Yadavs in Bihar

The Yadavs or Ahirs claim to be descended from lord Krishna of ancient Yadu tribe.{{Cite book|last=Pinch|first=William R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uEP-ceGYsnYC&pg=PA91|title=Peasants and Monks in British India|date=1996-06-18|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-91630-2|language=en}}

The Ahir tribe was the dominant group in the Bihar section of the Gangetic valley during the later prehistoric period. The Ahiri country extended from around Banaras eastward to the Kosi River, primarily lying north of the Ganges.{{Cite book |last=Chattopadhyaya |first=Haraprasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DsvpAAAAIAAJ&q=ahiri |title=Internal Migration in India: A Case Study of Bengal |date=1987 |publisher=K.P. Bagchi & Company |isbn=978-81-7074-008-7 |pages=531 |language=en}}

In Bihar, there were many zamindars belonging to Yadav (Ahir) community. These zamindars belonged to the difficult geographical regions, mostly diara land of the rivers. In the diara regions their rule continued with the help of their militia.{{Cite book |last=Barik |first=Radhakanta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lGNuAAAAMAAJ&q=Militia+Kurmi |title=Land and Caste Politics in Bihar |date=2006 |publisher=Shipra Publications |isbn=978-81-7541-305-4 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Congress |first=Indian History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZfltAAAAMAAJ&q=ahir+ |title=Proceedings |date=1997 |publisher=Indian History Congress |language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fDUjw2kFwvIC&q=%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B5 |title=Bihar men samajik parivartan ke kuchh ayam |date=2001 |publisher=Vani Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7055-755-5 |language=hi}}

• Yadava-Varman ruler of Anga (East Bihar) and Bengal.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8lpDAAAAYAAJ&q=varman+anga |title=Indian Culture: Journal of the Indian Research Institute |date=1984 |publisher=I.B. Corporation |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Caudharī |first=Abhayakānta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2qbRAAAAMAAJ |title=Aṅgikā sāhitya kā itihāsa |date=1977 |publisher=Śekhara Prakāśana |language=hi}}{{Cite book |last=Mahajan |first=V. D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sjscEAAAQBAJ&q=yadava+varman&pg=PA506 |title=Ancient India |date=1962 |publisher=S. Chand Publishing |isbn=978-93-5283-603-1 |language=en}}
• Rati Raut, an Ahir chief of Rati Paragana in north Bihar.{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Sachchidanand |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Us08AAAAMAAJ&q=Rati+Raut+Ahir |title=Caste System: Myths, Reality, Challenge |date=1982 |publisher=Intellectual Publishing House |isbn=978-0-8364-0791-4 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Sachidanand |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v_1DLeE9DnMC&dq=%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF+%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%A4+%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B0&pg=PA102 |title=Jati Vyavstha |date=2009-09-01 |publisher=Rajkamal Prakashan |isbn=978-81-267-1414-8 |language=hi}}
• Daso Ahir, Raja of Bhojpur.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Durga Shanker Prasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=snR8pvl5siEC&q=%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B0 |title=Bhoja, Bhojapura aura Bhojapurī pradeśa |date=1964 |publisher=Nava Sāhitya-Mandira |language=hi}}
• Ahir chief of Ruidas-Patna.{{Cite book |last=Prasad |first=R. R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TmDRNTYw49EC&dq=ahir+chief+ruidas&pg=PA129 |title=Encyclopaedic Profile of Indian Tribes |date=1996 |publisher=Discovery Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7141-298-3 |language=en}}
• Ahir Rajas of Gawror Fort, Patna.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nAO2AAAAIAAJ&q=ahir++rajas |title=Historical Researches Series |date=1963 |language=en}}
• Ahir chieftain of Murho Estate (Madhepura).{{Cite book |last=Śāstrī |first=Mahendra Nārāyaṇa Paṅkaja |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zdpGAQAAIAAJ&q=%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8B+%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%9F |title=Apamāna |date=1994 |publisher=Tūlikā Prakāśana |language=hi}}{{Cite web |title=A village that symbolises Bihar |url=https://www.rediff.com/election/2005/feb/11spec2.htm |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=www.rediff.com}}
• Kishnaut Ahir zamindars of Parasadi Estate and Parsauna (Saran).{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LP4sAQAAIAAJ&q=kishnaut+ahir+zamindar |title=The National Geographical Journal of India |date=1975 |publisher=National Geographical Society of India. |language=en}}
• Babu Girwar Narayan Mandal, Zamindar of Ranipatti (Madhepura).{{Cite book |last=Jha |first=Shashi Shekhar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AVTMNbEDp8EC&q=ranipatti+ |title=Political Elite in Bihar |date=1972 |publisher=Vora |isbn=9780842603652 |language=en}}
• Zamindars of Pipra estate in erstwhile Munger district (Now in Shambhuganj block of Banka district, Bihar).{{Cite book |last=Narayan |first=Jayaprakash |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4s8-AQAAIAAJ&q=pipra+zamindar |title=Jayaprakash Narayan: 1946-1948 |date=2000 |publisher=Manohar |isbn=978-81-7304-518-9 |language=en}}
• Kanaujia Ahir landlords of Mohan Tola, Saran, Bihar.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Rana P. B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=py-UTg8GaJIC&q=Kanaujia+Ahir |title=Clan Settlements in the Saran Plain (Middle Ganga Valley): A Study in Cultural Geography |date=1977 |publisher=National Geographical Society of India, Banaras Hindu University |language=en}}

