2,500 yrs ago,a city bigger than Athens in Orissa

I just read an article on front page of newspaper today about an excavation work that has been carried out at Orissa,and also they had come up with some interesting facts.Facts about a city that flourished in Orissa about 2,500 years ago,a city which had a much more greater population than the classical Athens.So i didnt able to stop myself and without wasting time, i searched about the matter and tried to compile up some best facts for my readers.The team of researchers began there excavation work at this site just 2 years back.So just start reading and get to know about this biggest city of history.

Researchers involved in excavation at the ancient city of Sisupalgarh on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar have come across a number of artefacts and structures that throw light on the existence of a flourishing urban life during the pre-historic period.

The geophysical research showed large-scale patterns of subsurface architecture such as streets, which were visible linking the gateways in the interior of the site, and a large ancient perimeter area around the pillar zone,confirmed the researchers, from Pune based Deccan College and University Of California.

These researchers, with the help of students from different universities and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), began their work in 2000, about 50 years after the first excavation.

After several deep trenches, they have now exposed 18 previously unknown pillars and several associated structures on a mound within the fortification wall.

Sisupalgarh was absolutely visible through naked eyes as well as from the space and this could be one of its kinds of cultural heritage in the whole of eastern India.

According to this researchers, this place was ruled under one ruler and the ancient population inhabiting the place was estimated to be 25,000,which was much more greater in number then the classical ATHENS,that also had only 10,000 peoples.Even they they said that,the civilisation could have lasted for more than 1,000 years between 3rd BC and 3rd AD.

During there excavation work near "Majestic Gate",which was also excavated in the year 1950 by some other researchers,they found house foundations of laterite block architecture.Even the habitation areas that they had excavated,also contained very large quantities of household pottery such as bowls and jars along with other household artefacts such as iron nails and terracotta ornaments including bangles, finger rings, pendants and ear spools.

The latest debris deposits and 18 pillars are the indications, that it was meant for some public use like public gatherings etc.Researchers are suggesting, that the artisans at Sisupalgarh were manufacturing potteries massively and those were in rapid use.

Another important suggestionby researchers is that the people, animals and trash were closely integrated in the crowded space of the city. Moreover, they might have practised the same wasteful consumption which is witnessed in the modern day cities.

However still they trying to gather some more relevant data to find out the reasons behind the destruction of this huge city.And am really getting too curious to know about the reasons which were behind the destruction of this beautiful city.Along that there many other facts also on which the work is still going on at that area, and surely sooner they would come up with some more amazing facts.

Source: TOI, The Hindu
Compiled By:Saurav Chakraborty

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Bodh Gaya----A Real Place 2 Visit

Bodh Gaya or Bodhgaya is a city in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is famous for being the place of Buddha's attainment of Enlightenment.

Historically, it was known as the Bodhimanda (ground round the Bodhi-tree), and there was a large monastic settlement there. The main monastery of Bodhgaya used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihāra (Pali). Now it is called the Mahabodhi Temple.

For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha, the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History:
According to Buddhist traditions, circa 500 BC Prince Gautama Siddhartha, wandering as a monk, reached the sylvan banks of Falgu River, near the city of Gaya. There he sat in meditation under a bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa). After three days and three nights of meditation, Siddharta attained enlightenment and insight, and the answers that he had sought. He then spent seven weeks at seven different spots in the vicinity meditating and considering his experience. After seven weeks, he travelled to Sarnath, where he began teaching Buddhism.

Disciples of Gautama Siddhartha began to visit the place where he had gained enlightenment during the full moon in the month of Vaisakh (April-May), as per the Hindu calendar. Over time, the place became known as Bodh Gaya, the day of enlightenment as Buddha Purnima, and the tree as the Bodhi Tree.

The history of Bodh Gaya is documented by many inscriptions and pilgrimage accounts. Foremost among these are the accounts of the Chinese pilgrims Faxian in the 5th century and Xuanzang in the 7th century. The area was at the heart of a Buddhist civilization for centuries, until it was conquered by Turkish armies in the 13th century.

