Nalanda University inaugurated by PM Modi

Nalanda University inaugurated by PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the campus of Nalanda University in Bihar on June 19th, marking a significant revival of India's historic legacy. Mr. Modi said, “Nalanda is the proclamation of this truth that books may burn in the flames of fire, but the flames of fire cannot destroy knowledge. Nalanda is an identity, respect, and pride.”

The university now consists of six schools: the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy & Comparative Religions; the School of Historical Studies; the School of Ecology and Environmental Studies; and the School of Sustainable Development and Management.

Under a special initiative by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, 455 acres of land in Rajgir were acquired and handed over to the university administration, facilitating its development. The institution has forged collaborations with 17 nations, including Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. These countries have signed MOUs to support various initiatives of the university.

History

Nalanda University, founded by Emperor Kumaragupta I of the Gupta Empire in the 5th century CE, was situated in the ancient kingdom of Magadha, in present-day Bihar. Located near Rajagriha (modern Rajgir) and close to Pataliputra (modern Patna), it gained renown as the world's first residential university. Scholars from diverse regions such as China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia were drawn to its intellectual hub.

Tragically, in the 1190s, the institution suffered destruction when it was set ablaze by Bakhtiyar Khilji, a Turko-Afghan military commander. This devastating fire persisted for three months, resulting in the loss of what was arguably the most extensive repository of Buddhist knowledge at that time.

The Nalanda University Act, 2010

The Nalanda University Act, 2010 came into effect on September 21st, 2010, following decisions made at the Second East Asia Summit on January 15th, 2007, in the Philippines, and reaffirmed at the Fourth East Asia Summit on October 25th, 2009, in Thailand. This act established Nalanda University in Bihar as an international institution dedicated to the pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical, and spiritual studies, and related matters. Nalanda University was thereby formally established under the provisions of this act.

About 2nd East Asia Summit

During the Second East Asia Summit convened on January 15th, 2007, in Cebu, Republic of the Philippines, the participating nations agreed to enhance regional educational cooperation. This included leveraging the East Asia Region's educational centers of excellence and revitalizing Nalanda University in Bihar. The aim was to foster greater regional understanding and mutual appreciation of each other's heritage and history through this initiative.

About 4th East Asia Summit

The Fourth East Asia Summit, held on October 25th, 2009, in Hua Hin, Thailand, endorsed the establishment of Nalanda University. It also advocated for fostering networking and collaboration between the proposed Nalanda University and established centers of excellence within the East Asia Summit framework. This initiative aimed to create a community of learning where students, scholars, researchers, and academics could collaborate, symbolizing a shared spiritual connection that unites humanity.