Vaishali: Vaishali
was one of the earliest republics in the world (6th century BC).It was here
that Buddha preached his last sermon. Vaishali, birthplace of Lord Mahavira is
also Sacred to Jains.
Patna: Patna once called Patliputra the capital of
Bihar, is among the world’s oldest capital cities with unbroken history of many
centuries as imperial metropolis of the Mauryas and Guptas imperial dynasties.
Rajgir: Rajgir, 19 kms from Nalanda, was the ancient
capital of Magadha Empire. Lord Buddha often visited the monastery here to
meditate and to preach. Rajgir is also a place sacred to the Jains, Since Lord
Mahavira spent many years here.
Pawapuri: In Pawapuri, or Apapuri, 38 kilometres from
Rajgir and 90 kilometres from Patna, all sins end for a devout Jain. Lord
Mahavira, the final tirthankar and founder of Jainism, breathed his last at
this place.
Bodhgaya: Near the holy city of Gaya, the Buddha attained
enlightenment. The tree that had sheltered him came to be known as the Bodhi
tree and the place Bodhgaya. Today Bodhgaya, an important place of pilgrimage,
has a number of monasteries, some of them established by Buddhists of Japan,
Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka etc.
Nalanda: A great centre of Buddhist learning, Nalanda came into
prominence around the 5th century BC and was a flourishing university town with
over ten thousand scholars and an extensive library.
Kesaria: This Stupa is in fact one of the many memorable
stupa remarkable event in the life of Buddha. Kesaria has a lofty brick mound
capped by a solid brick tower of considerable size, which it self is the remain
of a Buddhist Stupa. The mound is a ruin with a diameter of 68 feet at its base
and a total height of 5½ ft. originally it was crowned by a pinnacle which must
have stood 80 or 90 ft above the ground. General Cunningham dated this monument
to AD 200 to 700, and held that it was built upon the ruins of a much older and
larger Stupa.
It is the highest Stupa found in the country
with a height of about 104” from the base.
Tag: Bihar
Improving the Lives of Women in Bihar
In Bihar, India, hope
is found where you least expect it. Behind a closed door where 10 to 25
women have come together to discuss their most urgent needs. Unheard of a
generation ago, this gathering is a mahila mandal – better known in this
country as a women’s group.
Life for women and girls in Bihar is especially
grim as they face a system called Purdah that is almost as oppressive and
restrictive as the Taliban era in Afghanistan. Women are required to cover
themselves in public and cannot travel without their husbands’ permission. The
harsh realities are reflected in the almost 90 percent illiteracy rate among
women and the fact that 88 percent of girls marry before the age of
17.
Mahila mandals, with the aid of international
organizations and donor support, are beginning to help though. One of the
positive changes will be setting up savings and credit groups in which loans
are approved and administered by and for local women. Having access to a
loan as small as $50 can completely transform a woman’s life in Bihar. Even a
small amount of money can provide her the means to purchase raw materials that
can be turned into finished products for sale, including seeds to grow crops,
or an animal that produces milk, cheese or eggs that are marketable.
This year, there will be 100 new mahila mandals
or women’s savings and credit groups formed in Bihar. It is anticipated that the
capital saved by the 5,100 group members will increase from $21,000 to $40,000
this year. More than 90 percent of that amount will be revolved as loans among
the members. The value of this community-controlled asset is especially amazing
when you realize the average annual income in this area is just over $400 a
year.
Support from individuals in the United States
can help transform the lives of women in this region and offer hope to them for
a safer, more secure future.
In Bihar, women give ‘birth’ to 5 children in 2 months
A woman, as everyone
knows, usually gives birth to a baby after nine months of pregnancy, but in
Bihar 298 women claim to have delivered two to five children in a span of
60 days – at least that’s what records of incentives amount given to new
mothers under a government scheme show.
A woman gets around Rs.1,000 when she gives
birth under the government’s Janani Suraksha Yojana but a total of Rs.6.6 lakh
was paid as incentive to 298 women who claimed to have delivered two to five
children within 60 days under the scheme, says a report of the Comptroller and
Auditor General (CAG) that exposes corruption in the state.
These irregularities were found in the year
2008-09 in the districts of Bhagalpur, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Kishanganj
and Nalanda, according to the CAG report 2009 tabled in the monsoon session of
the state assembly that concluded last week.
“The concerned officials paid incentives
under the Janani Suraksha Yojana to these women two to five times in 60
days,” the report says.
Unfortunately, thousands of genuine lactating
mothers were denied the incentive due to them. The CAG report says that of
470,307 new mothers, 97,146 were not provided cash incentives under the Janani
Suraksha Yojana for want of funds. Also, payment of Rs.25.19 crore to 1.8 lakh
beneficiaries were made after a delay ranging between eight and 732 days.
Opposition leaders criticised the state
government for the corruption in the implementation of the Janani Suraksha
Yojana in the state.
“All this is happening in Bihar when Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar is claiming good governance. This is just a trailer of
the unbelievable corruption in implementation of welfare schemes,”
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) state president Abdul Bari Siddiqui said.
