Other States - Bihar   

Satellite to take a closer look at Nalanda

Anita Joshua

Research shows that ancient university spread over a wider area

NALANDA (BIHAR): For the first time ever, satellite mapping of the ancient Nalanda University area will be undertaken to establish whether the contours of this historic seat of learning extended beyond its known boundaries as suggested by some recent studies. This was decided at a meeting between Union Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar earlier this week.

Research at the Nava Nalanda Mahavira (NNM) has thrown up new information indicating the possibility of the ancient university being spread over 16 sq km. As of date, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has 1.5 sq km under it of which ruins over one sq km have been exposed through two excavations.

With Ms. Soni showing keen interest in NNM's findings, ASI -- which has been maintaining that it has not chanced upon any surface indications to substantiate the possibility of a larger complex -- has decided to initiate the process of writing to the Indian Space Research Organisation's National Remote Sensing Agency at Hyderabad to undertake a satellite imagery of the area.

"Should something show up in the satellite imagery, then ground penetrating radars can be used to identify the feature and help us decide whether we should go for non-intrusive reconnaissance or actual digging,'' said an ASI official. A major problem will be acquiring the land as small settlements have come up all around the remains.

Anticipating a problem in land acquisition, Ms. Soni's refrain at the meetings with stakeholders during her two-day visit to the Buddhist sites here and in Bodhgaya this week was to adopt a participatory approach so that locals may be more inclined to relocation should the need arise. "Make them feel that they will stand to benefit from a possible larger excavation,'' she said.

Besides more excavations at Nalanda, a Bodh Gaya Development Authority will be set up to monitor the implementation of the master plan that has been drawn up for the area. While Bodh Gaya is among the cities that will get special attention under the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM), Chief Minister Nitish Kumar used the opportunity to pitch for bringing the entire Gaya district under NURM on the premise that it would be pointless to develop the pilgrim town in isolation.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Satellite to take a closer look at Nalanda

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu