[CA/Hist/Culture] Nalanda University

Current Affairs

Nalanda University

Synopsis:

(01) Why in News?

(02) Nalanda – Ancient times

(03) Nalanda – Modern times

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(01) Why in News?:

·        Sushma Swaraj officially opened Nalanda University in Bihar on Sep 2014

·        Classes started in University after 8000 years

·        So automatically, it gains important in UPSC – either directly or indirectly

(02) Nalanda Univ – Ancient times:

·        During the rule of Kumargupta of Gupta dynasty.

·        Mahayana monks Asnaga and Vasubandhu said to have found Nalanda in 400-500AD

·        Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang, came during Harsha’s reign, gave detail account of Nalanda University.

·        Nalanda was a huge monastic-educational establishment.

·        Teaching done in Sanskrit.

·        Primary teaching focus: Mahayana Buddhism yet included other ‘secular’ subjects as well- Like, Grammar, logic, epistemology and sciences.

·        Active discussions and debates were taking place.

·        Harsha is said to have invited a thousand learned monks of Nalanda to take part in the philosophical assembly at Kanauj.

·        Another Chinese scholar, Itsing, mentioned that Nalanda housed 2,000 students, was funded by revenues of 200 villages.

·        Thus university continued to be the centre of intellectual activity till the 12th  century

·        1193 AD: Turkish ruler Qutbuddin Aibak’s general Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed Nalanda University.

(03) Nalanda Univ – modern times:

·        Former President Kalam proposed setting up this university as an international learning institute, a link between the past, present and future, a channel for knowledge exchange between scholars of the world (said in 2006, when he was President of India)

·        Singapore, China, Thailand and Australia have contributed funds.

·        University came into existence by a special act — The Nalanda University Act, 2010

·        2012: Noble Laureate Amartya Sen was appointed the Chancellor

·        Total 7 schools –

(1) Economics and Management;

(2) Information Sciences and Technology;

(3) Linguistics and Literature;

(4) International Relations, Peace Studies and Buddhist studies;

(5) Philosophy and Comparative Religion besides Historical studies;

(6) Ecology and

(7) Environment

·        2020: will become fully operational, with campus in Rajgir foothills.

·        Until then, temporary classes at Rajgir convention hall, students will live in a hotel.

·        Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated in 2014, September.

·        University aims to become a research university, not a teaching university.

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