Nalanda university - ruination and restoration


Educational institutes aka 'home of the brain' have been a part of India's rich and diverse culture. They house scholars who use education as a tool to change the world. Through their services, educational institutes impart conformity among young minds who on their part hold the key to a bright future.

Nalanda university, which attracted scholars from all across the globe, was one of the oldest universities in the world. Famous for its world renowned library, this university was founded by Narasimha Deva around 5th century BC in Bihar. The word 'Nalanda' has its origin in Sanskrit language. Basically, it's a clubbing of three words, Na+alam+Daa, meaning 'giver of knowledge'. Akin to its name, Nalanda university was known for schooling men of letters from across the globe and enjoyed a towering reputation during its time. 

Aside from the educational ecosystem, meditation centres and temples were too housed in the campus. It was the embodiment of different civilisations.
Studded with over 10000 scholars and 2700 faculties, Nalanda university is unarguably the only standalone educational institute in the world belonging to the 5th century. This architectural masterpiece helped Buddhism spread all over the world. 


But as fate had it, in the 12th century, a fanatic Turkish Afghan invader, Bakhtiyar Khilji, demolished the building and ultimately arsoned the entire campus. The damage was so severe that the university remained closed for over 800 years. He was successful in bringing down the curtains on one of the finest universities ever. The university housed around 9 million scriptures in its library which took over three months to get completely burnt. This speaks volumes about the rich literary possession the university used to enjoy. It's the beauty of the ruins of the Nalanda university that in 2009 UNESCO declared it as a World Heritage Site as if the ambers of the charred remnants had been seeking their lost legacy. 

Former Indian president in 2006, Dr Abdul Kalam truly acknowledged the lost glory of Nalanda university in Bihar State Legislative Assembly and mooted the idea of revamping the same. Its resurrection was set off when the Indian Parliament passed a bill to approve its budget and plans. A healthy partnership between state and central government paved the way for its smooth and unhindered revival, a step further towards realising its reclaimed glory. 

Owing to its unmatched legacy, this Indian World Heritage Site has been displayed at several international fora. We Indians must be proud of this rich legacy of ours. It is important for us to learn about the past in order to understand the present.





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