Nalanda University

Nalanda University

NalaNda, the widely acknowledged centre of global learning and excellence until eight centuries ago, is coming back to life. The shared vision of leaders of East asian countries is reviving the glory of one of the world’s most grand universities of its time, as the symbol for asia’s affluence, influence and intellectual power.

Nalanda University was characterised by an intellectual ferment unlike any known before that period. Medieval Universities of Salerno, Bologna and Paris came much later.

The University has a fairly extraordinary history. at its peak, it offered an enormous number of subjects such as Philosophy, Sanskrit, Medicine, Public Health and Economics. The educational model at Nalanda University was inter-disciplinary.

at its peak, the University housed some 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students, mostly monks. It was a magnificent campus with a 9-storey library whose towers seemed to reach into the clouds. This was the lyrical description of the University by 7th century Tang dynasty Buddhist monk Xuan Zang, who stayed in Nalanda for 12 years, and his odyssey from China to India and back was mythologized in the Chinese classic Journey to the West.

Nalanda comes alive once more

Nalanda University

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Knowledge never decreases by being shared.” —Buddha

Library, Nalanda University

FolloWINg the destruction of this ancient seat of

learning in the 12th century, it lay forgotten in the dust

until the Indian government started excavation works

in 1951 in an attempt to restore Nalanda’s past glory.

ancient stupas still stand proud in Nalanda, Bihar

(India) where centuries ago, the most gifted scholars

from around asia and the world once gathered

to share expertise in subjects such as Buddhism,

astrology, Mathematics and Science. The smoothened

surfaces of buildings bear testament to the golden

era during which the Nalanda University – the world’s

first residential University – provided a safe haven for

intellectuals to come together to learn.

Seated Buddha in bronze, 9th century CE, Kurkihar, Bihar

Stupas, Nalanda University

courtesy: Patna Museum

Nalanda University

THE University, considered to have been the most famous academic institution of its time in the world, was built in the 4th Century a.d. during the reign of Kumargupta I of the gupta dynasty. The significance of this University emanates from its international outlook, contribution to the spread of Buddhism in asia, and the academic scope and range of studies.

Nalanda was an extraordinary centre of learning for seven centuries. The name probably comes from a combination of nalam (lotus, the symbol of knowledge) and da, meaning to give so Nalanda means ‘giver of Knowledge’. and that is exactly what the University did, attracting gifted students from all over India, as well as from China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Persia, Sri lanka, Tibet and Turkey.

The plans to resurrect the University have been met with great enthusiasm globally. The restoration and the resurgence of the University is paramount today because asia has re-emerged on the global stage once again. Restoring it to its original self requires resolve and creative thinking. The vision is now all set to translate into demonstrable action. as India looks east, it discovers a new East asia starting to look west. In this new tryst with history, it is natural that there should be a rekindling of interest in earlier encounters. Hence, the Buddhist connection becomes a key area of study for the 21st century and Nalanda is at the centre of it.

Monks’ quarters, Nalanda University “...Nalanda University... will be a shining

example ≠of cooperative action in the field of education.”

—Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, India

Nalanda University

“ There is now a perfect opportunity to recreate the hallowed universalism of Nalanda as a centre of knowledge. Asian countries are coming together to forge a continent based on the foundations of peace and harmony.” —amartya Sen, Chairperson, Nalanda Mentor group

THE proposal to revive the Nalanda University was initiated in 2006. as the host country, India was entrusted the task of drawing up a master plan for Nalanda. Singapore took the initiative of hosting a seminar on the revival of Nalanda University in November 2006, marking the beginning of discussions. after several rounds of discussions, it was decided that the Nalanda University could be established under the aegis of the East asia Summit (EaS). at the Cebu summit of the EaS in January 2007, the Member States reached an understanding to strengthen regional educational cooperation and welcomed the regional initiative for the revival of the Nalanda University.

In June 2007, the Nalanda Mentor group – a panel of experts and eminent persons from various countries – was established to conceptualise the revival of the Nalanda University. The nine member group, headed by Nobel laureate Prof amartya Sen, includes Singapore’s Minister for Foreign affairs, Mr george Yeo, in his personal capacity, as one of the members. The inaugural meeting of the Nalanda Mentor group was held in Singapore in July 2007. Several meetings have subsequently been held.

