Nalanda University Explained

Nālandā University
Top Free Label1:Nodal body
Top Free1:Ministry of External Affairs (India)[1]
Vice Chancellor:Abhay Kumar Singh
Students:1,038 (2024)[2]
Faculty:45 (2022)
Campus Size:485 acres

Nālandā University is a premier research university located in the ancient city of Rajgir in the state of Bihar, India. Designated as an Institute of National Importance (INI) and excellence, it is the flagship project of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of the Government of India,[3] and the successor of the famed Nalanda monastery of medieval India. It is solely a postgraduate institute, offering only Master's and PhD degrees. Regarded as a vanguard of India's cultural and historical legacy, Nālandā University is widely considered to be one of the most celebrated and prestigious universities in India.[4] [5] [6] [7]

The university was established by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 2010, with the President of India serving as Visitor to the university.[8] It is an international university supported by 18 member countries of the East Asia Summit,[9] with the initial proposal being placed by the former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.[10] The first Chancellor of the university was Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, followed by Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo.[11]

Built at an initial cost of $210 million and spread over 485 acres, the campus is among the largest in India and the first in the country to implement a 'Net Zero' eco-recycling strategy.[12] The new campus was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on June 19, 2024 in the presence of officials, ambassadors and dignitaries from all 18 ASEAN members.[13]

Nālandā university has subsequently established MoUs and collaborations with Peking University, University of Ostrava, Dongguk University, Deakin University, Otani University, Kanazawa University, The City University of New York, Chulalongkorn University, ICWA, IIPHG, ASI, ICCR, ISEAS, IIAS and CSIR.[14] [15]

The university

Nalanda University was established to emulate the ancient Buddhist university of Nalanda (Nalanda mahavihara), which functioned between the 5th and 13th centuries. The idea to resurrect Nalanda University was endorsed in 2007 at the 2nd East Asia Summit by the sixteen member countries.[16] In 2009, during the 4th East Asia summit, ASEAN member states including Australia, China, Korea, Singapore and Japan promised further support.[17] The Government of Bihar handed over land acquired from local people, to the university for its new campus.[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar also met External Affairs Minister SM Krishna to receive reassurance that the Central Government would allocate sufficient funds to the project.[23]

The architectural design was chosen on the basis of a global competition.[24] [25] The jury consisting of architects including Liu Thai Ker chose Pritzker Prize laureate BV Doshi's firm, Vastu Shilpa Consultants as the winner of the design competition.[26] The firm dbHMS provides the triple net zero energy, water and waste strategic plan.[27] Original concepts associated with the project included "advancing the concept of an Asian community...and rediscovering old relationships."[28] and "acting as a bridge for students in different parts of Southeast Asia".[29]

The university has been envisioned as an international institution of national importance[30] and excellence.[31] It began its first academic session on 1 September 2014 with 15 students in the School of Historical Studies and the School of Ecology and Environmental studies. A hotel operated by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation in Rajgir provided initial hostel accommodation.[32] [33] Initially set up with temporary facilities in Rajgir, a modern campus spanning over 400acres is under construction with over 80 percent having been completed by 2021.[34] The university started functioning from its 455-acres new campus from January 2020.[35] At least 200 villages surrounding the university will be attached to the university, reminiscent of the old Nalanda.

Nalanda University becomes the first plastic free campus of Bihar.[36] Water in the university is now being available in glass bottles instead of plastic bottles. Along with this, biogas will also be produced.

For the academic year 2022-23, the University had 822 students in total. For the academic year 2023-24, the University had admitted 1038 students, out of which a total of 187 are international students (including Masters, Global PhD & Short Programmes as per January cycle).[37]

Nalanda University Act

On 28 March 2006 the eleventh President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam proposed the idea while addressing the Joint Session of the Bihar Vidhan Mandal for the revival of Nalanda University.[38] In 2007 the Bihar Legislative Assembly passed a bill for the creation of a new university.[39]

The Nalanda University Bill, 2010[40] was passed on 21 August 2010 in Rajya Sabha and 26 August 2010 in Lok Sabha.[41] The bill received Presidential assent on 21 September 2010 thereby becoming an Act.[42] The university came into existence on 25 November 2010, when the Act was implemented.

Governance

The university's visitor is the President of India. The chancellor and chairperson of the governing board is Prof. Arvind Panagariya. The vice-chancellor is Prof. Abhay Kumar Singh. The governing board comprises the chancellor, vice-chancellor, representative from member countries, a secretary, two representatives from the Government of Bihar, a representative from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, and three persons in the category of "Renowned Academician or Educationist", Arvind Sharma, Lokesh Chandra and Arvind Panagariya.[43]

The first chancellor of the university was Amartya Sen, followed by former Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo. They left citing concerns about autonomy and political interference in academic matters.[44] [45] [46] [47] Vijay Pandurang Bhatkar has been appointed the new chancellor on 25 January 2017 by President Pranab Mukherjee, in his capacity as Visitor to Nalanda University.[48] In 2017, Interim Vice-Chancellor Pankaj Mohan handed over charge to Professor Sunaina Singh.

