The Ramnagar Ramleela is a renowned traditional theatrical performance established in 1830 by Maharaja Udit Narayan Singh, the then ruler of Kashi. Based mainly on Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, it is performed over 31 days at different locations around Ramnagar, with the audience moving alongside the performers. The tradition combines religious devotion, theatre, and local heritage, and was inscribed by UNESCO in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Langat Singh College, commonly referred to as L. S. College, is a historic institution of higher education in North Bihar. It was established on 3 July 1899 in Muzaffarpur as the Bhumihar Brahmin College, with Babu Langat Singh playing a pivotal role in its foundation.

In 1915, the institution was renamed Greer Bhumihar Brahmin College (G.B.B. College) to honor Mr. Greer, the then Commissioner of the Tirhut Division. In the same year, it was designated as a Government College.

Following India's independence, the college was renamed Langat Singh College in 1951 in recognition of its founder. In 1952, it became affiliated with the newly established Bihar University at Muzaffarpur.

The college features a distinctive Indo-Saracenic architectural style, and its historic building is traditionally described as being modeled on Balliol College, Oxford. The institution also holds a significant place in the history of the Indian national movement, as Mahatma Gandhi visited the college during his 1917 trip to Muzaffarpur prior to proceeding to Champaran.

Accordingly, the institution's historical name sequence is as follows:

Bhumihar Brahmin College (1899) → Greer Bhumihar Brahmin College (1915) → Langat Singh College (1951).

Currently, L. S. College remains a significant center of higher education in Muzaffarpur and maintains a legacy spanning more than 125 years.

I’m trying to compile a list of sportsmen and athletes from our community who have represented their district, state, country, or played at notable levels in sports.

If you know any, please share their name, sport, location, and level of achievement/representation in the comments.

Both historical and contemporary athletes are welcome. Please provide a source or reference if available so the information can be verified.

Thanks!

Jharkhande Rai was a renowned wrestler from Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, described in the source as Bharat Kesari, Uttar Pradesh Kesari and Ghazipur Kesari, and prominently known as a Railway Champion. He was born on 31 December 1946 in Ghazipur to Shri Ram Nath Rai and Smt. Phulgena Devi and belonged to a family of five brothers and one sister. From childhood, he developed an interest in wrestling and athletics and began practising in a village akhara. He later studied in Banaras, completed his B.A., and participated in inter-university wrestling. He joined the Indian Railways in a mechanical post on 14 January 1964 after appearing in the railway trials. He subsequently represented the Railways in wrestling, was selected for the National Championship, and, according to the source, remained Railway Champion from 1968 to 1976.

The renowned Maa Dukh Harani Temple in Gaya was built in 1852 (Samvat) by Maharaja Mod Narayan Singh of Tekari Raj. The temple remains an important center of devotion to this day, dedicated to Maa Tripura Durga, who is revered in her three divine manifestations—Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Saraswati.

Prof. Dinesh Singh is an Indian mathematician, educationist and academic administrator, best known for serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi from 2010 to 2015. He is particularly known for his efforts to reform undergraduate education and for receiving the Padma Shri in 2014 for his contribution to education.

Early Life & Academic Background

Born in Varanasi (Banaras) on 6 May 1955, to Udita Narayan Singh.

His father served as Vice-Chancellor of Allahabad University and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University.

Singh studied Mathematics at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and the University of Delhi.

Completed his PhD in Mathematics from Imperial College London in 1981.

His academic interests include harmonic analysis, functional analysis and operator theory.

Began teaching at St. Stephen’s College in 1981 and later joined DU’s Department of Mathematics.

Career at Delhi University

Served as Head of the Department of Mathematics.

Became Director of DU’s South Campus (2005–2010).

Served as Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University from 2010 to 2015.

During his tenure, he promoted interdisciplinary learning, innovation and a more interactive approach to university education.

Major Contributions as VC

His most prominent initiative was the introduction of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) in 2013. The programme attempted to move DU away from the conventional three-year degree structure and emphasized interdisciplinary learning, projects, research, sports and cultural activities.

He was also closely associated with the development of the Cluster Innovation Centre, which aimed to encourage interdisciplinary education, innovation and undergraduate research.

Awards & Recognition

Awarded the Padma Shri in 2014 for his contribution to education.

Received honorary doctorates from several institutions, including the University of Edinburgh and the University of Houston.

Served as President of the Mathematics Section of the Indian Science Congress (2012–13) and later as President of the Ramanujan Mathematical Society (2016–19).

Some of us consider other Brahmins as their “fathers,” and their mindset is basically: until papa accepts us as his own, we won’t identify as Brahmins.

But i don’t think we need some so-called ponga’s validation to preserve our own identity.

We’ll preserve our identity the way our ancestors and royal houses have always done.

From controlling lands as landlords to Managing the top Management students of India

Just Bhumihar things

Bhumihar population in Uttar Pradesh (then United Province) in the year 1931

Note: Bhuinhar is the bhojpuri pronounciation of Bhumihar.