Brick with Buddhist Creed, Gupta period, Nalanda

courtesy: National Museum

Nalanda University

Nalanda University

IN February 2009, at the fifth Nalanda Mentor group meeting, which also marked the completion of the conceptualisation phase of the project, the group visited Bodh gaya and the site of the proposed University at Rajgir in Bihar (India).

at the 4th EaS Summit held in Thailand on 24-25 october 2009, the EaS member countries welcomed India’s initiative and issued a Joint Press Statement which, inter-alia, supported the establishment of the Nalanda University as a non-state, non-profit, secular and self-governing international institution with a continental focus that will bring together the brightest and the most dedicated students from all countries of asia.

Dinnaga of Nalanda University, 5th century

courtesy: Benoy Behl

Nalanda Mentor groupl Amartya Sen, Chairman

lGeorge Yeo, Foreign Minister of Singapore

lNakanishi Susumu, Professor Emeritus, Kyoto City University of arts

lWang Bengwei, Professor, Beijing University

lMeghnad Desai, Professor Emeritus, london School of Economics

lN.K. Singh, Member, Rajya Sabha, Indian Parliament

lTansen Sen, Professor, City University of New York

lPrapod Assavavirulhakarn, assistant Professor, Chulalongkorn University

lLatha Reddy, Secretary, Ministry of External affairs, India– Member Secretary

Nalanda University

Nobel laureate Professor amartya Sen towards the establishment of the Nalanda University.

They supported the establishment of the Nalanda University as a non-state, non-profit, secular, and self governing international institution with a continental focus that will bring together the brightest and the most dedicated students from all countries of asia – irrespective of gender, caste, creed, disability or socio-economic background – to enable them to acquire liberal and human education and to give them the means needed for pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical and spiritual studies and thus achieve qualities of tolerance and accommodation.

They encouraged the networking and collaboration between the Nalanda University and existing centres of excellence in the EaS participating countries to build a community of learning where students, scholars, researchers and academicians can work together symbolising the spirituality that unites all mankind.

They encouraged appropriate funding arrangements on voluntary basis from governments and other sources including public-private partnership as may be decided by the governing Body which will be composed of members nominated by interested EaS participating countries.

Joint Press Statement of the 4th East asia Summit on the Revival of Nalanda University

courtesy: Benoy Behl courtesy: National Museum

Manjusri Pala period, Nalanda

Nalanda University

25th october 2009, Thailand

The Heads of State/government of the aSEaN Member States, australia, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand met in Cha-am Hua Hin, Thailand, on the occasion of the 4th East asia Summit.

They recalled their decision at the 2nd East asia Summit in Cebu, the Philippines, on 15 January 2007, to strengthen regional educational cooperation by tapping the region’s centres of excellence in education. In this connection, they welcomed India’s initiative to revive the Nalanda University located in the State of Bihar in India.

They noted that the Nalanda University was a great ancient centre of intellectual activity in Buddhist Philosophy, Mathematics, Medicine and other disciplines.

They were deeply impressed with the sanctity and significance of the great ancient centre of learning in Nalanda that attracted many scholars from South, South-East and East asia.

They appreciated the contribution and recommendations made by the members of the Nalanda Mentor group headed by

Clay seal found at Nalanda University

Nalanda University Bill 2010 to establish the Nalanda University in the State of Bihar, India, received overwhelming support in both Houses of India’s Parliament and became the Nalanda University Act after receiving the President’s assent on September 21, 2010.

Proposed Schools at Nalanda University

The following schools would comprise the initial structure of the University:

lSchool of International Regions and Peace Studies

lSchool of Business Management and development Studies

lSchool of Information Sciences and Technology

lSchool of Historical Studies

lSchool of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religion

lSchool of languages and literatures

lSchool of Ecology and Environmental Studies

Nalanda Copperplate, Pala period

courtesy: National Museum

Nalanda University

a Public diplomacy Initiative of the government of India

“Our challenge is to match the excellence of Nalanda of the first millennium CE for the third millennium. A University of the third millennium has to be universal in its outlook, open to currents of thought and practice from around the globe, and it has to respond to the needs of a world which has miles to travel before it can ensure peace and prosperity with equity and hope for all the people of the world.” —Nalanda Mentor group