Schools and centres

Nalanda is exclusively a graduate school, currently offering master's courses, and doctor of philosophy programmes.

Nalanda University has five functional Schools at present:

The following schools are planned to start later, in a phased manner:

Three centres — Centre for Bay of Bengal,[50] Centre for Conflict Resolution and Peace Building, and Common Archival Resource Centre— will be operational soon.[34]

The School of Languages and Literature/Humanities commenced its operations with one year Post-Graduate Diploma Programmes in Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Korean and English in 2018. Master's and doctoral programmes commenced in 2021.[51] It is planned to gradually expand to include other programmes in Indian and foreign languages.

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Upadhyay . Ashok . 22 March 2021 . Crores spent but no glory for Nalanda University RTI story . 2022-03-28 . India Today.
  2. https://nalandauniv.edu.in/international-community/
  3. Web site: 20 January 2014 . Financial Support to Nalanda University . 2022-03-30 . Press Information Bureau, Government of India.
  4. Web site: BBC: Nalanda, the University that changed the world.
  5. Web site: Nalanda University History: India's 1600-year-old Ivy League-like institution, the world's oldest.
  6. Web site: Nalanda University: A Modern Campus Steeped in Ancient Heritage.
  7. Web site: Nalanda University: An Ancient Indian Ivy-League Institution.
  8. Web site: Bill No. XLIX of 2011: The Nalanda University Bill, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110915214624/http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Nalanda/Nalanda%20University%20Bill%202010.pdf . 15 September 2011 . 4 November 2011.
  9. Web site: 25 October 2009 . Joint Press Statement of the 4th East Asia Summit on the Revival of Nalanda University, Cha-am Hua Hin, Thailand, 25 October 2009 . 2022-03-30 . asean.org.
  10. Web site: 28 March 2006 . Address to the Joint Session of the Bihar Legislature, Patna: Missions for Bihar's Prosperity . 2022-03-30 . abdulkalam.nic.in . Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: Former President of India. National Informatics Centre..
  11. Web site: History and Revival . 2022-09-02 . Nalanda University . en-US.
  12. Web site: Net Zero campus .
  13. Web site: PM Modi at Nalanda University .
  14. https://nalandauniv.edu.in/mous/
  15. https://nalandauniv.edu.in/academics/shs/
  16. Web site: 25 October 2009 . Joint Press Statement of the 4th East Asia Summit on the Revival of Nalanda University, Cha-am Hua Hin, Thailand, 25 October 2009 . 2022-03-30 . asean.org.
  17. Web site: Bikramaditya . Bibhuti . 27 March 2007 . Patna Daily . Nalanda International University: A Great Initiative . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20080709044828/http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=8,3893,0,0,1,0 . 9 July 2008 . 18 August 2008.
  18. News: Puri . Anjali . 2015-03-03 . Nalanda University: The view from close up . Business Standard India . 2022-03-28.
  19. Web site: Nadim . Farrukh . 8 September 2013 . International university in Nalanda my dream: CM . 2022-03-30 . The Times of India.
  20. News: Sinha . Ashish . 14 August 2008 . Nalanda University set to reopen in '10, Amartya on faculty? . The Times of India . live . 14 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081223092152/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Nalanda_University_to_reopen_in_10/articleshow/3362587.cms . 23 December 2008.
  21. Web site: Jha . Ashok K. . 28 May 2007 . Nalanda International University: A commendable initiative . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927023827/http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=125171 . 27 September 2007 . 2022-03-28 . Merinews.
  22. Web site: Velloor . Ravi . 21 May 2011 . George Yeo assures Indian state of Nalanda commitment . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120505045041/http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_671092.html . 5 May 2012 . 20 May 2013 . The Straits Times.
  23. Web site: 19 May 2011 . CM seeks funds for Nalanda university . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131021032259/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/CM-seeks-funds-for-Nalanda-university/articleshow/8447417.cms . 21 October 2013 . 20 May 2013 . The Times of India.
  24. Web site: Global competition for Nalanda university design . 9 July 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110822235319/http://nalanda-international-university-news.blogspot.com/2011/07/global-competition-for-nalanda.html . 22 August 2011 . 13 July 2011.
  25. Web site: Global design competition for Nalanda university . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110226132248/http://www.sify.com/news/global-design-competition-for-nalanda-university-news-education-lcvvOmfddbc.html . 26 February 2011 . 13 July 2011.
  26. Web site: 6 May 2013 . Winner of Design Competition . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130612213104/http://www.nalandauniv.edu.in/result.pdf . 12 June 2013 . 6 May 2013 . Nalanda University.
  27. Web site: 2014-03-04 . Young entrepreneurs shaping sustainable growth in India . 2022-03-30 . ACE Update Magazine . en-GB.