At one time the main occupation of the Yadavs of Bihar was rearing cattle, but now most of them are cultivator.{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Shiva Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0iWcAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Majhraut%22+-wikipedia |title=Educational Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India: From the Earliest Times to 1206 A.D. with Special Reference to Mithilā |date=1998 |publisher=Ramanand Vidya Bhawan |isbn=978-81-85205-71-7 |language=en}}

There are four main sub-castes of Ahirs in Bihar, Kishnaut, Majhraut, Kannaujia or Kanyakubja{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fx8NAQAAMAAJ&q=kanyakubja+ahir |title=Indian Journal of Physical Anthropology and Human Genetics |date=2006 |publisher=Ethnographic and Folk Culture Society, U.P. |language=en}} and Goria.{{Cite book |last=Jha |first=Makhan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC&dq=majraut&pg=PA34 |title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective |date=1997 |publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. |isbn=978-81-7533-034-4 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Pandey |first=Ramdin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BgIcAQAAMAAJ&q=%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE+ |title=Palāmū kā itihāsa |date=1979 |publisher=Pāṇḍeya |language=hi}}

In Kosi division of Bihar, people of the Yadav caste worship their caste deity Bisu Raut, whose temple is situated on the banks of the Gogri river.{{cite book|last1=Bihar (India)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DStuAAAAMAAJ&q=bisu+raut|title=Bihar District Gazetteers: Saharsa|last2=Choudhury|first2=Pranab Chandra Roy|date=1965|publisher=Superintendent, Secretariat Press, Bihar|language=en}}{{cite book|last=Byrne|first=Joseph|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ddsA_RIgg78C&dq=bisu+raut&pg=PA48|title=Bhagalpur|date=2011|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7268-203-3|language=en}} Baba Karu Khirhari, who was born among Yadavs, is another folk god revered by people not only in Kosi but also in the parts of Nepal.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B1cdp3hsUXgC&q=karu+khirhari |title=Monuments of Bihar |date=2011 |publisher=Department of Art, Culture & Youth, Government of Bihar |language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NBoMAAAAIAAJ&q=%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81+%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%B0 |title=Kathā-kośī |date=1997 |publisher=Racanākāra Prakāśana |language=hi}} His temple is located in Mahpura village of Saharsa district.{{Cite web |title=संत बाबा कारू खिरहरी मंदिर, मह्पुरा {{!}} सहरसा जिला {{!}} India |url=https://saharsa.nic.in/hi/tourist-place/%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%82%e0%a4%a4-%e0%a4%ac%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%ac%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%95%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%82-%e0%a4%96%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%b9%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a4%82%e0%a4%a6%e0%a4%bf/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |language=hi-IN}}

