Nalanda University Finally Revived After 800 Years
Nalanda Mahavihara an ancient university that was renowned for its vast knowledge and housing scholars and students from all over Asia.
Attack by Bakhtiyar Khilji, a Turkish general, proved fatal for Nalanda when its library was burned and the scholars killed. This tragedy marked the end of a whole era, no matter what the rulers could not restore Nalanda to it former glory and the flow of knowledge stopped.
In March 2006, APJ Abdul Kalam the then president of India proposed the revival of the Nalanda University. The parliament of India passed the Nalanda University Act, 2010 and in September 2014 the first batch of students were enrolled.
Historically known for its vast libraries and diverse curriculum, it attracted students from across Asia, including China, Korea, Tibet, Japan, Mongolia, Turkey, Shri Lanka and South East Asia.
‘Prime Minister Inaugurates the new campus’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University on 19th June 2024 near Rajgir in Bihar. On this occasion he also planted the sapling of the Bodhi tree – a symbol of Buddhist spirit and Indian spirituality.
'Fire can burn the books but not knowledge'
These lines by the Prime Minister highlighted Nalanda’s Historical and cultural significance.
Before the inauguration the Prime Minister visited the nearby Nalanda Mahavihara, a UNESCO world heritage site, to glimpse at the past that once thrived there.
The re-establishment of the Nalanda University is seen as a step towards reclaiming its historical role in the modern era, to become the centre of academic excellence carrying forward the legacy of its ancestors while contributing to the future of Indian education and more.
