Reviving the World's oldest university!
Recently the Bihar government presented a Bill for the revival of Nalanda International University at Nalanda, Bihar. It's a commendable step and we should laud the government with a thumping desk to start the process of the revival of this International University which was known as the ancient seat of learning from 427CE till 1197CE. This university in it's heyday attracted 10,000 students and 2,000 scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey, besides being a pedestal of higher education in India,it produced great scientists in the past, Aryabhatt(a great Mallu scientist of ancient India)was one of them who came to Bihar at the age of 13 and become Vice chancellor of the University. Though it was devoted to Buddhist studies, the varsity also trained students in subjects like fine arts, medicine and mathematics.
In the post independence era, talks were going on for the revival of this university and the demand was started in early 1990s but it took serious turn when the then President of India, Dr. Abul Kalam suggested to revive this university while addressing both the houses of Bihar Assembly. This gave impetus to the process and became an eye opener for the Bihar government.
As per the reports, Japan and Singapore have shown interest in investing about ($100 million) in the university. Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has offered to donate Buddhist artifacts to the proposed university.
A high-level international team of consultants is going to be formed for the establishment of the International University. In the initial phase, Nobel laureate Prof. Amartya Sen(Professor at London School of Economics) & member of the House of Lords, Lord Meghnad Desai have agreed to be part of an international group of consultants. The state government is also in the process of roping experts from Singapore and Japan and other countries for the revival of this unique university.
The report states that in its first phase, the university will offer only post-graduate, research, doctoral and post-doctoral degrees. However, the report -prepared by the Educational Consultants of India, a consulting company under the union ministry of human resource development is also in favor of offering undergraduate courses in specific areas.
The university will impart courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with other subjects. 1,137 students from both India and abroad will be enrolled in the first year. By the fifth year, the number will go up to 4,530 and in the second phase, student enrolment will increase to 5,812.
The university, spread over a 500 acres, will have a 1:10 faculty-student ratio.
The University of Nalanda Bill, 2007, states that the international university would strive to create a world free of war, terror and violence.
We do hope this University will be the center of excellence, will gather students from all over the world in all areas of life sciences and physical sciences including arts, culture and spiritualism which is the backbone of India.
Source: Patna daily.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nalanda_University#Nalanda_in_the_time_of_t...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/09/opinion/09garten.html?_r=1
Arbayyiim Shekel Heero!@
LOL
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
I have seen the ancient hostel accomodations there!
Those were very modest.
The walls were almost as thick as the rooms itself.
They had an inbuilt masonry bed. Ofcourse no linen was present when I went.
There was a small raised masonry stone top platform resembling a modern study table, Beside this there was a place to light a lamp. This was built in with the study place. And black burnt oil stains can still be found!
There is nothing much besides these remaining.
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
It is not so much about revival , but keeping history alive. Perhaps they could set up research facilities there with support from major institutions.
Exiled, Lots of ancient Chinese scholars were part of that university. And the Japanese have already invested millions at Bodh Gaya,India, because it is their place of pilgrimage. You see many japs are Buddhists. So they come to Gaya often. And they like to have the place spic and span. So they invest there as charity!
I wonder what the Chinese and Japanese want in return from India....
Exiled, The Chinese Government and the Japanese are willing to spend billions!
And Bihar is one of the most backward states in India, in all respects. So they could do with a international standard University!
I have a serious point now. What is the point of reviving this university? Are the universities in India rubbish or something... seems like a waste of money to me.
No they were in their early thirties and their list of qualifications was 2 pages long, including order of merit of ghengis khan from Nalanda and Home Economics Level 2....
Now I know its been shut for a 1000 years!!! However I hear the famous drunken orgy of 430 that proceeded the poppadum riots of 431 was a site to behold.... must have been all those chinese students that made it go with a bang...
cultural institutions. When I think of the Boticelli's paintings destroyed in Savonarola's Bonfire of the Vanities I almost weep. Sadly that was not the first or the last of such events.... :-(
I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM
The university is non functional now. It's still being excavated. If they did MBA from Nalanda, they must be over 1000 yeras old. They are ghosts!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA ROFLROFLROFL...LMAOOO
Yeah I know this place! A number of Indians applied for jobs at my company claiming MBAs from this place.....
Isn't it same as the the destruction of the Bamian Buddha by the Taliban. It's so sad.
This is called vandalism in the name of religion!
Ofcourse to Bakhtiyar Khilji, Nalanda was a sort of a Pagan institute, whose teachings were not in accordance with Islam. He could have closed it down. But why did he have to burn all the precious documents and the library. It makes me so sad. I visited the museum. There are some charred remains of rice and a few other articles left.
In this respect I adore the Egyptian Government. even though the ancient tombs and idols and the temples are not islamic, still they are preserved as national heritage.
No!
I remember the sticks only!
And my fingers in pain!
And my teacher kickin'..and kickin'...:(
In 1193, the Nalanda University was sacked by Bakhtiyar Khalji, a Turk;[22] this event is seen by scholars as a late milestone in the decline of Buddhism in India. Khilji is said to have asked if there was a copy of the Koran at Nalanda before he sacked it. The Persian historian Minhaj-i-Siraj, in his chronicle the Tabaquat-I-Nasiri, reported that thousands of monks were burned alive and thousands beheaded as Khilji tried his best to uproot Buddhism and plant Islam by the sword;[23] the burning of the library continued for several months and "smoke from the burning manuscripts hung for days like a dark pall over the low hills."[24]
Source: Wikipedia.org
I am impressed by your memory Drac! So you do remember!
I actually said blackboard so that you understand incase you forgot those days.
The term "blackboard" dates from around 1815 to 1825 while the newer and predominantly American term, "chalkboard" dates from 1935 to 1940.
The chalkboard was introduced into the US education system in 1801.
To Nalanda i used sand box and sticks!
and I have to say that I am blown away by the beautiful sites in india and the rich history. I think the mission of reviving Nalanda is so timely and I hope it goes well for them.
I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM
Drac, don't you remember the teacher who made you hang upside down from the blackboard because you made silly mistakes in the multiplication table!
That was me.
Dracula the construction started during the time of Lord Buddha, but the University became functional much later on CE 427CE.
PM is correct it is not the oldest university, but ...
Nevertheless it remains the world's oldest fully residential university!
Even the great Chinese scholar Hieun Tsang(Xuanzang) who carried a chair on his back and Fahien said so.
Thanks for the pics!
I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM
I studied there too!
Wait a minute...
The Pink chariot?...with 2 wonderful pink stallions?
YOUUU?
You brought back memories .. I studied there in one of my previous lives...
I hope they get the support and funding they need..
It is the worlds oldest residential university.
The world's oldest university is frequently disputed as being University of Nanjing, in China, founded around 258 BCE, followed by Taehak in Korea, founded in 372; as well s the University of Constantinople in 425.
But all the best to Nalanda. They have a great mission ahead of them.
I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM
Gundishapur was founded in 271 BCE by the Sassanid king, Shapour I.(Iran)
University of Nanjing, in China, founded around 258 BCE
The University of Nalanda, for example, a seat of Buddhist learning in India, was founded in the fifth century BCE, but closed in the 1100s.
University. Archaeologists are still digging out the remains of this splendor. But much of it remains uncovered. It is believed that only 10% or less have been dug out.
OPEN minded spiritualism i hope!!!!!
a tough step uphead but it is worth it..
Pay peanuts & you get Monkeys