The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University at Rajgir, Bihar. The University is conceived as a collaboration between India and East Asia Summit(EAS) countries. Several eminent people including the Head of Missions of 17 countries attended the inauguration ceremony. The Prime Minister also planted a sapling.
The Nalanda University Campus has two Academic Blocks with 40 Classrooms having a total seating capacity of around 1900. It has two auditoriums having a capacity of 300 seats each, a student hostel with a capacity of around 550 students and various other facilities including an International Centre, an Amphitheater that can accommodate up to 2000 individuals, a Faculty Club and a Sports Complex among others.
The Campus is a ‘Net Zero’ Green Campus. It is Self-Sustainable with solar plant, domestic and drinking water treatment plant, water recycling plant for reusing wastewater, 100 acres of water bodies, and many other environment-friendly facilities.
The University has a deep connection with history. The original Nalanda University, established around 1600 years ago, is considered to be amongst the first residential universities in the world. The ruins of Nalanda were declared as a UN Heritage Site in 2016.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed delight and thanked his good fortune in visiting Nalanda within 10 days of taking oath as the Prime Minister for the third term and said that it is a positive indication towards the developmental journey of India. “Nalanda is not just a name, it is an identity, a regard. Nalanda is the root, it is the mantra. Nalanda is the proclamation of the truth that knowledge cannot be destroyed even though books would burn in a fire,”, the Prime Minister exclaimed. He underlined that the establishment of the new Nalanda University would initiate the golden age of India.
The Prime Minister said that the revival of Nalanda near its ancient ruins will introduce India’s capabilities to the world as it will tell the world that nations with strong human values are capable of creating a better world by rejuvenating history.
Shri Modi stressed that Nalanda carries the heritage of the world, Asia and many countries and its revival is not restricted to revival of Indian aspects. This is evident from the presence of so many countries in today’s inauguration, he added acknowledging the contribution of the friendly nations in the Nalanda project. He also praised the people of Bihar for their determination to bring back its glory which is reflected in Nalanda.
Pointing out that Nalanda was once the living center of India’s culture and traditions, the Prime Minister said that the meaning of Nalanda is the continuous flow of knowledge and education and this has been India’s approach and thinking towards education. “Education is beyond boundaries. It inculcates values and thought while giving it shape.”, the Prime Minister said, highlighting that students were admitted to the ancient Nalanda University irrespective of their identities and nationalities. He also stressed the need to strengthen the same ancient traditions in the newly inaugurated Nalanda University Campus in modern form. The Prime Minister expressed delight that students from more than 20 countries are already studying at Nalanda University and said that it is the perfect example of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
