-bihar-athletes-shine-globally-international-sports-achievements-40323448.html)
11. [Padma Awards dashboard, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India](https://padmaawards.gov.in/dashboard)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Social life and human behavior › Communities and populations › Demographics and population › Demographics of cities and regions › Demographics of Asia and Oceania*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license