After a long wait of 1,242 years, Naogaon is finally getting a university to take the place of the largest educational institution in the ancient Indian subcontinent, Somapura Mahavihara.
People of Naogaon expressed their happiness following the passage of the bill in parliament to establish Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University in the district.
More than a thousand years have passed since the establishment of Sompur Bihar.
Pala dynasty king Dharama Pala built the Somapura Mahavihara in the late eighth century 781-821 AD. Many scholars used to come to Sompur Bihar, like modern residential universities at the present time.
The Pala rulers were devout Buddhists and they founded a number of monasteries throughout their growing empire. Some of them became great centres of learning and their reputation quickly spread throughout the length and breadth of Asia. Somapura Mahavihara's close relationship with the ruling dynasty implied that it shared the political ups and downs of its benefactors, according to researchers.
The once hub of higher education will again become a centre dedicated to acquiring knowledge. Joyous processions were brought out in several upazilas to thank the prime minister for opening a university.
On behalf of the 2.7 million people of Naogaon, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder thanked the prime minister for getting the public university bill passed.
He said such a university has opened a new door of education for Naogaon, the northern region, and the entire country.
Member of Parliament from Naogaon-3 constituency Salim Uddin Tarafdar said this is a blessing for the people of Naogaon.
He thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, late Awami League leader Abdul Jalil, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar and all the local parliamentarians for their efforts in making this happen.
Naogaon Sadar constituency MP Barrister Nizam Uddin Jalil John said that by establishing this university, Bangladesh has taken several steps towards realizing the dreams of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“My father, late Abdul Jalil, also had a dream to establish such a university.” He thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Education Minister Dipu Moni for finally approving such a public university despite a long time having elapsed.
Brief history
The excavated monastic complex at Paharpur has been identified as the Somapura Mahavihara. Some clay seals from the ruins bear the inscription Shri-Somapure-Shri-Dharmapaladeva-Mahavihariyarya-Bhiksu-Sangghasya.
The monastery was repaired and renovated during the reign of Mahipala I (995-1043 AD). It is recorded in the Tibetan work, Pag Sam Jon Zang, that the same king used to visit Somapura Vihara to offer his homage.
The monastery flourished until the 11th century AD when it was destroyed by fire during an invasion by a Vangala army, possibly the army of the Varman rulers of Vanga. It is recorded in the Nalanda inscription of Vipulashrimitra that Karunashrimitra, ancestor of Vipulasrimitra, lost his life in the fire as he refused to leave the monastery.
About a century later, Vipulasrimitra restored the former glory of the Vihara through renovation work and by building a temple of Tara. Somapura Mahavihara gradually declined and was finally abandoned during the 13th century, when the area came under Muslim occupation.