Said Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)
youth leader Gopal Sharma: “High corruption during Nitish Kumar’s
four-and-a-half year rule has eaten into welfare schemes like in the case of
Janani Suraksha Yojana exposed by the CAG report.”
SRI BAISHNABA CHARAN PATNAIK, Freedom Fighter
At: Bajichowk, Dhenkanal Town.
Sri Baishnab Charan Patnaik was born on 29.4.1914 in Dhenkanal Town. From his Student life he revolted against corruption and Administration. In 1938 he was nominated as the organising Secretary of Chasimela at Jenapur. From March 1939 to August 1939 for a period of Six months he was imprisioned in Cuttack Jail. From June 1940 to 28th April 1942 for two years he was in Dhenkanal Jail under detention Act. He was released on 28.4.1942 with a condition to remain in his house as prisoner and was ordered to appear in the Police Station everyday. On 9.9.1942 he joined in Quit India movement. On 26th August 1942 at about 4 A.M., along with other 18 freedom Fighters, he captured Madhi (Kamakhyanagar) Police Station and set fire the Police Station, Govt. Quarters and Offices at Kamakshya Nagar. On 4th September 1942 Thousands of Volunteers under his leadershi, while going to capture Parajang Police Station, Police personel shoot at them and Baisnab Patnaik was injured near Janapada. After his treatment and recovery at Calcutta he came back to Dhenkanal on 26thMarch 1946. In the year 1947 he went to Nilagiri to take leadership of Prajamandal Workers and fought against Raj-Dalas and Nilagiri Raja handed over his Administation to District Magistate, Balasore. On 14.12.1947 he assisted Sardar Ballv Bhai Patel in Merger of Princely States. He was arrested on 17.3.1948 at Athagarh and sent to Cuttack Jail for Four Years. He was elected as a Member of Orissa Legislative Assembly from 1952 to 1956 from Dhenkanal Constituency. He was elected to Loksabha from 1962 to 1967 from Dhenkanal Constituency. Now he is staying at his Residence in Dhenkanal Town.
SRIKANT ROUT, FREEDOM FIGHTER
AT-MOTANGA MANGALPUR,DHENKANAL
Srikant Rout took the leadership of Swechha Sevi Vahini of Prajamandal Andolan as the Captain in the year 1938. The King of Dhenkanal declared cash award of Rs. 1000/- to catch Srikant Rout either alive or dead. In the year 1942 during the period of Quite India movement, he was imprisoned with other Freedom Fighters.
RASA BIHARI SAHOO, FREEDOM FIGHTER
AT- GUNDURAPASI, GONDIA, DHENKANAL.
Sri Rasa Bihari Sahoo was born in the year 1921 and left the School after Primary Education. He joined Prajamandal Andolana being inspired by late Braja Kishore Dhala and took the responsibility of distributing Ranaveri newspaper among the villagers to give
DHANESWAR SAHOO, FREEDOM FIGHTER
At/P.o – PINGUA, DHENKANAL
Dhaneswar Sahoo was born on 13.10.1917 in a rich family of Pingua village. He joined Dhenkanal Prajamandal Andolana , when he was a student of class VIII in B.B.High School. In the year 1938 he was imprisoned for his active participation in Prajamandal Andolana for Six months. After Independence he involved himself in various social welfare activities. He established a minor School( 1947), a high School (1960), a Hospital and Tank in his native place at Pingua. He worked as President of Grain Gola Society for 14 years and Director of Dhenkanal R.C.M.S for 10 years.
BANCHANIDHI NAYAK, FREEDOM FIGHTER
AT- SREEMULA, VIA.-KAMAKHYANAGAR, DHENKANAL
Banchhanidhi Nayak was born in the year 1917 in the village Sreemula of Kamakhyanagar. As an active member he was involved in different activities of Prajamandal Andolan since 1938.
BANSIDHAR MISHRA, FREEDOM FIGHTER
AT-MUKTADEIPUR SASAN, DHENKANAL
Bansidhar Mishra. Was born in the year 1915 in the village Muktadeipur Sasan in a Brahmin family and lost his father at the age of 10. Though he was working as Raj Purohit ,he joined the Prajamandal Andolana. During 1938 to 1939 as an active member, he was given duty to send secret messages to different Prajamandal Units. On 29.09.1938 he was arrested under Indian Criminal Amendment Act for displaying Congress Flag in his bi-cycle. He was convicted by District Magistrate and was sentenced to jail for 6 months.
BHASKAR ROUT, FREEDOM FIGHTER
VILL:- SANDAPASI, P.S.-GONDIA,DHENKANAL
Bhaskar Rout was born in the year 1905 in Sandapasi village of Gondia Thana. After Primery Education he was forced to leave the School due to poor condition of his family. He had to do Bethi in the construction of Jatan Nagar. He revolted against the Monarchy and joined Prajamandal Andolana in the year 1938. In that year he was arrested from Gondia and send to Dhenkanal Jail for 6 months.