Situated in the State of Bihar, in the district of East Champaran, on the eastern banks of the River Gandak (or Narayani),Near to Rampur Khajuria, Kesariya's glorious past spans several centuries. The Lord Buddha during his travel from Vaishali to Kushinagar had spent the night at Kesariya. In ancient times Kesariya was under the rule of the Mauryas and the Licchavis. The recent discovery, during
excavations for canals, of gold coins embossed with the seal of the famous Emperor Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty, confirms the ancient heritage of Kesariya. The Chinese traveller Fa-Hien had come to Kesariya, in the course of his visit to India during the Gupta Period. Later, impressed by Kesariya's geographic location and its cultural activities, another Chinese traveller, Huen-Sang also visited this place. In the accounts of his travels, he has mentioned at length about Kesariya. The main attraction of Kesariya's golden history is Deora. At present it occupies a tall mound of brick and earthen debris, located two miles to the south of the Kesariya Block Headquarters. This place is intimately associated with important facets in the life of Lord Buddha. According to Fa-Hien, it was at Deora in Keasriya that the Lord Buddha took his leave from the Licchavis. According to the other Chinese traveller, Huen-Sang, it was here that the Lord Buddha had announced that in his previous life he had ruled from this place as the Chakravarti Raja Mahadev. Buddha had told his disciple Anand that the Chakravarti Raja should build a stupa at the place where four main highways meet. Based on this principle, at a later time, a stupa was built at Deora where highways from Saran, Patna, Bettiah and Nepal meet. According to Fa-Hien, it was at Deora that Lord Buddha had donated his alms-bowl to the Licchavis, and just before leaving for Kesariya, he had announced at Vaishali, his impending death or Nirvana. The Licchavis having become overwhelmed with emotions at this news, had accompanied Lord Buddha up to Kesariya and did not want to leave him. Lord Buddha then created a large pond and donating his alms-bowl to the Licchavis, he bade them good-bye. To commemorate this event the Licchavis erected a pillar and a stupa at this spot. Later, Deora attained greater fame during the reign of Raja Ben. The Padma Purana mentions Raja Ben as a Buddhist king. But according to local legend, Raja Ben was far more famous as a very generous emperor. Deora was developed greatly during this period.In 1911, according to a British historian, O'Malley, Deora was 62 feet high with a circumference of 1400 feet. The diameter of the ruins discovered was 62 feet. In those days also, the site was covered with wild vegetation. Basically, it must have been about 80 to 90 feet high, and its total height including the mound at the base would have been about 150 feet. Huen-Sang in his travelogue has mentioned a Chakravarti Raja of the seventh century. This is confirmed by the reign of Raja Ben. He has mentioned that 30 miles due north-west of Vaishali, in an ancient city, Lord Buddha had announced that in a previous life he was the Boddhisatva and had ruled that kingdom as a Chakravarti Raja. This ancient city was most certainly Kesariya. It is irrefutable that Lord Buddha had come to Keasriya during his final journey from Vaishali to Kushinagar. The stupa at Deora confirms this event, since stupas were built only at those places which were of great significance in the life of Lord Buddha.In 1862, the excavation at Deora was conducted under the skillful guidance of General Cunningham. According to him this place existed from 200 to 700 AD. The fame of this ancient structure is associated with Raja Ben who was one of five great kings. The title of Chakravarti was conferred upon him because of his great deeds. According to local legend, Raja Ben had earned his reputation due to his generosity. He was praised by the people as a landlord since he did not accept any tax. Unfortunately, one day Raja Ben announced that he was going to impose tax in the form of a grain of gold. Again, according to local legend, Raja Ben fell victim to ominous consequeneces of this policy of greed. His divine powers abruptly disappeared and his wife drowned while bathing.This incident brought despair to Raja Ben. On the advice of the court Pandits, he built the Deora or a Stupa and entered it with his family whereupon he was never seen again!The name of Raja Ben's queen was Rani Kamlawati. She used to bathe on a lotus leaf. About half a mile to the north-east of Deora was the Queen's palace which even today is called Raniwas. The pond in which she used to take her bath was famous as the Gangeyataal. Historical documents contain reference to a pond located about three-quarters of a mile to the east of Deora and named after Raja Ben. It was about three thousand