“SONE KI CHIDIYA”— The ‘Bharat’ that was.

In the 4th century C.E, the people of Bharat bared witness to the emergence of one of the greatest empires to ever exist; one which saw the reign of numerous rulers; both powerful and noble; battles that had been
fought for the sole purpose of uniting myriad kingdoms that spread over the vast lands of Ancient India, and welcoming the arrival of traders and pilgrims, from areas one had only heard of. This is an inspiring account
of the glorious Gupta dynasty, where art met culture, and marked the start of the rise of the ‘Golden age of Bharat’.

With the fall of the Magadha Rashtra around 320 CE, a foundation was built, on a vision, a vision that would transcend all boundaries of human existence. Among all the names of the founding fathers of the celebrated
kingdom, one name particularly stood out from the rest, Samudragupta, son of Chandragupta the First, for he was known for his strength and wit alike, his benevolent nature and love for art. A great conqueror that he
was, his empire spread far and wide, from the southeastern shores to the foothills of the Himalayas. He was invincible.

Under his reign, the kingdom flourished. It marked its start with significant contributions in the fields of art, science, technology and trade, so much so, that the sight of Roman coins was not uncommon in India. A
period wherein the famous, ‘Aryabhattiyam’ was written, plastic surgery was invented, and advancements in the field of astronomy and metallurgy reached its peak.

The capital city of Patliputra, along with its bustling markets, was also home to marvellous and intricately carved temples that seemed to touch the sky, and people who were seemingly lost in prayer, worshipping,
the famous Hindu deity, Vishnu, whose benevolence knew no bounds. Even though the rulers of the Empire were predominantly Hindu, the kingdom was home to other religions such as Buddhism and Jainism, which simultaneously prospered and thrived; the famous Nalanda University set an example for the same, which housed many revered scholars, pilgrims, and philosophers, from different parts of the world.

Situated between the lush and serene gardens, Nalanda was regarded as a ‘haven of knowledge’, for all those who sought truth and purpose. Its library was home to nine million manuscripts on mathematics and literature, philosophy and medicine, and many more myriad subjects, that one could only think of, with not even an intricate detail being left behind in the parchment papers.

Unfortunately, Nalanda too, was later faced with destruction, in ways, that the common man could only fathom. The Huns tribe, led by their leader, Mihirakula, had heard tales of the divine embodiment, and regarded it as
an obstacle, for him to reach dominion. Nalanda was attacked three times over the period, and the sacred university burned for not days nor weeks, but three whole months. Even though the university was rebuilt two times after the exploit, the scars remained.

In due course of time, the Gupta Empire witnessed a series of events that eventually led to its decline. Some blamed internal conflicts and continuous invasions whereas some incriminated the weak rulers that
eventually took over the throne, the decline, however, seemed inevitable. But, whatever the reason may be, The Gupta dynasty serves as a testament, to the growth and breakthroughs made during its era, which continued to influence, people and their culture, in ages to come, and etched its mark, in the channels of history.