The Grand Trunk Road, a legendary highway steeped in history and recognized as one of Asia’s oldest and longest, is unexpectedly finding itself at the forefront of political campaigning in Bihar for the 2025 elections. This ancient route, predating modern infrastructure, holds a special place in Bihar’s historical narrative, originating centuries before the Mughal or British periods.
This pivotal route, connecting Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh today, was first envisioned and constructed in the heart of Bihar. Its genesis is linked to two formidable rulers of the region. Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire, from his imperial capital Pataliputra (now Patna), decreed the building of this significant road in the 4th Century BCE. Initially named ‘Uttarapath’, it ran from Balkh in Afghanistan all the way to Tamraliptika in West Bengal, with physical remnants like Ashokan pillars serving as historical markers.
Centuries later, Sher Shah Suri, a ruler hailing from Bihar, played a crucial role in its revitalization and expansion during his rule from 1540 to 1556 CE. He is prominently credited with rebuilding the road, starting by connecting his seat of power in Agra to his ancestral home in Sasaram, Bihar. Renamed ‘Shah Rah-e-Azam’ or ‘Sarak-e-Azam’, it was extended from Sonargaon (now in Bangladesh) to Multan (now in Pakistan). Suri also enhanced the journey by planting trees and establishing sarais, or rest stops.
The GT Road has been a constant thread through South Asian history, known by multiple names under different ruling powers, facilitating trade, migrations, and military maneuvers for millennia. It transitioned from the Mauryan ‘Uttarapath’ to the Suri’s ‘Shah Rah-e-Azam’, then the Mughal’s ‘Badshahi Sarak’ with its characteristic Kos Minars. The British colonial era saw its modernization and its most famous moniker, the Grand Trunk Road, with its modern Indian sections corresponding to NH-1 and NH-2.
This extensive network stretches from Chittagong in Bangladesh, through India, to Lahore in Pakistan, and even reaching Kabul in Afghanistan. During the Mughal period, the road, called ‘Badshahi Sarak’, was a vital administrative tool, with emperors like Akbar and Jahangir promoting the establishment of sarais to boost trade and settlement. The British recognized its strategic value, undertaking significant modernization efforts. The road’s capacity to handle extensive movement of people, goods, and ideas has profoundly influenced the political and cultural fabric of the entire subcontinent.
