Author Description

Highlighting the legacy of Nalanda, the home of the world's first residential university (c. AD 450), this book celebrates the state of Bihar that completed its centenary in 2012. It narrates the story of the confluence of many belief systems- Buddhism, Jainism, Sufism, and Hinduism-and showcases the heritage of Nalanda. Affording insights into archaeological sites, such as the ruins of Nalanda University, Ashokan stupas at Girijak, the Cyclopean walls, the Swarna Bhandar, the Maniyar Math, Jarasandh ka Akhada [Banquet Hall of King Jarasandh], King Bimbisara's Jail, Teladhaka monastery, and the antiquities found in the village Jiar among others, the work provides a comprehensive picture of Nalanda and its surroundings. With around 160 colour photographs melding into one another, the volume creates a rare visual continuity perhaps experienced only in motion pictures.