Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 178: Ruins of Nalanda

As the morning sun came through the cottage windows, Amira slowly opened her eyes, still feeling the weight of sleep. Her body felt weak, but she remembered being brought here after a snake bite. She looked at the small table nearby, where herbs were scattered around. The smell of fresh and dried plants filled the air. A bandage covered her hand, and she felt the coolness of a herbal paste on the wound. Whoever treated her seemed to know what they were doing.

The world outside seemed alive. The soft sound of birds chirping mingled with the faint rustle of sweeping dust on the ground. But there was an eerie stillness inside the room; no one was nearby.

Driven by curiosity, Amira sat up and stepped outside to look for Raamya. The sight that greeted her took her breath away. The village courtyard was full of life, with the morning sunlight highlighting a scene unlike any she had seen before.

In the center, several people-both young and old, were doing yoga. Their movements were smooth and coordinated, and they wore the simple robes of Buddhist monks. It was a peaceful sight, so different from the strict world she knew. To the left, an old monk sat cross-legged, teaching a small group of children. The kids listened closely, eager to learn.

On the right, villagers were shaping clay pots, their hands moving expertly over the soft clay. The way they worked looked almost like a calm, thoughtful ritual. The whole village seemed to move in harmony, with work and learning happening side by side, untouched by the social ranks Amira was used to.

As she watched, one of the soldiers standing nearby noticed her. He turned and greeted, "Good morning, Your Highness. Is there anything we can assist you with? It’s advised that you remain here for the time being."

Before Amira could respond, a calm voice interrupted.

"That won’t be necessary, soldier. I can see she’s doing well now."

Amira turned toward the voice. A young woman, around twenty, was approaching. She wore the same monk robes as many others and held a broom, likely having just been sweeping the ground.

Amira looked at her closely. "Who are you?"

The young woman smiled. "I am Vaishali, a new disciple." She gestured around the village entrance. "If you’re wondering about your people, they’ve set up camp just outside the village. The Devi (royal lady) who brought you here is in talks with our Sarpanch."

This left Amira with a strange feeling. These people were different. They didn’t seem to care much for the usual rules of rank or status. Though Vaishali knew who Amira was, there was no disrespect, but also no over-the-top reverence. Her tone was humble and direct, as though royalty didn’t matter much here.

But Amira wasn’t offended. Instead, she felt intrigued by the simplicity of this place. She expressed her wish to meet Raamya and was guided by Vaishali, with two soldiers following closely.

As they walked, Vaishali explained that this was a Buddhist settlement, offering services and trade to nearby villages while also attracting those seeking knowledge.

Passing through the village entrance, Amira noticed the tents of her soldiers set up nearby. They continued along the village paths, observing the peaceful daily activities around them. The air was calm, and the simple. Finally, they arrived at the Sarpanch’s house, located at the village’s far end.

As they went inside, Amira spotted Raamya chatting with the Sarpanch while holding a cup of herbal tea. She was delighted to see her and rushed to hug her from behind.

"Didi! I’m so relieved to see you."

Raamya was startled for a moment, but her expression softened into a warm smile as she turned to greet her, holding her hands. "Amira! Are you feeling better?"

"I am all good," Amira said, pulling back from the hug. "I can’t thank you enough. You took the poison for me; I really doubt if my real sister would do the same."

Raamya touched her cheek and replied, "Silly girl, you have no idea how much you mean to me." She signaled her to sit on the mat. "Come, sit here."

The Sarpanch, observing the heartfelt reunion, took the opportunity to offer Amira some tea. "Please, have some tea. Let me know if it’s to your liking," he said warmly.

Amira accepted the cup and sipped. Her face lit up with pleasure. "This is wonderful!" she exclaimed. "It’s incredibly soothing. If I’m not mistaken, it’s made with tulsi, cardamom, lemon, and..."

"And honey. You almost guessed it right," Raamya added.

The Sarpanch’s smile widened with satisfaction. "I’m glad you like it. The settlement you see was recently founded by our Acharya Hemant, the old man who treated your snake bite."

Sensing Amira’s puzzled expression, the Sarpanch continued, "We are descendants of the survivors of Nalanda. With the fall of the Mughal regime, we received a message to reunite here and restore our lost knowledge."

Amira’s curiosity was piqued. "Survivors.. Nalanda? Can you explain in detail?"

The Sarpanch sighed, "It’s a long story... we belonged to an ancient university dedicated to seeking knowledge and contributing to human society. Misfortune struck, and we lost everything overnight. There was a purge..." His face darkened for a moment before he composed himself. "However, a few managed to escape with some fundamental manuscripts. These manuscripts are our legacy, and we are their descendants, striving to revive them. Despite remaining in hiding, our teachers were always aware of our status.

There are two prominent figures: Acharya Raghunath, who leads the Hindu sect, and Acharya Hemant. He wasn’t always so stern, but during a recent gathering, a fierce debate arose between them, leading to a split."

"So, there was a split in the community..." Amira remarked, her interest deepening. "But why?" she inquired.

The Sarpanch replied, "Acharya Raghunath sought safety and trusted the new rulers for their reputation. He wanted us to start our new university in Delhi under their protection and donation, while Acharya Hemant, being a Buddhist, wanted to keep things multi-faceted, the way they were. It wasn’t about religious differences but differing visions for avoiding further suffering."

Raamya inquired, "So where is Acharya Raghunath now, and why didn’t Acharya Hemant become the Sarpanch when he founded this?"

