Reviving Glory: PM Modi to inaugurate modern campus of historic Nalanda University

Reviving Glory: PM Modi to inaugurate modern campus of historic Nalanda University

Next week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will grace Bihar to inaugurate the newly established campus of Nalanda University, a contemporary tribute to the legendary ancient seat of learning. The momentous event, set for June 19, has sparked a flurry of activity as state officials and university authorities fine-tune preparations to welcome the Prime Minister.

Nestled less than 20 km from the historic Nalanda Mahavihara, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the modern university was re-established in 2010 through a legislative act by the Indian Parliament. This marks a significant revival of the first residential university in the world, originally founded in 427 CE by Emperor Kumaragupta.

For over eight centuries, Nalanda thrived as a beacon of knowledge, thanks to the dedication of its learned monks and teachers. At its zenith, it boasted an impressive roster of 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students from far-flung regions like China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. The detailed accounts left by these scholars, especially the Chinese monk Xuan Zang, offer invaluable insights into the academic and architectural grandeur of ancient Nalanda.

Nalanda was a hub of diverse intellectual pursuits, with Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical system, being widely taught. Its architectural design of open courtyards flanked by prayer halls and lecture rooms inspired Buddhist institutions across Asia. The university's influence extended to the ecclesiastical art of Thailand and the metal artistry of Tibet and the Malayan peninsula.

However, Nalanda's most enduring legacy lies in its monumental contributions to mathematics and astronomy. Aryabhata, the father of Indian mathematics, is speculated to have headed the university in the 6th century CE. "Aryabhata was the first to assign zero as a digit, revolutionising mathematical computation and paving the way for algebra and calculus," notes Anuradha Mitra, a Kolkata-based mathematics professor while speaking to BBC. His pioneering work in trigonometry, spherical geometry, and the study of celestial bodies laid foundational principles that resonate through modern science and technology.

Admission to Nalanda was as challenging as getting into today's elite universities. Prospective students underwent rigorous oral interviews with the university's top professors. Those who passed were tutored by an eclectic group of scholars under revered Buddhist masters such as Dharmapala and Silabhadra. The university's library, a treasure trove of nine million handwritten palm-leaf manuscripts, was the world's richest repository of Buddhist knowledge. Known as “Dharma Gunj,” or the “Mountain of Truth,” this library was a treasure trove of Buddhist scriptures, scholarly notes, and curriculum books spanning a vast array of subjects. Of its three main library buildings, one, as described by Tibetan scholar Taranatha, soared nine stories into the clouds.

Tragically, in the 1190s, this illustrious institution met a fiery end at the hands of Bakhtiyar Khilji, a Turko-Afghan military general determined to extinguish this Buddhist center of learning. The campus blaze reportedly raged for three months, reducing to ashes what was arguably the richest repository of Buddhist wisdom. Unfortunately, only a few manuscripts survived the destruction, now safeguarded in institutions like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Yarlung Museum in Tibet.

After six centuries of obscurity, Nalanda was rediscovered in 1812 by Scottish surveyor Francis Buchanan-Hamilton and later identified as the ancient university by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1861.

The revival of Nalanda University gained momentum in 2006 when Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the then President of India, proposed its re-establishment during a session of the Bihar State Legislative Assembly. The idea found strong support, leading to the passing of the Nalanda University Bill in 2010. By September 2014, the first batch of students had enrolled, marking the university's rebirth. The State Government of Bihar allocated 455 acres for the new campus, setting the stage for its renaissance.

The new campus, designed by the celebrated architect Padma Vibhushan late BV Doshi, merges eco-friendly architecture with ancient Vaastu principles, creating a net-zero carbon footprint campus spread over lush greenery and 100 acres of water bodies. This modern Nalanda stands as a testament to India's rich educational heritage and its ongoing commitment to knowledge and innovation.