feet in extent. The excavations at the Raniwas site took place in 1862. These excavations confirmed the fact that there was also a Buddhist vihara at the site. A huge statue of Lord Buddha was found here. This was stolen in 1868 by the Benagli Babu of the Ramgharh Indigo Factory. Even today the high earthen mound at the spot of the Raniwas reminds people of its rich heritage.he place known as Raja Ben's Fort was badly damaged in the earthquake of 1938. The Bihar Archaeological Survey has taken control of the relics, but this historic place has not been developed as a tourist spot. Only by beautifying the area, and through construction of a tourist lodge, can this place be restored somewhat to its ancient glory.Another marker of the historic glory and cultural activities of Kesariya is the Dhekanha Math. Its history spans two hundred years. This Math is situated seven kilometers due south of the Block Headquarters, in the village of Dhekanha. A resident of the Balia district, Shri Bhujawan Pandit, provided a handwritten account of the two hundred year old history of the Dhekanha Math. This was revised, annotated and published by Shri Rupal Pandit in 1915. Dhekanha Math was established under the Vaishnava tradition. No place is given to caste and dynastic traditions in the selection of Mathaadhishas, which now runs up to five generations. Shri Karta Ram and Shri Dhaval Ram were in the first generation of the Dhekanha Mathaadhish. They were brothers and originally belonged to the Balia district. During their travels, these two brothers came to the village of Dhekanha on the banks of the Narayani River. Captivated by this picturesque place they settled here and continued with their livelihood. They were Nikumbha Kshatriya. Gradually, the villagers were impressed by their intrinsic holiness which exuded an impression of the Holy Mother! The disciples of the present day Math, to this day, are aware of the many miracles they performed. Dhaval Baba and Karta Baba's name has found a most noteworthy place in Hindi literature, and the literature of Bihar, as Bhakti poets belonging to the Sarbhanga community. Jeewan Baba and Girdhari Baba belong to the second generation of the Mathadhishas. They originally belonged to the Chhapra (Saran) district. A very strange occurrence, the exposure of one arm from the Samadhi of Dhaval Baba, occurred due to the changing course of the Narayani River. This resulted in the establishment of the samadhi on the near side of the embankment where the Math stands today. The temple was erected during the tenure of Girdhari Baba.In the third generation, the Mathaadhish was Avadh Bihari Baba. In the fourth genertion was the brilliant and great Sant Tyagi Lakshmi Baba. In his lifetime the math building underwent expansion on its west side. His able successor and the current Mathaadhish is Shri Krishna Mohan Das. Due to his great devotion and tireless service, the Math is getting lovelier every day. It was as a result of his never-ending effort that the Ram-Janaki temple was built and currently the construction of the Shiva temple is continuing where a glowing Lingam will be consecrated.In the tradition of the Guru-shishya (Master-disciple), and to mark Shri Ram Janmotsava, a Mela (fair) is held at Dhekhanha during Asardha Purnima (or Guru Purnima). Also, during Chaitra Ram Navami, hundreds of thousands of people visit this place. Another priceless treasure of ancient times at Kesariya is the Shivalingam in the Bhagvan Kesharnanth Temple. This lingam was discovered during the canal excavations of 1969. According to local tradition, it is believed to belong to an ancient temple. According to the same tradition, it is believed that the shivalingam obtained during the canal excavations is identical to the one described in the Agni Purana. After its discovery, the shivalingam was under the very proper religious care of the Block Administration. Later it was acquired by the local landlords. At a commemorative spot, in a rather derelict temple, the devotees gather in large numbers on Mondays and Fridays to offer their prayers. Its significance increases markedly in the month of Shravana. Keasriya hs occupied a front row in the economic domain of the Champaran district. In the famous Persian book of the Mughal Empire, namely, Ain-e-Akbari, Keasriya has been mentioned as a Crown jewel of the Champaran district. But during the reign of the great mughal king, Akbar, due to the fact that most of Champaran was not arable, it was left out of Todarmal's Settlement ("bandobasti") accounts; and this, of course, included Kesariya as well. The fact that most of Champaran was not arable was confirmed in the immediate post-Mughal period also by the East India Company administration. The Collector, in his report of 22 July 1794, has mentioned that most of the land in Champaran was forrested and less