work for freedom until it was secured. Sri Babu later moved to Patna University and completed his education. He started practising law in 1915, but gave it up in 1921 to take active part in
non-cooperation movement.
He had ideas, vision and understanding of the country’s historical, social and religious forces , a unique leader who ably combined statesmanship with genius of governance.
Sri Babu was a forceful speaker. As the echoes of his voice resonated across Bihar, people began calling him Bihar Kesari, an epithet that has come to have natural association with him.
Sri Babu first went to jail in 1922. He underwent different terms of imprisonment for a total of about eight years. Impressed by the courage of Sri Babu, named him ‘the first Satyagrahi of Bihar’. The Indian National Congress too made him the leader of the State Congress of Bihar.
Sri Babu formed Bihar’s first Cabinet at Patna on 20th July, 1937. He resigned in 1939, as did all Congress Premiers of the Provinces over the question of involving India in the Second World
War without the consent of the Indian people. He again formed the Cabinet in 1946. He remained Chief Minister continuously till his death on 31st January, 1961. Sri Babu was a staunch opponent of casteism and always rose in defence of the oppressed, the backward and the minority community.
He will be long remembered for his quest for freedom. It may be recalled that at the Lahore Congress session in 1929, a resolution was passed for full independence (Poorna Swaraj).
The Congress President of the Session and Sri Babu were among the prominent leaders who danced on the dais itself, which had the image of Bharat Mata painted as its background. One could only
imagine the depth of longing for freedom that was in the heart of Sri Babu.
Sri Babu was always interested in self-study and his ideas and speeches were noted for their wisdom. He was a voracious reader and very fond of books. Instead of spending time on idle gossip, he
preferred to read books. He had a personal collection of nearly 20,000 books which are now housed in a campus in Munger.
Paul Hansen Appleby (1891-1963) who visited India in 1952, 1954 and 1956 and submitted two reports on public administration in India to say that Bihar was a well-administered State during Sri Babu’s time.
Sri Babu left an inspiring legacy for civil servants. He believed that a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-linguistic polity like ours needed impartial civil servants who prided themselves as being
servants of the Constitution and not of any individual, group but it belongs to people at large.
