Krishna Ballabh Sahay
A freedom fighter and ex-Chief Minister of Bihar, Krishna Ballabh Sahay was born on 31st December, 1898 at Sheikhpura, Bihar. His father Munshi Ganga Prasad was a Daroga under British rule. He got his education in Hazaribagh. He had much interest in English language and literature. This interest earned him Sir Edward Albert Gait’s Gold Medal from the then Governor of Bihar and Orissa Sir Edward Gait.
His role in Freedom Movement
He joined the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1920 on the call of Mahatma Gandhi. He was jailed four times in 1930s for taking part in the struggle for independence. He was close to Sri Babu and Anugrah Narayan Sinha, other prominent nationalists from Bihar. K B Sahay led the Quit India Movement in Bihar. He was arrested for his role in this movement. Sahay was also instrumental in the escape of Jayaprakash Narayan form Hazaribagh Central Jail. He was sent to Bhagalpur Jail for rigorous imprisonment due to his role in the escape of J P Narayan and others.
Political Stint
K B Sahay was elected to Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1936 and was made a parliamentary Secretary in Sri Krishna Singh’s Ministry in 1937 when provincial autonomy was granted in the British Rule. He authored and passed the first pioneering legislation in the country in 1952 to abolish the Zamindari System. This effort of Sahay was met with strict opposition and Dr. Kameshwar Singh challenged it under Article-14. Patna High Court struck down the Act and later, it was struck down by Supreme Court also. This led Jawar Lal Nehru’s Government to come up with the first amendment to the Constitution of India, adding Articles 31 (A) and 31 (B) to nullify the effects of Article 14. Later, the legislation on land ceiling was introduced in the Assembly in 1955 and a modified version was passed in 1959 which passed Presidential assent in 1962.
On 19th September, 1963, “Kamraj Plan” was introduced by veteran Congress leader Kamraj. Binodanand Jha, the then Chief Minister of Bihar was appointed as one of the eight Chief Ministers to oversee the Congress Party’s affairs. Thereafter, to fill the position Beer Chand Patel and Sahay, who was the deputy minister in Jha’s cabinet were contesting the Chief Minister’s position. After winning election from Patna West constituency, Sahay was sworn in as the fourth Chief Minister of Bihar. Satyendra Narayan Sinha was his second-in-command.
Sahay met with a fatal road accident on 3rd June, 1974 when he was returning to Hazaribah after winning election.
K B Sahay was instrumental in setting up several industries in Bihar including Barauni Refinery and Bokaro Steel Plant. He also established Sainik School in Tilaiya and a women’s college in Hazaribagh.