Bihar known for spirituality, history, vibrant culture: LG Sinha

Jammu, Mar 22: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said that since ancient times, Bihar has been known for its spirituality, rich history and vibrant culture.

According to a press release, he was addressing the Bihar Day Celebrations, hosted by Jammu Kashmir Raj Bhawan at Jammu.

The Lieutenant Governor conveyed his hearty greetings and best wishes to the people of Bihar on the occasion. “Since ancient times, Bihar has been known for its spirituality, rich history and vibrant culture. Magadha was core part of Bihar, which was known as the centre of education and culture,” he said.

He added that first empire of India, Maurya Empire in Bihar established a united India.” From education, culture, science, literature, enterprises to spirituality, there is hardly any area of life where the people of Bihar have not left their mark with their innovative ideas and hard work,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Addressing the gathering, he highlighted the cultural, educational and spiritual legacy of Bihar, and paid homage to the great personalities of the state. The Lieutenant Governor said, “The presence of many holy places like Baba Baijnath Dham, Gaya, Vishnupad Temple, Janaki Temple, Bodhgaya, Takht Shri Harimandir Sahib Ji, Kundagram, Pawapuri in one state is no less than a divine blessing in itself.”

He stated that in ancient times, Bihar had become a major centre of higher education. “Students from all over the world came to study at Nalanda University and Vikramshila University. The library of Nalanda University was considered as the largest library in the world,” LG Sinha said.

He added that there is a long list of Buddhism pilgrimage sites, including Bodhgaya, Rajgir and Griddhakuta, where Mahatma Buddha gave most of his sermons.

“Bihar is also considered one of the most prosperous states in the field of literature. From Chanakya, Banbhatta, Aryabhatta, Vidyapati to Phanishwarnath Renu, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar and Baba Nagarjun in modern times, Bihar has been the karmbhoomi of great writers ,”he said.

The Lieutenant Governor also spoke on the development journey of Bihar, and its contribution to India’s growth.

“If we look at the history of Bihar after independence, it was one of the most developed states of the country. The draft of the first five-year plan was prepared in July 1951. The report mentions that during that period, only three regions in the country were the best in providing the necessary training for small industries, financial support and better management of the industry and workers and they were - Bihar, Mumbai and Chennai,”he said.