Gobanai Baba is worshipped by Ahir families of Darbhanga district. His temple is situated in village Mahulia.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qm4LAAAAIAAJ&q=gobanai+baba+darbhanga |title=Folk-lore |date=1974 |publisher=Indian Publications |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Vidyarthi |first1=Lalita Prasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=veAiAAAAMAAJ&q=gobanai+baba+darbhanga |title=Bihar in Folklore Study: An Anthology |last2=Chaubey |first2=Ganesh |date=1971 |publisher=Indian Publications |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Sankar Sen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=20GBAAAAMAAJ&q=gobanai+baba+darbhanga |title=Folklore and Folklife in India ; an Objective Study in Indian Perspective |date=1975 |publisher=Indian Publications |language=en}}

Around 1933–1934, the Yadavs joined with the Kurmis and Koeris to form the Triveni Sangh, a caste federation that by 1936 claimed to have a million supporters. This coalition followed an alliance for the 1930 local elections which fared badly at the polls. The new grouping had little electoral success: it won a few seats in the 1937 elections but was stymied by a two-pronged opposition which saw the rival Congress wooing some of its more wealthy leading lights to a newly formed unit called the "Backward Class Federation" and an effective opposition from upper castes organised to keep the lower castes in their customary place. Added to this, the three putatively allied castes were unable to set aside their communal rivalries and the Triveni Sangh also faced competition from the All India Kisan Sabha, a peasant-oriented socio-political campaigning group run by the Communists. The appeal of the Triveni Sangh had waned significantly by 1947{{cite book |title=India's silent revolution: the rise of the lower castes in North India |first=Christophe |last=Jaffrelot |edition=Reprinted |publisher=C. Hurst & Co. |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-85065-670-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OAkW94DtUMAC |pages=197–198}}{{cite book |page=44 |title=Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar |first=Ashwani |last=Kumar |publisher=Anthem Press |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=num2I4NFGqIC&pg=PA44 |isbn=978-1-84331-709-8}} but had achieved a measure of success away from the ballot box, notably by exerting sufficient influence to bring an end to the begar system of forced unpaid labour and by providing a platform for those voices seeking reservation of jobs in government for people who were not upper castes.{{cite book |page=36 |title=Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar |first=Ashwani |last=Kumar |publisher=Anthem Press |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=num2I4NFGqIC&pg=PA36 |isbn=978-1-84331-709-8}} Many years later, in 1965, there was an abortive attempt to revive the defunct federation.{{cite book |page=62 |title=Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar |first=Ashwani |last=Kumar |publisher=Anthem Press |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=num2I4NFGqIC&pg=PA62 |isbn=978-1-84331-709-8}}

In the post Mandal phase Kurmi, Koeri and Yadav, the three backward castes who constitute the upper-OBC due to their advantageous position in the socio-economic sphere of agrarian society became the new political elite of the state.{{Cite book|last=Kumar|first=Sanjay|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IVxODwAAQBAJ&pg=PT27|title=Post-Mandal Politics in Bihar: Changing Electoral Patterns|date=2018-02-19|publisher=SAGE Publishing India|isbn=978-93-5280-586-0|language=en}}

