The new campus of Nalanda University, located close to the site of the ancient ruins of the Buddhist centre of learning in Bihar, is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to take forward an initiative that took shape nearly two decades ago.
The Nalanda University was established in 2010 through an act of Parliament that implemented decisions made at the second East Asia Summit, which brings together the 10 Asean states and six partners, in the Philippines in 2007 and at the fourth East Asia Summit in Thailand in 2009. Those decisions called for setting up an “international institution for pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical and spiritual studies”.The university got a major push under the Bharatiya Janata Party government in 2014, when it started functioning from a makeshift location with 14 students. Construction work on the university began in 2017, with the government focused on creating an institution that reminded the modern world of the eminence of the ancient Nalanda University, which was set up in the 5th century and attracted students from across the world.It took 831 years to finally reclaim the glorious Nalanda University, which will be inaugurated on June 19 by Prime Minister Modi. This ancient university laid in ruins for centuries.
After Khalji's arson, it is said that Nalanda burned for over three months, destroying approximately nine million books and manuscript.
Witnessing this historic moment as we revive the legacy of one of the world's oldest educational institutions. Nalanda University stands as a symbol of India's rich educational heritage and its commitment to global knowledge sharing.
Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, @narendramodi, is all set to inaugurate the new Nalanda University Campus in Bihar!
Nalanda University, once destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji, rises again. 9 million books burned by the invaders, yet knowledge persists. It's time to rename Bakhtiyarpur, honoring our heritage and reclaiming our history.
The ancient university flourished for 800 years before it was burnt down by invaders in the 12th century.
Wednesday’s inauguration is expected to be attended by external affairs minister S Jaishankar and ambassadors of 17 participating countries, including members of Asean. These 17 countries – Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam – have signed memorandums of understanding in support of the university.
The university currently offers 137 scholarships to international students, including scholarships sponsored or funded by the Asean-India Fund, Bimstec scholarships and the Bhutan Scholarship of the external affairs ministry. The university has postgraduate and doctoral research courses and short-term certificate courses.
The university got a major push under the Bharatiya Janata Party government in 2014, when it started functioning from a makeshift location with 14 students. Construction work on the university began in 2017, with the government focused on creating an institution that reminded the modern world of the eminence of the ancient Nalanda University, which was set up in the 5th century and attracted students from across the world.
