About the Book
The present book entitled The Pala Art in Bihar is a valuable contribution in the field of regional history of India and fills up a gap in Indian historiography. Bihar as a freshly configured cultural and political entity demands its own history from this angle. The book tries to map and changed contours of this regional domain of archaeology in connection with ancient and early medieval texts and material artifacts. The artistic achievements of the first Pala empire suggests the territorial spread, variations and chronological sequence of the school. Sculpture manifests a separate regional identity and provides a level of artistic activity in this region and period that other province of north and south failed even to approach in magnificence, excellence and extensity.
About the Author
Dr. Arvind Kumar Sharma (born in 1951) did his M.A. from Patna University and obtained Ph.D. degree from Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur. He is teaching history as a Reader in Deptt. of History, R.D. College, Sheikhpura, T.M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur. A member of many academic organizations, Dr. Sharma is actively associated with Indian History Congress. He has more than a dozen published papers to his credit.
Prologue
Bihar needs no introduction to historical world. Our history goes back to the primitive civilisation of the old stone and copper age. We find the remnants of that civilisation even today. From the pre-historic time right upto the present moment, our history is a process of continuous growth, though there have been certain periods of decadence. It was an important centre of civilisation. In the beginning of early medieval period of anarchy ended with the rise of the Palas in Bihar and Bengal. Under the Pala hegemony we came to be linked up with Bengal and once again same to be involved in all India politics. Gopala was the founder of Pala dynasty. He brought Magadha under his control. His capital was at Oddantapuri. He was succeeded by his son Dharmapala. He was one of the greatest kings of the dynasty. He did much to restore the greatness of the imperial city of Pataliputra and tried to shift the centre of political gravity from west to the east. He set up a camp of victory at Pataliputra. He inherited a small kingdom but his diplomacy enabled him to establish a vast empire and he began to take active part in the contemporary politics. He installed his nominee Chakrayudh in place of Indrayudh on the throne of Kanauj. During the famous tripartite struggle for the supremacy of Kanauj, Bihar became the scene of marches and countermarches. In that famous tripartite contest, the Palas, Pratiharas and Rastrakutas participated. With the support of Rastrakuta king, Dharmapala got his nominee accepted by the kings of Punjab and northern Rajputana. He made an alliance with the Rastrakuta power and defeated Nagbhatta Pratihara at Monghyr. He established peace and harmony. He established a vast empire in north India. He assumed the full imperial titles Parameswara Parambhattarak Maharajadhiraj. That he introduced pomp and grandeur worthy of the empire he had built would be evident from the following description of what looks like an Imperial Darbar held in Pataliputra.
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