________________ SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE GAPS IN VAISALI'S HISTORY* * Dr. A. S. ALTEKAR, M. A., LL. B., D. Litt. Friends and Fellow admirers of Vaigali, I deem it a great honour to have this opportunity of paying my tribute and respect to the memory and achievements of ancient Vaisali, which not only played a great part in shaping the history and culture of ancient India but also served, and will continue to serve as a beacon light to our country for several centuries. The five addresses which you have so far heard on the day of this Annual Festival as well as the learned papers that have been published in the Vaisali Abhinandana Grantha bave already familiarised you with the important aspects of the known history of Vaisali. I need not therefore, recapitulate them here. It would be well worth-while for us however to take a stock of the work that remains to be done in this connection. It is a matter of joy and congratulation that the Vaisali Sangha should have taken one step forward this year by organising scientific excavations at Vaisali. It may be pointed out that during the course of the present year exacavations are being carried out only at two other places in our vast country, one at Kausambi under the auspices of the Allahabad University and the other at Sisupalagadha under the auspices of the Archaeological department. The achievement of the Vaisali Sangha in this respect cannot but be admired. It is a matter of satisfaction that the Sangha bas received valuable co-operation in this work from Mr. Krishnadeva, the Superintendent, Central Circle, Archaeological Survey and his staff. I would however point out that under the new Constitution, Archaeology has become a concurrent subject and the Bihar State Government must come forward to take its own share of responsibility in this connection. If the history of Bihar, which has played so glorious a part in the * Presidential address at the sixth Vaisali Festival (March 30, 1950).