What To See:

• Mahabodhi Temple:The complex, located about 96 kilometers from Patna,contains the Mahabodhi Temple with the diamond throne (called the Vajrasana) and the holy Bodhi tree. This tree was originally a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Sri Lanka, itself grown from a sapling of the original Bodhi tree.
• It is believed that 250 years after the Enlightenment of the Buddha, Emperor Asoka visited Bodh Gaya. He is considered to be the founder of the original Mahabodhi temple. It consisted of an elongated spire crowned by a miniature stupa and a chhatravali on a platform. A double flight of steps led up to the platform and the upper sanctum. The mouldings on the spire contained Buddha images in niches. Some historians believe that the temple was constructed or renovated in the 1st century during the Kushan period. With the decline of Buddhism in India, the temple was abandoned and forgotten, buried under layers of soil and sand.
• The temple was later restored by Sir Alexander Cunningham as part of his work for the British Archaeological Society in the late 19th century. In 1883, Cunningham along with J. D. Beglar and Dr Rajendralal Miitra painstakingly excavated the site. Extensive renovation work was carried out to restore Bodh Gaya to its former glory.
• Animesh Lochan Chaitya: It is believed that the Buddha spent one week here looking towards the great Bodhi tree out of gratitude, without twinkling his eyes.
• Mahabodhi Tree: The present Bodhi Tree is probably the fifth succession of the original tree under which the Buddha had attained enlightenment. Vajrasana, the seat of stability, is a stone platform on which the Buddha is supposed to have sat in meditation gazing east, under the Bodhi tree.
• Chankramana: This marks the sacred spot of the Buddha's meditative perambulations during the third week after pious enlightenment. It is believed that wherever the Buddha put his feet lotus sprang up.
• Ratnagarh: The Buddha spent one week here, where it is believed that five colors came out of his body.
• Other Treasures of Bodhgaya: 80 ft Statue of the Buddha, Lotus Tank, Buddha Kund, Rajayatana, Brahm Yoni, Chinese Temple & Monastery, Burmese Temple, Buddhist Monastery of Bhutan, International Buddhist House & Japanese Temple, Thai Temple & Monastery, Tibetan Monastery, Archaeological Museum. Sujata village (2 kms), Dungeshwari Hill (Prag bodhi) (22 kms by road), Maitraya Project (3 kms).

Temple Timings:

• Mahabodhi Temple: 5 AM to 9 PM
• Other Monastries: 5 AM to 12 Noon and 2 PM to 6 PM

How To Reach:

• Air: The nearest airport is at Gaya 7 Kms and Patna 135 kms.
• Rail: The nearest railway station is Gaya (17km).
• Local Transport: Taxis, Tongas, Auto Rickshaws, Cycle Rickshaws are available.
• Bus : Regular direct bus services are available from Gaya, Patna, Nalanda, Rajgir, Varanasi.

Where To Stay:
Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation runs three hotels - Siddhartha Vihar, Buddha Vihar and Sujata Vihar and has a Tourist Information Centre in its sprawling tourist complex campus. There is Hotel Bodhgaya Ashok run by Indian Tourism development Corporation and there are several other private hotels in the town.

Sources:Wikipedia,Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation & other tourism websites
Compiled By:Saurav Chakraborty

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Tughlakabad Fort

The 3rd town of Delhi, Tughlakabad was founded by Giyasuddin Tughlak between 1321-25, 15 km away from the city, 8 km from the Qutab. The Tughlakabad Fort, where the capital of the city was located, was named after the dynasty and was as immense as it was fortified. After 15 years it was abandoned probably because of water scarcity. After the death of- Giyasuddin, his son Muhammad-bin-Tughlak built the Adilabad Fort anew and transferred the capital from Delhi to Devgiri in the south. The 1120 km journey caused various losses, particularly an enormous number of lives. However, both the adjoining sights are in ruins today. Legend says, the empire was destroyed owing to the curse of Nijamuddin, a religious leader. Tughlakabad is like a haunted place today, inhabited by gypsies. But the beautiful tomb of Giyasuddin (1325) in the artificial lake at the southern gate of the fort, on the Meherauli-Badarpur highway is a mediaeval relic reminds back to the past.

