Nalanda is not just a university; it is the identity of our unity and culture. Founded by the Gupta king Kumargupta in the 5th century CE, Nalanda University was an epitome of knowledge and intellectual exchange. In its heyday, it was home to more than 10,000 students and 2,500 teachers, attracting scholars from all over Asia, including China, Persia, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Greater India. The magnificence of the educational environment of Nalanda University during its peak reflected the rich intellectual traditions and scholarly activities that flourished under the patronage of the Gupta dynasty.
The sprawling campus, believed to be 15,000,000 square meters, has only four to five per cent excavated and the rest still lying underground. The destruction of Nalanda University, especially during Bakhtiyar Khilji’s Islamic invasion of India in 1193, marked one of the darkest days in the history of mankind. This heinous and barbaric attack destroyed a monumental centre of learning and caused an irreplaceable loss of knowledge, culture and heritage.
University’s Downfall & Revival
The destruction of Nalanda University was a huge blow to India’s intellectual and cultural prowess. For almost 900 years, India experienced an unparalleled decline in the field of sciences and mathematics. The rich heritage and knowledge that Nalanda represented was almost forgotten until the establishment of the Republic of India in 1947, which saw a renewed focus on education.
In 2010, the Parliament of India passed the Nalanda University Act, which re-established Nalanda as an academic institution. This was a significant step towards reviving the ancient glory and humanistic principles that Nalanda represented once. However, the road to realising this dream was full of delays and controversies, especially under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre.
UPA Government’s Mishandling
The UPA Government, led by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, set up an 11-member committee, including Amartya Sen, to examine the feasibility and rationale for reviving Nalanda University. Despite the official inauguration of the university, Amartya Sen’s involvement in deciding the new university’s syllabus and programmes led to controversy. He ignored the rules that governed the university, which significantly delayed the progress of the project.
Contravening Rules
Amartya Sen, mandated to submit a detailed report on the project within nine months, has not done so even after three years. Despite this, he was promoted to the position of Chancellor of the University in 2011, leading to further violations of the rules. Gopa Sabharwal, appointed as Vice-Chancellor, lacked the necessary qualifications and was not suitable for the role. Her salary, along with that of Associate Professor Anjana Sharma, was exorbitant and indicative of financial mismanagement.
The Manmohan Singh Government designated Nalanda as an international university to protect it from potential financial irregularities. However, it considered it to be only a national university with a cost exceeding Rs 1,000 crore, which was entirely borne by the Indian tax payers. The vision of the university was to revive Nalanda’s original emphasis on Buddhist studies. But the establishment of the School of Information Technology showed a lack of direction and vision under Amartya Sen.
NDA Government’s Realises Nalanda’s Dream
The real impetus for the construction of Nalanda University came under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite the law being passed in 2010, significant progress was made only after the Modi-led NDA administration took over. Construction of the new varsity campus began in 2017, with the university operating from a temporary site in 2014 with just 14 students.
Prime Minister Modi’s leadership has ensured that the Nalanda project will be in line with India’s ‘Act East’ policy and foster stronger ties with East Asian countries. Representatives of 17 participating countries, including ambassadors and Ministers, attended the inaugural event on June 19, 2024, which marked a significant milestone in the revival of the university.
The Road Ahead
Nalanda University is a testament to India’s rich intellectual heritage and its resilience in reviving its glorious past. The mishandling and delay of the project by the Congress-led UPA Government has been overcome by the decisive steps taken by the Modi Government to realise the dream of redeveloping Nalanda as a source of knowledge as it was before.
The new Nalanda University symbolises India’s resurgence on the global stage, embodying the humanistic principles and intellectual pursuits that once made it a beacon of learning. As the university continues to grow, it serves as a bridge between India’s glorious past and its promising future, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to education, unity and cultural preservation.
In the spirit of Nalanda’s legacy, the revival of the university is not just about building renovations, but about rekindling the flame of knowledge that once illuminated the world. Nalanda’s journey, from its ancient glory to its modern revival, is a story of perseverance, vision and the indomitable spirit of India!
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