Author: Neehar Founder | Author | Catalyst Imagine walking through the quiet, ancient ruins of Nalanda University in Bihar. You can almost hear the whispers of scholars from
Founder | Author | Catalyst
Imagine walking through the quiet, ancient ruins of Nalanda University in Bihar. You can almost hear the whispers of scholars from centuries ago, debating the mysteries of life, the cosmos, and philosophy. Nalanda, the world’s first residential university, once stood as the pride of India’s educational heritage—a center of learning that drew brilliant minds from across the world, from China to Greece. Now, this same site has risen from the ashes of history, representing both the grandeur of Bihar’s heritage and the resurgence of knowledge in the modern world.
Established around the 5th century, it attracted over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers from around the world. Imagine scholars from distant lands like China, Korea, and Central Asia, all gathering in this tranquil part of Bihar, eager to study Buddhism, mathematics, medicine, and even astronomy. The air was filled with intellectual curiosity, and libraries housed countless manuscripts and ancient texts, making it one of the greatest centers of learning the world had ever seen.
When you think of the history of Indian education, it’s impossible to ignore Nalanda—a place where knowledge transcended borders and ideas bloomed like lotus flowers. Nalanda University is regarded as the world’s first residential university, where scholars from across Asia and beyond gathered to pursue knowledge. Situated in the heart of Bihar, this historical site attracts both tourists and scholars, seeking to understand the monumental role it played in shaping Indian education.
Sadly, in the 12th century, Nalanda faced destruction at the hands of invaders led by Bhaktiyar Khilji, and its libraries were burned, erasing centuries of knowledge. However, the spirit of Nalanda University never died. The institution was revived in 2010 with the establishment of a modern Nalanda University, close to its ancient site, focusing on contemporary global issues like sustainability and peace studies.
This revival has been symbolic of Bihar’s larger effort to reclaim its past glory and show the world that it remains a land of knowledge, culture, and heritage.
For the people of Bihar, Nalanda is more than just an ancient university; it’s a symbol of resilience and the thirst for knowledge. The ruins are not merely stones—they represent a heritage that has withstood the test of time and continues to inspire generations of scholars globally.
As Bihar embraces modern education, industries, and growth, it does so while proudly showcasing its past. Visitors to Nalanda will experience a unique connection between ancient wisdom and modern ambition, as this heritage site continues to influence the intellectual journey of the modern world.
The first residential university of the world founded at Nalanda by the magnanimity of Emperor Kumaragupta in 427CE and sustained by the conscientiousness of the learned monks and teachers, flourished for over 800 years till the end in 12th century CE. It is believed to possess 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students. Nalanda had attracted scholars to its campus from places as distant as China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and South East Asia. Those scholars have left records about the ambience, architecture, and learning at Nalanda, as well as, about the profound knowledge of Nalanda teachers. The most detailed accounts have come from Chinese scholars and the best known of these is Xuan Zang, who carried back many hundred scriptures which were later translated into Chinese.
The legacy of Nalanda University serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of education in shaping societies. Its revival is more than just a symbolic act; it’s a statement of how Bihar, often misunderstood, has been and continues to be, a beacon of knowledge. The new Nalanda University campus, a collaborative effort between India and East Asia Summit (EAS) countries, honors the original Nalanda University, founded 1600 years ago as one of the world’s first residential universities. It flourished for centuries before being destroyed in the 12th century.
The campus is designed as a ‘Net Zero’ Green Campus, equipped with solar plants, water treatment and recycling plants, 100 acres of water bodies, and numerous other eco-friendly amenities.
Nalanda University comprises six schools: the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy & Comparative Religions; the School of historical Studies; the School of Ecology and Environmental Studies; and the School of sustainable Development and Management. This institution aims to revive the legacy of the ancient Nalanda University and continue its tradition of academic excellence.
Situated besides the Rajgir hills, the rejuvenated Nalanda University calls-out “Learning is being here.” The experience of being in this intellectual landscape is empowering with its seamless co-existence between nature and man, and between living and learning. The region vibrates with the positivity endowed by spiritual divines like Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavira who meditated in this region and with the scholarly traditions developed by great masters such as Nagarjuna, Aryabhatta, Dharmakirti who discoursed at the ancient Nalanda. Ancient Magadha was characterized by an intellectual ferment rarely known to humanity. The opportunity to comprehend multiple discourses and embrace knowledge in its entirety is what made Nalanda academics unique and attractive for all seekers.
In March 2006, while addressing a joint session of Bihar State Legislative Assembly, the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam proposed the revival of the ancient Nalanda. Concurring ideas came simultaneously seeking the re-establishment of ancient Nalanda: from the Singapore government; the leaders of sixteen member states of the East Asia Summit (EAS) in January 2007 in the Philippines; and in the fourth EA Summit, in October 2009 in Thailand. The Parliament of India passed the Nalanda University Act, 2010 and in September 2014, the first batch of students were enrolled. The State Government of Bihar under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar was quick to allocate 455 acres of land for the University campus at a significant location. Thus, marked the establishment of Nalanda University and the infrastructural constructions were done in the new campus during 2017 to 2023. The celebrated architect Padam-Vibhushan [late] Ar. B.V. Doshi designed the eco-friendly architecture reflecting the Vaastu of the ancient Nalanda, while integrating all modern amenities that match world standards. It is a large carbon footprint-free Net-zero campus, sprawling over acres of greens and 100 acres of water-bodies, truly an abode for learning.
Nalanda is at once futuristic, for the ideals and standards of the ancient seat of learning have proven to be universal in their relevance as the feasible solutions to a shared and sustainable future for all, not just Asia. No wonder, the initiative for the revival of Nalanda University has been unanimously and enthusiastically welcomed the world over.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Nalanda University campus near the ruins of the institution’s ancient avatar in Bihar’s Rajgir, saying his two-pronged mission is to make India a developed nation by 2047 and re-establish the country as the “foremost knowledge hub in the world”.
“Nalanda is not just a name. It is an identity, an honour, a value, a mantra, and a saga,” said Modi, highlighting that despite the destruction of the ancient university’s libraries by invaders in the 12th century, the essence of knowledge remains indestructible.
“The emergence of the new Nalanda University shows fire can destroy books but not knowledge,” he said during the event attended by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, and representatives from 17 countries.
