Patna : The Bihar Heritage Development Committee, under the Department of Art, Culture and Youth, marked World Heritage Day on Friday with a series of cultural and academic events at the Bihar Museum. The programme was inaugurated by state minister Moti Lal Prasad, alongside senior officials and heritage experts.
The event featured special guest Anjani Kumar Singh, Director General of Bihar Museum, and was presided over by Pranav Kumar, IAS, Secretary of the Art, Culture and Youth Department and Chief Executive Officer of the Heritage Committee. Executive Director Rachna Patil, IAS, welcomed the guests.
As part of the programme, a series of lectures were delivered by leading figures in archaeology and heritage. Dr Rakesh Tiwari, former Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, presented a talk titled “Flight of Dreams: On the Ancient Routes of Convergence”. Prof Jaydev Mishra, former head of Patna University’s Ancient History department, spoke on “Problems and Prospects of Antiquities in Bihar”, while Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singh from the International Ram Katha Museum in Ayodhya delivered a lecture on “Riverine Heritage of Anga Desh.”
A highlight of the day was the launch of the excavation report “Sri Prathamasivapura Mahavihara: Excavating an Early Medieval Buddhist Monastery at Telhara in Magadh (Eastern India) 2020–2022.” The book, authored by Dr Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Dr Amit Ranjan, Dr Arun Kumar and Oishi, was published under the guidance of Pranav Kumar and Rachna Patil.
In his address, the Minister stressed the importance of preserving Bihar’s rich archaeological legacy and suggested expanding such events in the future. The Secretary shared updates on ongoing excavations and government efforts to promote heritage conservation, urging the public to participate in safeguarding Bihar’s cultural past.
To engage younger audiences, the Committee also organised a painting competition, essay contest, and logo design challenge, with entries solicited through newspapers and email.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Arvind Kumar Tiwari, Deputy Executive Director of the Committee. Also present were senior officials and staff from the museum and the Department of Art, Culture and Youth.
