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At
last, Bihar government presented a Bill for the
revival of Nalanda International University at
Nalanda. We all should appreciate and give
congratulations to the present government with a
thumping desk to start the process of the
revival of this International University which
was known for the ancient seat of learning till
1197 AD. This university 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 and produced great scientists in the past,
Aryabhatt was one of them who came to Bihar at
the age of 13 from Kerala (some people says he
was born nearby Patna) 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 independent 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 our the President of India,
Dr. Abul Kalam suggested to revive this
university while addressing the both houses of
Bihar Assembly. This gave impetus to this
process and become an eye opener for Bihar
government. Hats off to our beloved President of
India. He deserves appreciation for this great
initiative.
As per the reports, Japan and Singapore have
shown interest in investing about Rs.4.5 billion
($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 and
British Economist Professor in 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. An internationally known scholar will
be the chancellor of the university and 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 46
international faculty members will receive an
estimated $36,000 per annum as salaries.
The University of Nalanda Bill, 2007, states
that the international university would strive
to create a world free of war, terror and
violence.
According to Chief Minister Sri Nitish Kumar,
"This (bill), which is not only for Bihar or
even India, will act as a facilitator for what
will emerge as a centre for renaissance of the
east. He strongly feels that the university will
become a reference point for international
relations and a centre for peace and resolution
of disputes.
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.
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Comments: |
Re-opening of world fame
International Nalanda University is
a very good news. It will bring the
historical importance back to Bihar.
Bit at the same time Bihar Govt.
must improve roads and lights so
that people can feel that some
improvement is done. - T S P
Sinha, Jamshedpur - Mar. 28, 2007
I
was so pleased to read this article.
Finally we are heading to
establishment of glorious Bihar
again. Revival of Nalanda University
should have been the prior attention
of the government effort but it’s
not too late. If this project is
successfully executed it would be
the great gift for Biharis as well
as for other states' people.
We should put all our effort to make
this great project successful. The
revival of ancient university could
be the mile stone in educational
field. Our respected President and
chief minister should be really
appreciated for this wonderful
thought. Now once again Bihar will
be in world’s map. - Mamta, USA -
Mar. 28, 2007
How
does it sound 27% quota for OBC, 22%
for SC and 7.5% for ST in this world
fame International Nalanda
University? - Parshuram -
Mar. 29, 2007
Yeah, a very good news and a good
initiative on the whole .
However one name seems to have
missed out from the list of people
mentioned here, that is of one of
the most capable bureaucrats of our
time and the driving force behind
this whole initiative......Mr. N K
Singh. Mr. Singh has a chequered
career at the helm of affairs as a
former union revenue secretary
(Conceptualized Voluntary Disclosure
Scheme) then in PMO of Mr Vajpayee
followed by an stint at Planning
Commission. At Present, He is Dy.
Chairman State Planning Board and
the man leading the charge on many
fronts including perhaps in
presenting the state to Global
financial Institution apart From
This Nalanda Initiative. Christened
by some media critics in aftermath
of VDS scheme as "A person who gets
things done". Aptly said indeed! -
D. N. Mishra -
Mar. 29, 2007
In present day and age it was
Mahatma Gandhi who initiated the
thinking process of revival behind
the Nalanda as reference to Ahimsa
being the greatest cause of nirvana
or salvation by self contribution to
understanding about the knowledge of
the absolute and ultimate human code
of conduct in an advanced society.
That led Lord Buddha to be declared
as the next half incarnation after
Lord Krishna of the Lord Narayana.
It would be a great tribute to the
Mahatma if his name was figured as
the contemporary modern day saint
who took inspiration and became the
guiding light on Lord Buddha's
preaching. It has also got to be
well understood as the establishment
principle that Nalanda does not
stand hostage to any religion and
any binding organisation. - Viren
Naik -
Mar. 31, 2007 |
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