Patna: In a notable step towards restoring its ancient glory in the field of education, the state of Bihar is all set to revive it’s another ancient centre of learning near Antichak in Bhagalpur.
Located on the banks of river Ganga, Antichak of Kahalgaon was the very place from where the ancient Vikramshila University flourished as a renowned centre of learning, attracting scholars and students from all over Asia between 8th to 12th centuries.
The state government has recently identified around 205 acres of land just around a few kilometers away from the ancient site of the university to develop a Central University, as mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he last visited the district in February this year.
Excavation and arrangements at ancient Vikramshila
A centre for studying theology, philosophy, metaphysics, Bhartiya logic and more significantly the Tantra Vidya, a study of the occult sciences, Vikramshila was founded by King Dharmpala of the Pala dynasty in the late 7th to early 8th century, marking the establishment of another splendid centre of learning after Nalanda.
The university continued to flourish for the next four centuries, producing eminent scholars who later spearheaded the cultural spread of the Bhartiya knowledge system and philosophy across the boundaries of the modern-day Bharat.
At its peak, the university had thousands of students, engaged in studies of manuscripts, grammar, Sanskrit and Tantra Vidya at the centre. The university also had a vast library and a dedicated air-conditioned system (cooling system) possibly for preserving precious manuscripts, before it was destroyed by the invading forces of Bakhtiyar Khilji along with Nalanda in the late 12th century.
Report suggests that the ruins of the ancient university were first revealed by Lakshmikanta Mishra. The description of the university was also featured prominently in the writings of Tibetan monks and historian Taranath.
The site revealed by Mishra was first excavated under B.P Sinha of Patna University (1960-69) and later by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) from 1972 to 1982.
The excavations led to unearthing of several Buddhist and Hindu temples (108) alongside disclosure of a giant square monastery centred with a cruciform stupa namely the ‘Vikramshila stupa’, a library building and a life size copy of Gaya’s sacred Mahabodhi tree.
The entire area acquires around over 100 acres with 208 cells, each reportedly containing three beds. A few brick arched chambers were also traced beneath the cells, possibly for meditation practices of monks.
The excavation also led to unearthing of idols of Budhha, Marichi, Avalokitesvara, Aparajita Jambala, Bodhisattwa, Lokenath, Tara along images of Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, Krishna, Ganesh, Kartikeya, Mahisasurmardini, and Surya which are kept at a museum build near the site.
Vikramshila Central University
The government both state and the Union have set plans in motion to revive the ancient glory associated with the Vikramshila by erecting a new central university just kilometers away from the ruins of the ancient centre.
Addressing a gathering in Bhagalpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February this year announced, “We have already fused ancient Nalanda University’s glory with the new Nalanda University and now it’s the turn of Vikramshila University as we are opening a Central University here.”
With the identification of land done and state government led by CM Nitish Kumar allocating a fund of Rs 90 crore for the acquisition process, it is being speculated that the work for the proposed university could begin soon.
If reports are to be believed, the PM himself could lay the foundation stone for the proposed university in the months of April/May, marking the commencement of the project after the Union Government approved it with an allocation of Rs 500 crore in the year 2015.
Hinting that the state government has already started the process, Bihar’s deputy CM Samrat Choudhary recently remarked “Project Vikramshila has started. The land acquisition process will complete soon and the time is not far when the new Nalanda and Vikramshila universities will collaborate just the way they did in ancient times.”
Educationist opines that opening of the central university at the site will pave way for bridging the ancient education system with the modern one as the subjects which were pursued by the students at the university in ancient time will likely to be included along with the modern ones in the proposed university. This will provide students an opportunity to pursue the excellence of ancient education system along in research work.
The revival of ancient universities which once illuminated the ‘land of knowledge’ with glorious traditions of Bhartiya knowledge system and culture at its centre is considered crucial, not only for the restoration of self-belief in the hearts of younger generations but also for the state’s overall journey to match with its glorious ancient heritage.
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