Pride, Prejudices and Predilection

Part-I

Dr. Bipul Chandra Goswami

Every elite Indian has a proud privilege to rediscover their ancient glory and momentarily becomes happy for our past cultural heritage. That was quite evident from the archaeological records of history, apart from the historical evidences, precisely, there does not exist any reflection of the ancient culture and traditions in our day to day activities of educatiol, social, cultural and scientific  ethos amongst our people. Centuries of alien domition and influence of alien culture and social way of life suppressed our past activities and knowledge. As a consequence, we developed a slavish mentality,   the root cause of not to appreciate our past glory of ancient India, and the reasons thereof for ignoring our past.

The Mouryya Dysty ruled from 322 B.C.E. to 187 B.C.E. in the Magadh Kingdam is the reminiscent of our past glory. The golden era of the Gupta Dysty between 4th to 6th century, reminds the active, vibrant and youthful academic and intellectual achievements domiting the society. The rule of king Harsabardha (606 to 647, C.E.) in Konouj and Kumar Bhaskar Barma (606 to 650, C.E.) in Kamrupa could be well reminiscent of the progress and prosperity during those time. Chinese travellers like Fahien (399 to 412 C.E.) and Huen Chang (642 -43, C.E.) exclusively described developmental records of art, science, culture  of our ancient society. Ajanta and Ellora findings (480 C.E.)  and the academic heights of Vikramshila University and landa University (500 to 1147 CE) are other laudable records of cultural heritage of our past. Then prevalent conditions of academic and scientific activity in Mathematics, Science, Religion and Philosophy were enormous. The magnificent prosperity of cultural ethos, during this period, India had given birth to people with extraordiry calibre in as varsatile spheres (fields) as mathemathics, astronomy, science, arts, architecture, economics, medicine and yoga and spirituality. Such persolities may be remembered as Charaka, Susutra, Kautilya (arthasastra), Panini (Vyakara), Aryya Bhatta (Mathematics, Astronomy), Borah Mihir (Astrology Astronomy and Mathematics), Patanjali (Yoga Sutra and Ayurveda) and Ba Bhatta with great Knowledge. The concept of ‘Zero’ (0) and pi (p) = r2/7= 3.1416 upto 5 significant decimal figure were also origited in India. The profoundity of such knowledge knew no bounds and were spread out far and wide during the period of India shining, whereupon our former president of India, late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam reiterated in his book,”Ignited Minds”, to make India a developed tion by 2020. His stress on building a knowledged society, as much as of our past records is therefore paramount in the light of our past history. The travelogues of the Chinese visitors to Takshashilla University (350 to 275 years of B.C.E.) in Rawalpindi district of Punjab province now in Pakistan used to play the pivotal role in research and development of ancient India, Kautilya famed Arthasastra and Panini’s Vyakara were being taught in the Vikramshilla University and landa University (5th Century to 12th Century C.E.), when our country was flourished with acclaimed cultural history. Students and scholars from abroad used to visit and study in the world famed Universities to acquire knowledge. Reputation of  the above Universities were the strong foundations of knowledge to grow and spread, establishing prosperity and development in Ancient India, which was epoch-making in the vicinity and the surrounding of the world.

The archaeological findings of the Indus valley civilization of Mohenjodaro and Harappa 3300 years to 1300 years B.C in Sindh, now in Pakistan beautifully testified the richness of art, science and architechture  during the remote history of India. The reasons of ignoring our past glory could be well explained to the common people of our present day society as due to the influence of varied alien rules of the invading Mogols as well as the British domiting our societies.  The widespread fame of our knowledge and past cultures had immense impact in the world, which were obscured in the long run of history and we forgot our past background of knowledge, heritage and understanding, pushing everything to the oblivion. Six hundred years of Ahom Rules in Assam (1228-1826 A.D.) before the British came to Assam also left an indelible impression in our mind about the architecture of Rongghor, Karengghor, Tolatolghar, Siba Doul, Debi Doul and Joysagar Tank of Sibsagar and mdang Silsakoo in Gaurisagor. Technology and work manship applied therein reflect a commendable knowledge of our predecessors, which remain as our living glory and the heritage of the past.

 To be continued....