There’s something common between Scotland and Bihar: Do you know what? 

The world we live in is full of quirky little facts that amaze us. Well, here’s one for you. Apart from the capital of Bihar, there’s another Patna, somewhere else in the world. Surprised? Well, we are talking about another city named Patna. It’s in Scotland! Historian John Moore in his 1972 book, Gently Flows the Doon had written, “Patna, the second surviving Doon Valley village, whose name conjures up visions of rice paddy fields, owes its title to the great Indian city on the Ganges. It was founded in the early years of the 19th century by William Fullarton, whose family had a close connection with the Bihar State.” Want to know more about the story behind the Patna of Scotland?  Read on! 

A bird’s eye view of Scotland’s Patna 
The Scottish settlement of Patna is located 72 kilometres from Glasgow, between the Carrick and Kyle districts in East Ayrshire, exactly 11,000 kilometres from Bihar's capital city Patna. Well, it is home to almost 3,000 people and is situated on the lovely banks of the river Doon, similar to the Indian Patna, which is situated on the banks of the mighty river Ganges.  

How did Scotland’s Patna get its name? 
Well, this is a question that intrigued us too! So, the story goes like this. William's father, John Fullarton, was a major general in the British Army stationed in Bihar from 1744-66. Even his uncle worked as a surgeon at Fort William in Calcutta for the East India Company. As a result, the family's time in Bihar enabled it to form close ties with the local population.  

Now, William, who was an agriculturist by profession, was born in Patna in 1774. He also spent his early years there. In 1802, he is said to have gone to Scotland to take over a mining company in East Ayrshire, a village where there was plenty of coal and limestone. Meanwhile, he wanted to provide housing for workers who were employed on his estate and coalfields. This is when William founded a village in the area and christened it after the Indian city where he was born. He went further ahead and built a bridge, now known as, Patna Auld Bridge that was in use for 155 years until 1960. Later on, a replacement bridge was constructed in its place. 

Evolution of Scotland’s Patna over the years 
Scotland's Patna grew into a rather quiet settlement of people who engaged in wool weaving and cow rearing rather than mining in the years following its creation. Patna Church, Patna Youth Group, Patna Community Centre, Patna Golf Club, and Patna Primary School were all built over time in the hamlet. “Erected by the inhabitants of this neighbourhood in testimony of their gratitude to William Fullarton,” reads a plaque on the local school building! Interestingly, local children in village schools are taught all about the Indian city that gave their village its name. 

Bihar Diwas celebrated in Scotland  
What is even more astounding is that Bihar Diwas was celebrated on March 22, 2018 in Patna, Scotland. In fact, YK Sinha, the Indian High Commissioner at the time in (and a Patna native), was the primary guest at the event, which was attended by various members of the Indian community.