Tughlaqabad Fort, perched on a rocky hill, constitutes one third of the capital city of India. The fort is located on the Qutab-Badarpur Road and was built by Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughlaq,the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. The Tuglaqabad Fort seems to be more or less octagonal, with a border of approximately 6.5-km. The ramparts of the fort, now in ruins, are between 10m to 15m high with fortresses and gateways at intervals. The Tughlakhabad at Delhi was built to serve a dual purpose, one of providing a defensive structure to the ruler and the second, to serve as his imposing capital.

Tughlaqabad stands divided into three segments. The eastern segment is entered through from the Qutub-Badarpur road. It is a rectangular area enclosed within high walls and bastions and used to serve as the citadel. On the west side of the Tughlaqabad Fort is a wider area that once contained the palaces and is surrounded by walls and bastions. A huge reservoir stands on the southern side of the Tughlaqabad Fort at Delhi. Bunds were put up between hills to the east to create the reservoir, which is linked with Ghiyas-ud-Din's tomb through a causeway.

There is a wide mound near the south eastern-corner of the Fort Tughlakhabad of Delhi that leads to the fortress of Adilabad. The sluice gates near the mound were used for controlling water for irrigation purposes. There is also a tower, known as the Bijai-Mandal, inside the fort, along with remains of several halls, and also a long underground passageway. To the north of the fort, lies the city of Tughlaqabad, which is now mostly in ruins.

On my personal visit to this place,i realized that it can be turned out to one of the tourist destination in new delhi,after the famous historical tourist destinations like Qutab Minar,Humayun Tomb and Red Fort.But for that government should start taking care of this historical place before it get totally lost in ruins.

As right now this fort has lost its glory completely and hardly anybody wants to visit this place due to lack of easy access to this place and even many of us doesnt know about this fort.

Compiled By: Saurav Chakraborty
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Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein, born on March 14, 1879 at Ulm, Wurttemberg, Germany. We know about his valued contribution to Physics and that E= mc2 got him the Nobel Prize in 1921. But, most of us remain oblivious to the fact that this day marks the 120th birth anniversary of Albert Einstein.

In 1999 Time magazine named Einstein the “Person of the Century”. Four of Einstein’s publications in 1905 radically changed the way physicists viewed the world. They are together known as the Annus Mirabilis Papers (Annus mirabilis meaning “wonderful year” in Latin).

According to wikipedia.org, in 1924, Indian Physicist Satyendra Nath Bose sent a statistical model to Einstein. This model proposed that light could be understood as a gas. Consequently, Einstein published the Bose-Einstein condensate phenomena.

When Einstein died in 1955 of internal bleeding, the Princeton Hospital pathologist Thomas Stoltz Harvey removed Einstein’s brain for preservation, in hope that the neuroscience of the future would be able to discover what made Einstein so intelligent. Today, after52 years of his death, Einstein still lives as the 2001 aestroid Einstein, as the chemical element 99 einsteinium and as the Einstein, a unit used in photochemistry.


Source: HT Horizon
Compiled By: Saurav Chakraborty

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International Mother Language Day

Ordinarily the 21st of February is the 52nd day of the Gregorian calendar.But,the day is significantly imprinted in the historical rubric of our time.More so,since United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) proclaimed it the International Mother Language Day on November 17,1999.

Locally known as the Bhasha Andolan Dibosh,Language Movement Day is fondly remembered as the Natinal Day of Bangladesh to comemorate the protests and sacrifices by the people to protect Bengali as a national language.

In 1952,students from all across East Pakistan started a procession on 21st of February to prevent Urdu from becoming the sole language for all of Pakistan.The movement spread to the whole of East Pakistan and forced the then government of Pakistan to relent and give Bengali equal status as National Language.This movement is significant because it intiated the sparksfor the independence movement that led to the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971.

In 1999,the UNESCO General Conference adopted a draft resolution submitted by Bangladesh and supported by 28 other countries.This effectively implied an international recognition of the Language Movement Day,which metamorphosed into International Mother Language Day.
UNESCO now celebrates 21st February every year.It sets a theme for each individual year and holds related events at its headquartes in Paris.

Quite Interesting!

Source:Hindustan Times
Compiled by:Saurav Chakraborty