EAM visits historic city of Taxila

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Islamabad, Jan 14: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today visited the historic site of Taxila, which, from the 5th century B.C. to 2nd century A.D., was the seat of Buddhist learning.

Winding up his Pakistan visit, the External Affairs Minister became the first Indian political leader to visit the historic site after both India and Pakistan yesterday agreed to facilitate movement of diplomats to Taxila and Hasanabdal in Pakistan and Noida and Gurgaon in India.

Ostensibly to seek 'blessings' of Chanakya in the art of statecraft and politics, the External Affairs Minister went round the ruins of the ancient city of Taxila where Chanakya was born, Taxila university where he (Chanakya) received education in statecraft and politics and also taught for sometime, and which saw the invasions of Alexander the Great and the Huns.

Mr Mukherjee was shown around the area by Director General Archaeology and Museums Fazal Dad Kakar.

It was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1980.

Serving as a link between the 21st century human and a civilisation that goes back to 1000 years, Taxila was a major seat of Buddhist learning which was destroyed by successive invasions and earthquakes.

The Pakistan government has now developed it into an industrial area with a Heavy Industry Taxila (HIT), set up there. This mainly caters to the Pakistan Army, and manufactures equipment for it.

About 45 km from capital Islamabad, Taxila has a history of over 1000 years (518 B.C. to 600 A.D).

The ruins indicate the planned architecture of the ancient times.

The ruins of the Taxila university have 1000 year-old statues of Buddha in various positions of meditation.

Winding up his Pakistan visit, the External Affairs Minister became the first Indian political leader to visit the historic site after both countries yesterday agreed to facilitate movement of diplomats to Taxila and Hasanabdal in Pakistan and Noida and Gurgaon in India. Ostensibly to seek 'blessings' of Chanakya in the art of statecraft and politics, the External Affairs Minister went a round the ruins of the ancient city where Chanakya was born and which saw the invasions of Alexander the Great and the Huns.

The ancient city which, from the 5th century B.C. to 2nd century A.D., was the seat of Buddhist learning, was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1980.

Serving as a link between the 21st century human and a civilisation that goes back to 1000 years, Taxila was a major seat of Buddhist learning which was destroyed by successive invasions and earthquakes.

The Pakistan government has now developed it into an industrial area with a Heavy Industry Taxila (HIT) employing 700 employees, which is considered the backbone of the Pakistani Army.

About 45 km from the capital, Islamabad, Taxila has a history of over 1000 years (518 B.C. to 600 A.D).

The ruins, spread over an area of about five km, indicate the planned architecture of the ancient times.

The ruins of the Taxila university have 1000 year-old staues of Buddha in various positions of meditation.

Although many statues are broken and some are headless, the strength and influence of Buddhism on the world is vivid.

It was from here that Buddhist monks went to China, Japan and Afghanistan after Huns invaded Taxila.

Mr Mukherjee did not go to the Jaulian Monastery which houses the ruins of the Taxila University, where Chanakya learnt the art of statecraft and politics and also taught for some time. The Monastery houses the statues of the Buddha in different sizes and poses of meditation. It was after invasions that Buddhist monks spread to China, Japan, Afghanistan and other countries.

The ruins have clearly demarcated rooms where students used to study, practice meditation and statecraft and hold discussions.

In the centre is a huge square-shaped pit which was the swimming pool.

UNI

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