Bhola Paswan Shastri (English: Bhola Paswan Shastri, born- 21 September, 1914, Purnia district, Bihar; died- 4 September, 1984, Patna, Bihar) was an Indian politician and the eighth Chief Minister of Bihar. He was the Chief Minister of Bihar three times – from 22 March 1968 to 29 June 1968, then from 22 June 1969 to 4 July 1969 and then for the third time from 2 June 1971 to 9 January 1972.
Bhola Paswan Shastri is called the Videh of Bihar politics. Bhola Paswan Shastri was a person of simple living and high thinking and always lived a simple life. He never made money personally and for this reason he was called the Videh of Bihar politics. Bhola Paswan Shastri was born on 21 September 1914 in a simple Dalit family in Bairgachhi village of Purnia district. ‘Shastri’ was added to his name because he got Shastri degree from Darbhanga Sanskrit University. Bhola Paswan Shastri was the closest leader of Jawaharlal Nehru and despite Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s differences with Nehru ji, he remained with Nehru ji. Bhola Paswan Shastri was the eighth CM of Bihar.
Indira Gandhi made him Chief Minister of Bihar thrice and minister at the centre once or twice. But his honesty was such that when he died, there was not enough money in his account to perform the shraddha rites properly. Biranchi Paswan, who is Shastri ji’s nephew, lit the funeral pyre of Shastri ji. Shastri ji had no children of his own. He was married but was separated from his wife. The then District Magistrate of Purnia got his shraddha rites performed. All the people of the village were taken to Purnia by car. Since he lit the funeral pyre, the shraddha was also performed by him.
Bhola Paswan Shastri’s contemporary was Purnea MP Phani Gopal Sen and both were known for their simple lifestyle. The birth anniversary of Bhola Paswan Shastri, who was the Chief Minister of Bihar thrice, is celebrated at the state level in Purnea and Patna. Bhola Paswan Shastri is remembered as a Chief Minister who did not hesitate to sit under a tree on a blanket. He did not collect any wealth. His family still lives a normal life and the government has also given them some help from time to time. Now a paved road has been built to reach his village.
On the occasion of Bhola Paswan Shastri’s birth anniversary, garlands and Sarvadharma prayer meetings are held at Bhola Paswan Shastri’s village Bairgachhi and his memorial site Kajha Kothi. He was called ‘Videh’ of Bihar politics due to his honesty in public life and keeping himself away from public property. He was also nominated as Rajya Sabha MP in 1972 and also became a minister in the Central Government.
Bhola Paswan Shastri set an example by not accumulating any property in Purnia or his village Bairgachhi and lived life like a common man. He even kept his family away from positions of profit. His village and his family are still living a normal life. Even while being a minister and Chief Minister, he did not hesitate to sit on a blanket spread on the ground under a tree and used to settle government files by holding meetings with officials there itself.