________________ Some Reflections on the Gaps in Vaisali's History 65 has been confirmed by this year's excavations which tend to show that there was a concrete road passing from Raja Visala-ka-Gadha via Cakramadasa to Kolhua. I would like to offer my hearty congratulations to Mr. Krishnadeva, who was in charge of the excavations, for this discovery. His excavations have further shown that the site of the modern village Cakramadasa did not continue in occupation long after the Mauryan period. It appears that at Vaisali, different sites were in occupation in different ages, as was the case at Taxila. Further explorations and excavations are necessary to unravel the mystery of the different sites. NECESSITY OF FURTHER EXCAVATIONS We should be all grateful to the enlightened donors, Sir Dorab Tata of Bombay, Mr. S. P. Jain of Arrah, Mr. Nirmalkumar Navalkha of Azimganj and Messrs. Rajendra Singh Singhi, Mohanlal Laldhar, Sohanlal Karnavat, Lajabhakta Choa and Dayanand Jain of Calcutta for their enlightend munificience, which rendered this Year's excavation possible. I have no doubt that in Kaliyuga greater merit is acquired by excavating a temple or Stupa than by building a new one. This year the Sangha could collect only Rs. 6000/- for excavations. But the results are very encouraging and next year we must collect at least Rs. 25000/- for excavations, so that we can make greater progress and discoveries. It is very desirable that the Government should acquire the smalt Tila at Kalhua, where the Asoka pillar is standing. The pillar itself is half buried still, and it is by the side of a Stupa mounds, the top of which bears a Buddha image of the 9th century and the base of which goes down to the level of the tank going back to the age of the Buddha himself. Both these are on the top of a mound, 6 to 7 feet in height and more than 1000 square feet in area. This plot, in my opinion, is the key site for recovering the history of Vaisali. I am sanguine that if this mound is acquired and careful excavations are carried out down to the level of the tank, we shall get a cross-section of the history of Vaisali from c. 900 A. D. to c. 300 B. C. The Union Government will probably claim this site as one of national importance. Let it then take immediate steps to acquire and excavate it. The usual excuse of want of i unds may come forward. But if the Department of Archaeology does not squander its slender funds in restoring artistically third rate monuments like the surviving minara at Banaras, it can find money to acquire the above site and to excavate it. If the Union Government refuses to take steps in the matter early, the State of Bihar should come forward to do the needful. 9
