Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University at Rajgir in Bihar.
Governor Rajendra V Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were also present on the occasion.
Before inaugurating the new campus, Modi visited the ‘Nalanda Mahavihara’, a UNESCO world heritage site located close to the varsity.
The educational institute was established through the Nalanda University Act in 2010 and it started functioning in 2014.
The ancient Nalanda University, which existed since the fifth century, attracted students from all over the world. It flourished for 800 years before being destroyed by invaders in the 12th century, according to experts.
The prime minister also planted a sapling on the campus.
Interim Vice Chancellor of Nalanda University Prof Abhay Kumar Singh felicitated Modi on the occasion.
“Nalanda University served a larger role by connecting our society with those our near and far neighbours through land and sea. The universities destruction marked a downturn in our history and is continued through the colonial period. In that era, we not only saw a decline in our capabilities and confidence but in our connectivity as well with those nations who are now members of the East Asia Summit. In the rebuilding of Nalanda University, there are multiple messages, both national and international,” said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the inauguration of the new campus.
About the new campus
The new university started functioning in 2014 from a makeshift location with 14 students. Construction work on the university started in 2017.
The university has participation from 17 other nations apart from India— Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. These countries have signed MoUs in support of the university.
The university offers 137 scholarships to international students.
Apart from Modi and Jaishankar, Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, and the ambassadors of 17 countries attended the event.
Ahead of the inauguration, the PM visited the ruins of ancient Nalanda, a UNESCO world heritage site, in Rajgir.
Before his Nalanda visit, Modi tweeted, “It’s a very special day for our education sector. The new campus of the Nalanda University would be inaugurated at Rajgir. Nalanda has a strong connect with our glorious past. This university will surely go a long way in catering to the educational needs of the youth.”
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