than on-fourth of the total land was arable.In early 20th century there was rapid development of cultivation in Champaran. In the Government Survey Report of 1910, the soil around Adapur in the Champarn district is mentioned to be the most fertile. Kesariya occupied the fourth place in the district, where 79% of the total area was under cultivation.Indigo plantation in Kesariya, during the British days, was its most prominent feature. Among the non-edible crops, indigo was the most profitable for the British. According to the Government Survey Report of 1910, again, the maximum acreage for indigo plantation, in the whole district of Champaran was in Kesariya, to the extent of 71%. The Rajpur Kothi made the maximun contribution to the cultivation of indigo in Keasriya. The cultivation of indigo in Rajpur was started by Messrs Morang and Wheel in 1813 utilizing the European technique.The British cultivated indigo in four patterns. They were, respectively, Proprietary, Mokarrir, Thekedaari and Kerkena. Indigo was cultivated in 12% of the raiyati land in Kesariya. According to the Survey Report of 1910, a total of 5,3047 bigha of land in Bettiah, Keasriya, and Dhaka was under the cultivation of indigo, of which two thirds was raiyati land. Another significant feature of indigo cultivation was that it also included the British factory and proprietary land of 4.83% and 2.71% of thekedaari. Two systems were adopted by the British for the cultivation of indigo- one zeerat and the other satta. In the zeerat method, the British used to grow indigo by paying the labourers from their own funds. About one fourth of the land was used under this system and this was the most profitable. According to the satta system, a farmer was obligated to grow indigo in three kathas per bigha of his land, for a fixed period of time. This is otherwise well-known as the teenkathia system. As the farmers earmarked teen kathas per bigha for cultivation of indigo, some consideration was given to them in the payment of land dues.The Survey Report of 1910 contains an analysis of both the harmful and beneficial aspects of the above-mentioned system of indigo cultivation. According to this report, it proved useful in the interests of British administration and trade, but put many question marks on their relationship with the farmers. In conclusion, it was clearly stated that the local farmers benefitted the least from the cultivation of indigo, and the labourers were the worst affected. The continuous cultivation of indigo also led to the infertility of the land. In the economic history, growing saltpeter and cultivation of sugar-cane have played important roles. Lalganj, lying adjacent to Kesriya, at about 40 km, was a very important place for the manufacture of saltpeter during the British period. This was a monopoly trade for the British. In the khatiyans prepared in the early part of the twentieth century, there are many mentions of godowns for saltpeter in the Kesariya area. Noteworthy among them are: Phultakiya in Bankat, Diha and Naygaon in Kesariya, Dilman Chhapra in the Bettiah Basant panchayat, and Dih in Hussaini. A particular caste, namely the noonias, (noon=salt) engaged previously in the manufacture of sltpeter are still found in large numbers in these areas. (A diha is literally a large mound, and many of these, the result of saltpeter production, can be found in many villages of the area.)The English documents of the 19th and 20th century shed light on the development of educational instiutions of Kesariya. According to O'Malley there were 2 Government Middle Schools and five other schools that received financial support either from the government or from the District Board. In his inspection report of schools in 1857-58, the Inspector of Schools noted that there has been rapid development of education in Kesariya. The foundation for a high school was laid during the British Raj. It was governed by a local committee. The Arya Samaj has also paid a leading role in the development of education. Shri Saryu Prasad laid the foundation of Kesariya's Arya Samaj Girls' School and by donating the sum of fifty thousand rupees for the Arya Samaj Temple, he not only started a healthy tradition in the field of education but set a glorious initiation for the tradition of higher education among girls. Along wth the opening of an Arya Samaj Temple, an Arya Samaj School was also started. Shri Saryu Prasad, in his lifetime, extended the construction of the school building to a large extent. Along with the Arya Kanya (Girls') Vidyalya (School), Kasturba (wife of Gandhiji) School was also an important center of learning for women. The citizens of Keasriya played a leading role in the struggle for freedom. During his tour of Champaran against the indigo plantations, Gandhiji had come to Kesariya. The non-cooperation movement started by