Who are the notable political leaders who shaped modern Bihar?

Several notable political leaders have shaped the trajectory of modern, post-independence Bihar. Their contributions range from industrial development to social justice.

• Dr. Sri Krishna Sinha (Singh): Revered as the "Architect of Modern Bihar" and its first Chief Minister. He governed from 1946 until his death in 1961. His tenure is remembered for laying the foundation of Bihar's industrial infrastructure, including the Barauni Refinery, Barauni Thermal Power Station, and the Heavy Engineering Corporation in Ranchi (now in Jharkhand).
• Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha: The first Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, he was a close colleague of Dr. Sri Krishna Sinha and a key administrator in the state's formative years.
• Karpoori Thakur: Known as "Jan Nayak" (People's Leader), he was a two-time Chief Minister who pioneered reservation policies for the backward classes. In 1978, he implemented the "Karpoori Thakur formula," which provided quotas for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), a model that influenced the later Mandal Commission.
• Jayaprakash Narayan (JP): While he never held an official government post, JP was arguably one of the most influential figures. From Bihar, he launched the "Total Revolution" (Sampoorna Kranti) in 1974 against corruption and authoritarianism. This JP Movement was a catalyst for the imposition of the National Emergency and the subsequent formation of the first non-Congress government at the Centre.
• Lalu Prasad Yadav: He dominated Bihar's politics in the 1990s. As Chief Minister, he championed social justice and the empowerment of backward classes and minorities, building a formidable "M-Y" (Muslim-Yadav) political coalition. His tenure is also widely associated with economic stagnation and a breakdown of law and order, an era often referred to as "Jungle Raj."
• Nitish Kumar: The longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar, he first came to power in 2005. He is credited with ending the "Jungle Raj" and ushering in an era of "Sushasan" (Good Governance). His tenure is marked by massive infrastructure development (roads, electricity), social reforms like the bicycle scheme for schoolgirls, and 50% reservation for women in Panchayats.