  28. Web site: Rajghatta . Chidanand . 11 May 2008 . Nalanda to move from ruins to riches . 2022-03-30 . The Times of India.
  29. Web site: Sharma . Kritika . 2022-03-26 . 400-acre campus painted with nostalgia, an Asian melting pot — how Nalanda 2.0 is taking shape . 2022-03-30 . ThePrint . en-US.
  30. Web site: 20 January 2014 . Financial Support to Nalanda University . 2022-03-30 . Press Information Bureau, Government of India.
  31. News: 24 October 2009 . Nalanda University will be an international institution:PM . The Economic Times . Agencies . 2022-03-31.
  32. Web site: Nalanda International University begins its first Session . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140903182743/http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/09/nalanda-international-universitys-begins-its-first-session-today/ . 3 September 2014 . 1 September 2014 . Bihar Prabha . Indo-Asian News Service.
  33. Web site: Chatterjee . Chandan . Kumar . Roshan . 1 September 2014 . Nalanda 2.0, 800 years on . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924160133/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140902/jsp/frontpage/story_18789433.jsp#.VAtWBoGSxAA . 24 September 2015 . 7 August 2015 . The Telegraph.
  34. Web site: Rumi . Faryal . 15 February 2020 . 'Nalanda University campus to be fully operational by December next year' . 2021-07-31 . The Times of India . en.
  35. Web site: Tripathi . Piyush . 16 November 2019 . Nalanda University set to move to new campus . 2021-07-31 . The Times of India . en.
  36. News: 29 July 2023 . Nalanda University becomes the first plastic free campus of Bihar. . Prabhat Khabar.
  37. https://nalandauniv.edu.in/international-community/
  38. Web site: 28 March 2006 . Address to the Joint Session of the Bihar Legislature, Patna: Missions for Bihar's Prosperity . 2022-03-30 . abdulkalam.nic.in . Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: Former President of India. National Informatics Centre..
  39. Web site: 2007-03-27 . IANS . Plans to restore Nalanda's past glory . 2022-03-30 . Hindustan Times . en.
  40. Web site: Bill No. XLIX of 2011: The Nalanda University Bill, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110915214624/http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Nalanda/Nalanda%20University%20Bill%202010.pdf . 15 September 2011 . 4 November 2011.
  41. Web site: The Nalanda University Bill, 2010 . 2022-03-30 . PRS Legislative Research.
  42. Web site: Nalanda University Act, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111011041033/http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/regionallanguages/THE%20NALANDA%20UNIVERSITY%20ACT,%202010%20(39%20OF%202010).pdf . 11 October 2011 . 2011-11-25.
  43. Web site: Governance at Nalanda University. nalandauniv.edu.in. 18 August 2017. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170818174423/https://www.nalandauniv.edu.in/about-nalanda/governance/. 18 August 2017.
  44. News: 20 February 2015 . Modi govt does not want me to continue as Nalanda University chancellor: Amartya Sen . The Times of India . Press Trust of India . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150220154331/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-govt-does-not-want-me-to-continue-as-Nalanda-University-chancellor-Amartya-Sen/articleshow/46309975.cms . 20 February 2015.
  45. News: Dr. Amartya Sen's letter to Board members of Nalanda University . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150220061909/http://www.thehindu.com/news/resources/nalanda-university-letter-to-board-members/article6913582.ece . 20 February 2015 . 7 August 2015 . The Hindu. 19 February 2015 .
  46. Web site: Ganapathy . Nirmala . 25 November 2016 . Singapore's former foreign minister George Yeo resigns as chancellor of India's Nalanda University . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161125100254/http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/singapores-former-foreign-minister-george-yeo-resigns-as-chancellor-of-indias . 25 November 2016 . 25 November 2016 . The Straits Times.
  47. Web site: Nalanda University's 'autonomy hit', chancellor George Yeo quits . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161126122719/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nalanda-Universitys-autonomy-hit-chancellor-George-Yeo-quits/articleshow/55628741.cms . 26 November 2016 . 26 November 2016 . The Times of India.
  48. Web site: 28 January 2017 . IANS . Founder of Indian supercomputing Dr Bhatkar appointed new VC Nalanda University . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170128103305/http://indianexpress.com/article/education/nalanda-university-gets-a-new-vice-chancellor-dr-vijay-bhatkar-4495647/ . 28 January 2017 . 30 January 2017 . The Indian Express.
  49. Web site: The Seven schools of Nalanda University. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120131230523/http://nalandauniv.edu.in/school.html. 31 January 2012. 28 October 2012.
  50. Web site: Translation of Prime Minister's Statement at BIMSTEC Plenary Session (August 30, 2018) . 2022-03-30 . Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
  51. Web site: 2021-07-31 . School of Languages and Literature - Nalanda University . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210731084712/https://nalandauniv.edu.in/academics/sll/ . 2021-07-31 . 2021-07-31.

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