The century following 8aSanka's death stands as an obscure period of the Bengal-Magadha region-matsyanyayam-with a succession of local conflicts and a multiplicity of independent sovereignities as well as a few invasions from outside. A noticeable event is Yasovarman's conquest of Kanauj, celebrated in the poem `Gaudavaho', with two lines that possibly refer to the 'slaughter' of the king of Magadha, vassal of Gauda. The period of darkness came to an end in c.750 with the rise of the Palas.
Sources on the Gauda Period in Bengal: Essays in Archaeology deals with the history and archaeology of Gauda, especially inscriptions, literary sources, sculptures, ceramics, and regional organizations of the period.
We were honoured by the presence of Mr Matilal, Director of the Indian Museum; and Mr Fabrice Etienne, Hon'ble Consul General of France in Kolkata as chief guest at the inaugural session held. It was also a great pleasure to welcome Dr Gautam Sengupta, former Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India, and previously Director of Archaeology and Museums, West Bengal, who delivered an illuminating keynote address 'Locating and Situating Galicia in a Historical Context'. At the end of the sessions, Dr Sutapa Sinha from the Department of Islamic Culture and History, University of Calcutta, made a brilliant presentation about her latest research and publications on the city of Gaur. We are also extremely grateful to Mr Etienne for the reception hosted by the French Consulate in the evening.
Focusing on 'undivided' Bengal, West Bengal and Bangladesh, the seminar was intended to bring together scholars specializing in ancient history, art and archaeology of the region. Five papers were read by Indian scholars.
The 'Dark Ages' is not a common term in historiography in India, but we do sometimes find it along with other readings; I happened to come across it in material associated with the Gauda period. Gaud& as an entity-or political space-comes into being in the sixth century CE even though we do find earlier references to the Gaudas.3 In the sixth century, Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita cites the presence of the tribe Gaudakas in the eastern regions together with the Paurjdras and Tamraliptakas4-the date of the text is uncertain although the author was alive for more than seventy-five years.
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