Researchers in Bihar have identified 60 out of the 200 villages that they believe were associated with the ancient Nalanda University. They say that revenues from these villages, located in the vicinity of the university, were used for its upkeep by the then rulers.

This and many more such findings have come to the fore after Kashi Prasad Jaisawal Research Institute (KPJRI), under the state HRD Ministry, began its first-ever systematic and comprehensive documentation of historical sites in Bihar. The exploration, which started in July, 2007, has so far documented 3,500 sites from as many villages of 16 districts.

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).

Speaking to The Indian Express, KPJRI director Bijay Kumar Choudhary said: “Our teams have so far traversed Patna, Bhojpur, Nalanda, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Vaishali, Nawada, Siwan, Gopalganj and Saran.”

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.

... contd.