Porni Banerjee | ১৯ জুন ২০২৪ ১২ : ৩৫Porni Banerjee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the new campus of the iconic Nalanda University in Bihar’s Rajgir on Wednesday. This is his first official visit in the state after coming back to power for the record third time in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

Ahead of the inauguration, PM Modi also visited the ancient ruins of the varsity – now a World Heritage site - located less than 20 kms from the new campus.

The inauguration ceremony took place in the presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Nalanda University Chancellor Arvind Panagariya

Rekindling its connection with India’s flourishing past, PM Modi wrote in his post on X, “It’s a very special day for our education sector. At around 10:30 AM today, the new campus of the Nalanda University would be inaugurated at Rajgir. Nalanda has a strong connect with our glorious part. This university will surely go a long way in catering to the educational needs of the youth.”

During his address in Rajgir, Modi said, “I am happy that I got the opportunity to visit Nalanda within 10 days after swearing in as PM for the 3rd time...Nalanda is not just a name, it is an identity and respect. Nalanda is a value and mantra...fire can burn books but it can"t destroy knowledge. We are uniting students with innovation spirit.”

Foreign delegates from 17 countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, were also present at the event.

The ancient Nalanda University, originally established in the 5th century, was a world-famous institution that catered to the educational needs of students worldwide. It thrived for 800 years until it got destroyed in the 12th century.

Functions of the modern university began in 2014 from a temporary location with 14 students. The construction of the new campus began in 2017. It now consists of two academic blocks - each with 40 classrooms and a total seating capacity of around 1900 – two auditoriums, one student hostel, and several other amenities, including an international centre, a faculty club, a sports complex, among others.

The varsity now offers courses on Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions, Historical Studies, Ecology and Environmental Studies, and Sustainable Development and Management.