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Tag of war finally surfaces in Vikramshila Buddha Mahavihara – Nitish Vs center government !

Bihar governor, Satya Pal Malik today rush to the half-excavated ruins of Viskramshila, the ancient seat of learning on a spot verification. Malik’s mission was how to explore the possibility of put forward this world famous heritage site in the international map of tourism. He also strengthened the need of place Vikramshila in international markets so for its world wide promotions.

Malik who was apparently in hurry, said that for the first time he was visiting the place but visiting of important divinatory like a governor or the chief minister to such this would certainly its positive impacts. He expressed his concerned to witness the story saga of the place once which spread rays of education and Buddhist philosophy to the entire world. Renowned scholar and high priest in this world varsity, Acharya Dipanker Srighyan Atish who carried forwarded the legacy the this varsity, has become a forgotten chapter here.

He however assured that  after returning back to Patna, he would certainly mount pressure on the government agencies for all possible works for the restoration of this place.

Palit at the central Stupa at Vikramshila.

Malik landed at  NTPC’s airstrip, some 11 Km from Vikramshila, reached to the site of ancient world University once established by King Dharmapala of Pala dynasty in the 8 th  century (750-800 AD)  while enjoying bumpy drives on dilapidated road. He  told reporters that the connectivity of Vikramshila to other parts should immediately be restored properly. “The antics are unique here and very rare,” he expressed while observing the museum of archeological survey of India (ASI) near the excavation site also.

Malik’s promptness in visiting Vikramshila all of sudden said to be happened for the political gimmick earlier shown by state chief minister Nitish Kumar on February 15. Kumar who visited Kahalgaon on yesterday for inauguration of Bateshwar Ganga Pump Nahar Yojna, a lift irrigation project, urged the residents mostly farmers to give their lands in exchange of compensation for the proposed central varsity. “Nitish who always remains hostile towards Vikramshila and other works related to it, now has diverted the land acquisition issue for the central varsity,” alleged N K Jaiswala, coordinator of Vikramshila Nagarik Samity, a body fighting for the cause of Vikramshila.

Political observers also alleged Nitish for making the delay of selecting 500 acres of lands for the proposed central varsity even after passing over 3 years while lands for Nalanda University related work was done within 6 months recently. “Acquisition of land is the process under district administration and since local people are ready to give their lands, what is the need of such appeal by the chief minister here yesterday?” the political observers raised question.

“Governor Bihar today visited the place for finalizing the process of the proposed central varsity announced by the prime minister in 2015,” they claimed. Local administration said it was a family trip of the governor but he came alone here and minutely witnessed everything here, they said further.

“Before 2019 polls, central government would like to accelerate the works for the proposed central varsity while the tendency of state government is still to delay it. The visit of the governor today would certain impact on fulfilling central government’s strategy in Vikramshila,” they claimed.

A delegation of  Press club of Eastern Bihar, Bhagalpur called on Malik and gave him a memorandum urging for establishing a chair in the name of Acharya Dipanker Srighyan Atish, high priest of Vikramshila Buddha Mahavihara, at Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur (TMB) University.

Malik visits museum at vikramshila premises.

Rajiv Siddharth, president of the club who briefed Malik about Dipanker, a renowned scholar who contributed for proposition and spreading of Buddhism, told Malik has assured for establishing the chair at TMB University. The main aim of establishing the chair in the name of Dipanker is to highlight the silent features of the ancient times in terms of research works, documentations and exchange of innovative works through UGC sponsored schemes, Siddharth pointed out.