Indian civilization and the Hindu religion are the oldest known in the world, yet we know so little of them. Partly because of the vast amount of information contained therein, partly because of the history of invasions in India by foreign lands and rulers, resulting in the destruction of historic documents, scriptures, texts, and thought, and also partly because of our relative disinterest in becoming familiar with our own history.
Today I read about ancient Indian civilizations of Mohenjo-daro as well as ancient Indian universities of Taxila and Nalanda, among the first known of their kind. Taxila was flourishing around 700BC, while Nalanda was founded much later - around 427 CE. Pioneers in the field of economics, mathematics, law, and medicine, like Chanakya (also known as Kautilya), Emperor Chandragupta, and Charaka studied there. Chanakya also taught at Taxila in his later life and authored the famous Arthashastra there.
The Nalanda library is thought to have contained numerous volumes of Hindu and Buddhist scriptures written by a collection of great minds of their time. These texts held within their pages the treasures of vedas, astrology, alchemy, mathematics, and anatomy. The entire university, including the library was burned to the ground and the students and teachers murdered by Mughal invaders in the 12th century.
Which should really just make everyone think: WHY? Why the destruction of progress? Especially progress that is beneficial to all humankind. Why the belief that only that which is mine shall persist and all else perish?
I personally feel cheated out of my right to have been able to gain from our ancestors' knowledge. To be able to visit the ancient sites where our ancestors led their lives and hoped to leave their legacy behind for future generations. How much the world would have been different today if the expansion of knowledge, education, and thought had been allowed to continue unhindered. And how much would the world be different tomorrow without the senseless destruction of progress that is happening today.
5 comments:
Continue on Nalanda library it was called ‘Dhurm Gunj’( All the original words do not contain ‘A- at the end—so no Dharm’a’, no yog’a’, and definitely not Ram’a’) and was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khijli.
And now read this:
New York times detailed a plan in (in Dec 2006) the works to spend $1 billion(really?) to revive Nalanda University near the ancient siteis.
You got a good point about our civilization but I completely disagree about Religion. I don't think religions existed at that point of time. All my knowledge says that the religion came after a long time, when people where hard to manage, so they divided people based on their skill set which eventually became religions. everybody love their religion so much that they feel superior over other religions and slowly developed hatred towards other religions. And the results of it, can be seen everyday. I know this is off the topic but, I get excited seeing the religion word and all the evil it does.
More info about harappan civilization can be found here
http://www.archaeologyonline.net/artifacts/harappa-mohenjodaro.html
hi ur blog looks good with all the pics, i will also try to add ,don't know how but will find out, and yes I am proud of Indian history and culture.
Good topic. The prob seems to be the balance of power and knowledge. It seems to continue throughout the history till date.
Correction to Maddy's post...religion existed at the time much prior to 500 B.C as per my knowledge
I think I really like this post. Can't come up with any intelligent comments though. Just appreciate your genuine interest in our past.
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