Nature and Pattern of Migration in Medieval Bihar: An Analysis

The process of migration had influenced the socio-economic and cultural life of the origin and destination over different periods of time. The recognition and fame of the state of Bihar had a significant linkage with that of migration and their settlements in the region since ancient times. The beginning of the migration process and glory associated with the region of Bihar can be traced back in the later Vedic period when Aryans migrated towards eastern India and Bihar region as well. In ancient Bihar, permanent out-migration was rare and only for commercial purposes temporary out-migration can be seen. In-migration was much more prominent and outsiders get attracted towards region because of its geographical location, fertile soil, historical and methodological importance. But this trend of migration gradually changed in medieval period because of the shifting of center of power towards northern India. Outsiders were still attracted towards the region but we see some distressed and forced out-migration too started from Bihar in medieval period which changed the demographic and socio-economic status of Bihar to a large extent. This paper attempts to examine the changing pattern and nature of migration of people in medieval Bihar.