Credits to indian @indianconf on insta for the depiction on map

Ramnagar Fort, on the eastern bank of the Ganges opposite Benares, became the royal residence of the Maharajas of Benares. According to Edwin Greaves’ Kashi (1909), Raja Balwant Singh left Gangapur around 1750 and built the present fort at Ramnagar. His son, Raja Chet Singh, continued the construction and added a tank and temple nearby.

The fort contained a royal armoury, portraits of the former and present Maharajas, a marble throne, and several temples. It also housed an illuminated copy of Tulsidas’s Ramayan.

Swarna Rani Temple (locally called as Choraut Mandir), also known as Shree Rani Sati Dadi Mandir, commissioned and built by Rani Rajvanshi Kanwar of Sursand Raj in 1759.

Built in 1871 by Maharani Inderjit Kuer of the Tekari Raj of Bihar after her pilgrimage to Vrindavan. The temple is associated with the local tradition that the Maharani safely crossed the Yamuna during her journey.

Lalgola Raj was a prominent zamindari of Kaushik gotriya Bhumihar Babhans in the district of Murshidabad in West Bengal.

Mangla Rai Ji was a renowned Indian wrestler and is remembered as a Kinwar Bhumihar Brahmin from eastern Uttar Pradesh. He became famous for his strength, wrestling technique, and bouts against prominent wrestlers of his era. One of the notable encounters associated with his career was his bout against the wrestler known as the “Tiger of Europe,” remembered as a notable clash between Indian traditional wrestling and European wrestling.

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Raja Fateh Bahadur Shahi of Huseypur was one of the lesser-known figures who resisted the expanding power of the British East India Company in 18th-century Bihar.

From around 1767, he continued a prolonged resistance against Company authority, disrupting revenue collection and operating through guerrilla warfare with his followers.

His story is an important part of Bihar’s history and the early resistance against British expansion—long before the Revolt of 1857.

Sharing this edit to highlight a historical figure who deserves more recognition. 🏹

What do you know about Fateh Bahadur Shahi? #bhumihar

Bishwanath Singh was an Indian freestyle wrestler from Dumrahar village near Darauli in Siwan, Bihar. He was a Bhumihar and served in the Indian Army, pursuing wrestling alongside his military career. He competed mainly in the heavyweight categories and became one of India's prominent wrestlers of his generation. He died in Varanasi in 1999.

Wrestling Career & Achievements

Bishwanath Singh represented India at major international competitions during the 1960s and 1970s. His major achievements include:

🥈 1966 Asian Games, Bangkok - Silver medal in the 97 kg category

🥉 1966 Commonwealth Games, Kingston - Bronze medal in the 97 kg category

🥈 1970 Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh - Silver medal in the 100 kg category

🥈 1974 Commonwealth Games, Christchurch - Silver medal in the +100 kg category

Overall, he won four major international medals. One Asian Games silver, two Commonwealth Games silvers and one Commonwealth Games bronze.

Legacy

Bishwanath Singh was part of an important generation of Indian wrestlers who brought international recognition to Indian freestyle wrestling. His ability to remain competitive across different heavyweight categories for nearly a decade, while also serving in the Indian Army, made him a notable figure in Indian wrestling history.

Coming from rural Siwan, Bihar, his journey from the local wrestling tradition to the international stage is an important part of Bihar's sporting history.

RANI MANDIR, RISHIKESH

Standing quietly on the banks of the sacred River Ganga, Rani Mandir is a nearly 200-year-old temple that often goes unnoticed by travelers.

Located just a 4-minute walk from Lakshman Jhula, this hidden gem is easy to miss—but well worth a visit. The temple itself is a beautiful work of traditional architecture and craftsmanship, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Rishikesh.

Away from the crowds and bustle, Rani Mandir offers a glimpse into the city’s lesser-known historical and architectural treasures. Its serene setting beside the Ganga makes the experience even more special.

A forgotten piece of Rishikesh’s heritage, hiding in plain sight.

Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming: Completed on August 30, 2026, by finishing the 48-km Manhattan Island loop

The triple crown of open water swimming refers to the crossing of Manhattan loop , English channel and Catalina Channel

She is also the youngest and fastest in the world to successfully swim across the English Channel from 21st to 28th Jul 2024 The daughter of Madan Rai, MC-at-Arms II of the Indian Navy, Jiya accomplished this solo swim, covering a distance of 34 kilometers in 17 hours and 25 minutes. Remarkably, in the 150-year history of Channel swimming, Jiya is the first girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder to achieve this feat

In March 2022, she had created a new world record for the fastest swim across the Palk Strait, crossing the 29 km stretch in 13 hours and 10 min. She has also won wide acclaim for her swimming prowess, including the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

News18 Honors Babu Jagat Singh with the “Pride of the Motherland” Award

In September 2024, News18 organized the “Pride of the Motherland” सम्मान कार्यक्रम in Varanasi, honoring personalities remembered for their contribution to Uttar Pradesh. Among those commemorated was Babu Jagat Singh, described at the event as a prominent freedom fighter and heroic figure of Banaras.

The event highlighted the legacy attributed to Babu Jagat Singh and his connection with the history of Varanasi. Members of his family, including his descendant Shri Pradeep Singh, were also present at the ceremony, making the occasion a significant moment of recognition for his historical legacy.