An account of Nalanda University

Updated on: Tuesday, September 02, 2014

The thought of refreshing Nalanda University began on March 28, 2006 in the address of our former president APJ Abdul Kalam. He spoke about the revival on the Joint session of Bihar Vidhar Mandal. The Nalanda University Act was passed on 2010. The Academic session begins on 2014. September, and to the surprise only 15 students joined and there are only 11 faculty members.

Nalanda University was started around 800 years ago and it was popular in the period of Harsha. After 800 years the academic session was started. In this ancient institution on September 2, 2014, Nalanda University is situated in Rajagir district of Bihar.

Nalanda is considered to be the first university in the world. Based on the suggestion of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the earlier Government decided to revive Nalanda. The former Government has allotted Rs. 2700 crores and mode Nalanda as residential university. It is decided to bring in post graduation courses and PhD’s in 7 subjects before 2020. As on dare, classes for two subjects on Environment and history are started.

Nalanda was started Pataliputhra (Patna) during 5^th century B.C. in the period of Gupta dynasty in Rajgir and it has the credit of being the first university in the world. Historical resources claim that this university was in its vibrant functions till 112^th century. The university building was constructed with unique features and the university was lot of holistic features and specialty in educating students.

It was the biggest university in the world where 200 teachers were working and 10,000 students’ studies residential status. The hostel was accommodated in such a way that four students reside with one teacher.

Nalanda attracted students from various countries like china, Korea, Japan, and Tibet, Mangolia, Turkey, Ceylon and North East Asian countries. Then were lot evidences available from the writings of the foreign students who stayed and studies in Nalanda and it is important to mention the writings of Yuan Tsuang. Yuan Tsuang, a Chinese traveler besides a student also worked as teacher.

The historical records say that Nalanda was put in fire by the king Pakthiya Khilgi in 12^th century. It is surprise to note here that the fire was burning continuously for a month. The buildings were buried under the earth. This was identified by the archaeologist Alexandar

According to the Vice chancellor Dr. Gopa Sabharwal, more than 1000 students had applied to study in Nalanda and only 15 were eligible to join the university. To inaugural session begin with 15 students and 11 teachers.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by countries Singapore, Australia, Cambodia, Brunei, New Zealand, Laos PDR and Myanmar and not a single student has joined in Nalanda.

Six faculty members out of eleven Mihr Dev (Delhi), somnath Bandopadhyana (Delhi), Samuel Wright (Calfornia), Yinker (Malaysia), Kastyap Ghani (Kolkata) and shrawan Mukharji (Kolkata) and Shrawan Mukherji (Kolkata) conducted the first day sessions.

Arun Gandhi, Lubna Khan, Ranjit Kumar, Jyotimoy Kandula, Nawarg (Bhutan, Asi Alawat, Yakiro Nakamora (Japan), Daniel and sanch Salah are the students now studying in Nalanda.

The important role taken by the chancellor and the Nobel Laureath Amartya sen is worth mentioning here, but he did not attend the inaugural session.

Now the classes are going on in Rajagir convention centre and the proposed construction may be from Feb-2015. Now an External affair Ministry controls the promotion of fresh Nalanda. Bihar Government has given 455 acres of land to Nalanda.

An account of Nalanda University

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