The Sarpanch sighed again as he had to reveal the unwanted topics. "He had already taken his followers to Delhi two months back. While Acharya Hemant, who started this settlement, chose to focus on the foundations, so he appointed me the Sarpanch for being his first disciple."

The room fell into silence as the topic grew a bit serious.

To shift the mood, Amira inquired with her sparkling eyes, "I’ve heard about the ruins nearby. Are they of Nalanda? I’d love to see them."

Raamya, still concerned about the recent snake bite, hesitated. "Amira, considering what happened, I’m not sure it’s wise to venture out right now. There could be dangers."

The Sarpanch offered a practical solution. "I understand your concern. Instead, I suggest to venture a hilltop nearby. From there, you can safely view the ruins. Vaishali can guide you."

Amira, eager and hopeful, turned to Raamya. "Please, just a short trip. I’m so curious about this place."

Raamya, though initially reluctant, saw Amira’s genuine interest and curiosity. "Alright, choti. I’ll agree to a short trek but we will returned to before the evening."

Vaishali, smiling reassuringly, added, "Do not worry devi. We’ll take a safe path. The hilltop will offer a good view of the ruins."

With the decision made, Amira’s anticipation was palpable. Raamya, though initially reluctant, agreed later because of her own hidden fascination with the ancient marvel.

Few hours later

A small entourage of soldiers escorted Amira and Raamya up the hill, with Vaishali leading the way. The air was thick with anticipation as they approached the ruins.

"Tell me something about this Nalanda University," Amira asked. "What was taught here? When was it built, and by whom?"

Vaishali paused, glancing over her shoulder as they ascended. "I don’t know the exact date," she began, "but it was built by a king from the Gupta dynasty ( 427 AD). Their capital was nearby, so it made sense to establish it here. As for what was taught- well, science, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, logic, Ayurveda, and religious texts. Not just Hindu or Buddhist teachings but also Jain, Ajivika, Taoism, Vedic knowledge, and even Yavana (greek) studies."

Raamya, walking nearby, asked, "It seems there was no shortage of those interested in learning and teaching?"

Vaishali chuckled. "Admission to Nalanda was no easy feat. People came from faraway lands, like Yavadwipa(Indonesia today) and had to pass a rigorous test before even being allowed to sit for the entrance exam in Bharat." she added with pride "The gatekeepers themselves were scholars, capable of speaking multiple foreign languages to manage the influx of students."

Intrigued, Raamya inquired further, "The donations must have been significant. How did they manage to sustain it?"

With a knowing smile, Vaishali replied, "The donations were massive, especially with tens of thousands of students and teachers to house and feed. The Gupta dynasty donated a lot in the beginning. But as rulers changed, the support dwindled. About 100 years later, Nalanda stopped taking donations from the rulers. They became self-sufficient, relying on the nearby 200 villages and the charity of travelers and students who wanted to give."

Soon they reached the hilltop, but could see, only few ruins stretching out below, framed by dense forest. Captivated by the sight, Amira asked about the structures scattered across the landscape.

Vaishali pointed to a few tower-like remains. "Those were likely monastic towers, used for meditation and as watchposts," she explained.

She then highlighted several rectangular outlines amidst the ruins. "Those were probably the teaching halls, where scholars gathered for lessons and debates."

Her finger traced a prominent broken and charred pillar which they noted first before arriving the village. "That was probably part of the library complex. Its destruction is a loss of countless manuscripts, probably millions."

The rest of the ruins were hidden by the forest, keeping much of Nalanda’s past a mystery.

Amira exclaimed. "Such a rich culture and heritage!... I wonder, what led to its downfall."

Vaishali’s tone darkened. "It was destroyed 350 years ago(1193 AD), by a fanatic Muslim invader, driven by jealousy."

Both Raamya and Amira gasped. The university had survived for centuries, only to be destroyed for such a petty reason.

Raamya, disturbed, asked, "Why was it destroyed?"

A painful expression flushed over Vaishali’s face. She wasn’t there when it happened, but the tales were so horrific that she didn’t want to talk about it. However, she composed herself, as unspoken history might be misled in the future.

She revealed, "There was a fanatic, mad invader called Bakhtiyar Khilji who reached this region to take control and spread Islam. We had no quarrel with them, nor did we care about his business. During his campaign, he fell ill, and none of his hakim could heal him, so he was doomed to die... However, he was treated by a teacher from Nalanda. Unable to bear the loss of prestige, as the land he intended to invade was better than his own hakim’s, he ransacked the grounds and purged every student and teacher residing here."

Amira’s eyes widened in disbelief. "So much cruelty... so much knowledge lost."

Vaishali pointed toward the charred pillar. "That library, said to have burned for three months. Whether that’s true or not, even if it still burned for at least a month. Imagine the scale of the loss." She added bitterly, "And we still have places named after that invader."

The somber tale weighed on Amira, her mood darkened by the senseless destruction of such a grand institution.

Raamya gently took Amira’s hands, her expression softening. "The past is beyond our control," she said calmly. "What matters now is the present, and how we can shape the future from here."

Later, as they descended, Raamya revealed her status as the ruling sovereign of the region. She pledged her full support to reclaim the long-lost glory of Nalanda and announced that the forested area would be cleared and province renamed as Nalanda. Until then, she would reside there.

The villagers were overjoyed by the news. However, Raamya had no idea how this seemingly small decision would profoundly impact the future, not only on her region but of whole subcontinent.