The colonial state, zamindars and the politics of flood control in north Bihar (1850–1945)

Abstract

The colonial dispensation in north Bihar believed that the rivers of the flood plains needed to be controlled. The zamindar became the pivot around which the implementation of these flood control efforts revolved. Along with the railways and roads, the uncontrolled manner in which many zamindary embankments were built led to a deterioration in the flood situation. By the 1930s, there was a strong view among engineers that rivers should not be controlled and embankments should be removed wherever possible. However, in contrast to the new official technical doctrine on flood control, a slew of powerful social and economic interests argued for retaining the ‘protected areas’ through embankments. Exploring the tensions that played out between the colonial engineering establishment, the revenue administrators and the zamindars over the question of river control in north Bihar, this article argues for an emphasis on environmental change as a critical dimension for understanding the colonial rule in the region.