Contesting Colonialism and Separatism: Muslims of Muzaffarpur Since 1857 is an account of the Muslim communities of Muzaffarpur in north Bihar, and explores the history of the area, the socio-political behaviour of the Muslim communities, their economic conditions and negotiations for a share in the power-structure. This study is presented in three segments: (a) the political evolution of the area during the colonial era through an exploration of the sub-regional socio-political setting; (b) the participation of the Muslims of this area in the Congress-led movements till the 1930s, narrating the largely untold story of Muslim resistance to the Muslim League’s politics of territorial separatism, despite their grievances against and alienation from the Congress during 1937–47; and (c) their post-independence experiences and political anxieties, problems and prospects.