• B.P. Mandal, ex-cm of Bihar.{{Cite web |date=2020-04-10 |title=Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal Biography In Hindi : बिन्देश्वरी प्रसाद मंडल की जीवनी |url=https://www.newstrend.news/339989/bindeshwari-prasad-mandal-biography-hindi/ |access-date=2023-08-15 |language=en-US}}
• Daroga Prasad Rai, ex-cm of Bihar.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Santosh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VzQPEAAAQBAJ&dq=daroga+prasad+rai&pg=PA137 |title=JP to BJP: Bihar after Lalu and Nitish |date=2020-12-01 |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |isbn=978-93-5388-667-7 |language=en}}
• Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav, former M.P.{{Cite book |last=Jaffrelot |first=Christophe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-rMW03l_gx0C&dq=Ram+Lakhan+Singh+Yadav&pg=PA235 |title=India's Silent Revolution: The Rise of the Lower Castes in North India |date=2003 |publisher=Hurst |isbn=978-1-85065-398-1 |language=en}}
• Bhupendra Narayan Mandal, Indian politician
• Ram Jaipal Singh Yadav, ex-deputy cm of Bihar.{{Cite book |last=Committee |first=Indian National Congress All India Congress |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gxa2AAAAIAAJ&dq=Ram+Jaipal+Singh+Yadav&pg=PA14 |title=Report of the General Secretaries |date=1971 |publisher=All India Congress Committee |language=en}}
• Lalu Prasad Yadav, ex-cm of Bihar.{{Cite book |last1=Yadav |first1=Laloo Prasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JzdgxgEACAAJ |title=Gopalganj to Raisina: My Political Journey |last2=Verma |first2=Nalin |date=2019 |publisher=Rupa |isbn=978-93-5333-313-3 |language=en}}
• Hukumdev Narayan Yadav, Indian politician
• Rabri Devi, ex-cm of Bihar.{{Cite book |last=S.H |first=Patil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=34akDwAAQBAJ&dq=Rabri+Devi&pg=PA474 |title=The Constitution, Government and Politics in India |publisher=Vikas Publishing House |isbn=978-93-259-9411-9 |language=en}}
• Tejashwi Yadav, ex-dcm of Bihar.{{Cite book |last=Srivastava |first=Aaku |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OEeHEAAAQBAJ&dq=Tejashwi+Yadav&pg=PT106 |title=Sensex Of Regional Parties: Sensex Of Regional Parties by Aaku Srivastava: Understanding the Dynamics of Regional Politics in India |date=2022-09-06 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |isbn=978-93-5521-236-8 |language=en}}
• Pappu Yadav, Independent M.P from Purnia.{{Cite book |last=Prasad |first=Jyotindra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XESHDwAAQBAJ&dq=Pappu+Yadav&pg=PA126 |title=My Date with Editors |date=2019-02-28 |publisher=Educreation Publishing |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Lok Sabha Elections 2024 {{!}} Independent Pappu Yadav wins Purnia in Bihar |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/india/lok-sabha-elections-2024-independent-pappu-yadav-wins-purnia-in-bihar-3052558 |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}
• Nityanand Rai, BJP leader, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Santosh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VTQPEAAAQBAJ&dq=Nityanand+Rai&pg=PT215 |title=JP to BJP: Bihar after Lalu and Nitish |date=2020-12-01 |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |isbn=978-93-5388-666-0 |language=en}}

• Air Marshal AK Bharti{{Cite web |title="World Knows Whose Son Made India Proud": Air Marshal Bharti's Mother |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ak-bharti-awadhesh-kumar-bharti-operation-sindoor-india-pakistan-bihar-world-knows-whose-son-made-india-proud-air-marshal-bhartis-mother-8405427 |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2025-05-15 |title=Small-town roots, sky-high valour: Bihar’s sons at the helm of Operation Sindoor |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/small-town-roots-sky-high-valour-bihars-sons-at-the-helm-of-operation-sindoor/articleshow/121170360.cms |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

• Rash Bihari Lal Mandal, zamindar of Madhepura, philanthropist and leader of freedom movement.{{Cite book |last=Ambastha |first=Gouri Shankar P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FnhuAAAAMAAJ |title=Freedom Movement and Role of Congress Leaders |date=1995 |publisher=Classical Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-7054-163-9 |language=en}}

• Ahir
• Ahir clans

{{Reflist}}

Yadav

Category:Bihari Ahirs

Category:Social groups of Bihar