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| Patna, (Bihar Times): Researchers of Kashi Prasad Jaiswal Research Institute (KPJRI), Patna, have identified 60 out of the 200 villages that they believe were associated with the ancient Nalanda University. They are of the view that revenues from these villages were used for the upkeep of the University by the then rulers. The government is planning to develop these 60 villages.
The KPJRI, along with the human resources department, began its first-ever systematic and comprehensive documentation of historical sites in Bihar. The exploration started in July, 2007, and so far documented 3,500 sites from as many villages of 16 districts.
Reports say that the sites have sculptures, mounds, inscriptions and monuments belonging to the Chalcolithic Period (2000 BC-1500 BC), Post-Gupta (5th century AD) and the Pal Period (8-12 Century AD).
“Our teams have so far traversed Patna, Bhojpur, Nalanda, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Vaishali, Nawada, Siwan, Gopalganj and Saran,” KPJRI director Bijay Kumar Choudhary, was quoted in The Indian Express recently.
According to reports sculptures and panels of images of Post-Gupta and Pal periods have been found in abundance in several districts. Besides, mounds that look like stupas, fortified structures and inscriptions, too, have been found. Copper tools and black and red pots of Chalcolitic period have been discovered at Nawada and Nalanda.
Sixty villages at Nalanda, Nawada, Gaya and Jehanabad have been identified on the basis of potshards and inscriptions. A 70-feet high mound at Chankigarh, West Champaran, is one of biggest yields of the exploration though researchers are yet to ascertain if the fortified structure made of burnt-brick is a stupa. Some villages of Gaya, Nalanda and Jehanabad have sculptures belonging to sects of Shaks, Vaishnavas, Buddhists and Jains, thereby suggesting the existence of a pluralistic society.
According to Choudhary once these inscriptions are deciphered, many facts about history would be known. This exercise would help researchers and aid in excavations of sites that the government could develop as tourist spots.
He said that apart from the proposal to develop villages of Nalanda district the KPJRI have already sent a proposal to the government for the development of Barabar and Nagarjuni caves at Jehanabad and Kau-Dol, which is a Post-Gupta period Brahminical sculpture site near Gaya.
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