The british raj at Patna

== The British Raj ==


Under the British Raj, Patna gradually started to attain its lost glory and emerged as an important and strategic centre of learning and trade in India. When the [[Bengal Presidency]] was partitioned in 1912 to carve out a separate province, Patna was made the capital of the new province of [[Bihar|Bihâr]] and [[Orissa]]. The city limits were stretched westwards to accommodate the administrative base, and the township of [[Bankipore]] took shape along the Bailey Road (originally spelt as Bayley Road, after the first Lt. Governor, [[Charles Stuart Bayley]]). This area was called the ''New Capital Area''.


To this day, locals call the old area as the City whereas the new area is called the New Capital Area. The Patna Secretariat with its imposing clock tower and the [[Patna High Court]] are two imposing [[landmark]]s of this era of development. Credit for designing the massive and majestic buildings of colonial Patna goes to the architect, I. F. Munnings.


By 1916–1917, most of the buildings were ready for occupation. These buildings reflect either [[Indo-Saracenic]] influence (like [[Patna Museum]] and the state Assembly), or overt [[Renaissance]] influence like the Raj Bhawan and the High Court. Some buildings, like the General Post Office (GPO) and the Old Secretariat bear pseudo-Renaissance influence. Some say, the experience gained in building the new capital area of Patna proved very useful in building the imperial capital of New Delhi.


The British built several educational institutions in Patna like [[Patna College]], [[Patna Science College]], [[Bihar College of Engineering]], [[Prince of Wales]] Medical College and the Patna Veterinary College. With government patronage, the Biharis quickly seized the opportunity to make these centres flourish quickly and attain renown.


After the creation of Orissa as a separate province in 1935, Patna continued as the capital of Bihar province under the [[British Raj]].


Patna played a major role in the [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence struggle]]. Most notable are the [[Champaran]] movement against the Indigo plantation and the [[Quit India Movement]] of 1942.