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It’s coincident that when China has started trying to play foul game with Tibet mainly for destroying the traditional Buddhism from that snow land, Indian scholars started demands for searching out the ancient history from the bed of Vikramshila Buddha Mahavihara just to strengthen the roots of Buddhism in Tibet and also for showing the world more about Vikramshila.

Former director of archeological survey of India (ASI), Dr B S Verma has strengthened the need of reviving of the excavation works at the site of half-excavated Vikramshila Buddha Mahavihara for making world aware about how the erstwhile world University carried forward India’s rich legacy into the large spectrum of the world.

Bihar chapter of ASI also echoed Dr Verma and decided to initiate for completing the excavation works for searching out many missing links at the ancient seat of learning.

Vikramshila Buddha Mahavihara.

Historian and many scholars also supported Dr Verma’s demand for completing the excavation at Vikramshila for the sake of Lamaism of Tibet when China has started conspiracy to change the Tibetan concept of Buddhism. Prominent historian and research scholars said since the early claims by many noted historians about the birth place of Dipanker Srigyana Atisa at Bangladesh  has been proofed partially wrong, excavation should be complete to place such facts before the world as they too believe that the excavation would throw more lights on the missing facts of the ancient history.

Dr Verma  even at his 95 year age, carries the same zeal with him for  Vikramshila which he once  excavated under his guidance in seventies. “ For some  unavoidable reasons I did not complete the excavations works but in my report published by ASI on 2011, “Antichak Excavation –II” (1971-81), I mentioned the relevancy of completing the excavation which was left by me on 1981,” he told in an exclusive chat with @news 5pm.

“Tibetan sources mentioned that the Turks destroyed Vikramshila Mahavihara with assistance of local inhabitants. There is a reference to  a fort constructed by Turks who were responsible for the destruction of the monastery. It is stated that after plundering the Mahavihara, they constructed a fort near the monastery out the materials robbed from the Mahavihara and stayed there for some time,” he recalled.

“ During the last phase of the excavation at Vikramshila on 1981, we observed the mount near the half-excavated site of Vikramshila which is known as Jangaliasthan. We found some evidences of that fort constructed with the extracts of damage Vikramshila ruins but unfortunately we did not complete the works. But in my strong belief some key points still buried under Jangaliasthan even today which could answer the missing clues of Vikramshila,” Dr Verma pointed out.

Dr Verma who excavated Vikramshila finally.

Siv Shanker Singh Parijat, a former deputy director rank official at PRD, Bihar turned historian who conducted exclusive research on Dipanker Srigyana Atisa, the former Achriya at Vikramshila and pioneer in reestablishing Buddhism in the world, said many scholars earlier spread confusion about Vikramshila mainly due to not finding of any inscription or seal of Vikramshila at the excavated site despite the fact that all literary references and geographical locations had suggested the excavated edifices as Vikramshila there. “Excavation at  Jangaliasthan mount could give the answer and even some missing links could be found from the place. Secondly, like some previous scholars, China managed to spread the false claim that Bangladesh is the birthplace of Dipanker. China even provided many assistances to Bangladesh for establishing the birthplace of Dipanker there mainly to create confusion between India and Tibet on Buddhism,” he pointed out.

Gautami Bhattacharya, superintending archeologist , ASI’s Excavation branch-III, Patna confirmed that the ASI has been planning for restarting the excavation works mainly at Jangaliasthan mount near the half-excavated site of Vikramshila. “I have gone through the report of Dr Verma and really it was very important for digging out the truth below the earth there before the world,” she said. But when asked about restarting excavation at Vikramshila, Bhattacharya said that since ASI’s Excavation branch-III, Patna has initiated excavation at Uren at Lakhisarai from December last to search out the sites  associated with  Buddha and Pala periods, it would not possible for them to shift focus immediately on Vikramshila. “ But Vikramshila project is also in the pipeline and I personally called on Dr Verma. But to start the excavation work there it will take some time,” she told.

Tourists rush at Vikramshila .

Dr. Raman Sinha, a senior professor at the faculty of history in Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU) has welcomed the decision of the ASI and urged it to start the work on priority basis. “The excavation will give many evidences which not will clear the confusions about Vikramshila but also give some solid archeological evidences about the original birth place of Dipankar,” he claimed.

“During last one week more than 2.5 lakhs tourists have visited the half-excavated site here but the foreigners who have started visiting the place in large numbers, also started searching such missing links of Vikramshila and the original birthplace of Dipanker,” said Pawan Kumar Choudhary, an expert in Vikramshila affairs at Kahalgaon.