Gandhiji had a deep and extensive impact on Kesariya. Swadeshi cloth weaving (khadi), local education, and indigenous cottage industries developed at a rapid pace. Hand-pumps, charkha, bee-keeping, all took the shape of cottage-industry. With time, institutions such as the Charkha Sangha, Congress Ashram, Arya Kumar Sabha, etc. An ashram established on the banks of a small rivulet to the north of the Kesariya Police Station, during the first phase of Gandhiji's freedom struggle, became the focal point of political activities. This ashram was organized on the pattern of the Sabarmati ashram. This was the first ashram where khadi was introduced and publicized, at a time when people in Bihar were unaware of it. So long as the evil eyes of the British did not set on it, this ashram provided much momentum to Gandhiji's swadeshi and political movement. The principal roles in these movements were played by Shri Saryu Prasad and Shri Baidyanath Marwari. During the struggle for independence, the citizens of Kesariya have provided amazing incidents of political foresightedness. In 1924, when the whole country was engulfed in communal fire, not a single incident occurred in Kesariya. Along with this, there never was any incident of casteism in the movement. One of the main reasons behind this was also the influence of the Arya Samaj movement.An important institution in the freedom struggle was the Gandhi Library. The inspiration for its establishment was the nationalist feeling. This library was established only after getting a charter from Gandhiji himself. In the establishment of this library the following names are worth mentioning: Babu Gaya Prasad, Shivanandan Prasad Varma, Baijulal Marwari, Ganga Prasad Banker and Saryu Babu. Babu Gaya Prasad purchased and donated the land for the library's building. Shivanandan Prasad Varma, a resident of Darbhanga, played a leading role in the freedom movement. He resigned from his job as a teacher and contributed actively towards the establishment of the library. Similarly, a businessman of Birganj, Nepal, Shri Baijulal Marwari, also gave full co-operation in the establishment of the library. Shri Ganga Prasad contributed in the opening of the library. Saryu Babu was very closely associated with the establishment and expansion of the library. Even today, this most vibrant Gandhi Library, is very popular in the educational arena of Kesariya. Many priceless books are available here.During the 1942 Non-Cooperation Movement (asahayog andolan), Keasriya joined forces one more time. The police registered a false case against Dularchand Ram, Saryu Prasad and five other participants in the salt satyagarah, for allegedly obstructing (dharna) the liquor and g***a (=hemp, ma*****na) stall. However, due to lack of evidence, all the freedom fighters were released from custody. In the course of the salt satyagraha, Saryu Babu, his younger brother, Yamuna Babu, and many other freedom fighters received a sentence of three years in jail for allegedly inciting the people of Kesariya against British rule. They were put in the Motihari jail. Before their arrest during the August 1942 movement a meeting of the freedom fighters had taken place at the Kesariya Congress Ashram. Here, a teacher of the Kesariya High School, Rameshwar Babu, and many of his colleagues, had pledged themselves towards making the movement successful. The teachers and the students joined as one and did bring success to the movement. Shri Jangbahadur Singh, Shri Madho Giri, Shri Surendra Prasad Singh, Shri Kishori Prasad Shrivastav, Shri Rajendra Prasad, Shri Buddhadeva Dubey, Shri Bhangwan Prasad Thakur, Shri Haribansh Narayan Singh, Shri Banshi Sonar, Shri Bindeshwari Shrivastava, Shri Radha Kant Pathak, Shri Nathuni Raut, Shri Mangal Yadav, Shri Banarsi Prasad, Shri Yaduvir Rai, Shri Devaki Kuli, are among the many who have contributed significantly to the struggle for freedom. The strategic location of Keasriya is very conducive for trade and commerce. It lies at the corner of Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj and Chhapra districts. Also, it is directly connected with the National Highway that leads to Uttar Prdesh (UP). From this point of view, the reinforcement project of the road from Thana Chowk to Rampur Khajuria Road, under the jurisdiction of the Kesariya Block, is a very important step in development. In the Block Hedquarters, a training cm production center is being established under the Tricem Project. The Ambedkar Project, run under the guidance of Shri Deepak Kumar, District Magistrate, East Champaran, is infusing new energy in the social upliftment and economic enrichment of the downtrodden (dalit) communities, for example, dom, musahars, dhangar, etc. The beautification of Deora, and its development into a tourist spot, will restore the ancient and historic glory of Keasariya.
