Nalanda University reopens after nearly eight centuries

PATNA/RAJGIR: The dream project of Nalanda University (NU), aimed at reviving the glory of the erstwhile Nalanda Mahavihara, which was reduced to ruins by foreign invaders almost 800 years ago, was translated into reality on Monday as the varsity started its first session on Monday by holding the inaugural class. The project was conceptualized by former President APJ Abdul Kalam Kalam and former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in 2006.
The first day saw four study sessions for the students from 9am to 1.30pm, NU vice-chancellor Gopa Sabharwal told TOI. "The students had a chance to explore the neighbourhood during their three-day orientation programme earlier," she said. The first batch of the university is called the 'Nalanda Pioneers' by the administration.
Congratulatory messages started pouring in from early morning. Nobel laureate and NU chancellor Amartya Sen was the first to call up and wish good luck to the students. Members of NU governing body ? Wang Bangwei, Wang Gungwu, N K Singh, George Yeo and Anil Wadhwa — also sent their laudatory and good luck wishes to the students and the faculty members. "Congratulations. Indeed a moment of great satisfaction," Singh's message read.
At present NU has started with two schools of the seven schools planned — School of Ecology and Environment Studies and School of Historical Studies. It has, in all, 15 students and 11 faculty members, though the varsity is still in the process of accepting students. Besides professors from foreign nations, two students are from Bhutan and Japan.
NU School of Ecology and Environment Studies associate professor Somnath Bandyopadhyay told TOI, "A combined class was held on Monday morning for the students where they were told about our focus on interdisciplinary learning." He added the focus at NU was on learning, not just teaching. "The students are a major resource for the institution and are bringing their experiences along with them and we will work together for the benefit of mankind," he said.
Discussing the curriculum of both the courses, the faculty members said, "We were provided concept notes by the varsity administration after which we held various workshops and discussed it with practitioners to chalk out the course structure." Bandyopadhyay added, "The two-year master's degree programme is a semester system and credit-based programme which has a foundation course, core courses and an essential research project." The master's degree programme will also include field visits and internships.
While the classes will be held at Rajgir's signature building — the International Convention Centre — till a makeshift campus for classrooms, offices and semi-furnished faculty residences near Rajgir bus stand is refurbished. The students and faculty members are at present lodged at a state government hotel next to the convention centre. The 455-acre permanent campus of NU is yet to see any construction work except for the boundary wall, though the NU administration claims it is in the process of getting municipal clearances for the construction work.
VC Sabharwal said countries like China, Myanmar, Laos, Australia, Singapore and 10 others have extended financial or intellectual assistance to the university. China contributed $1 million for library and Australia has signed statement of intent for a three-year arrangement under which Australia will provide Aus $1 million for a chair in the ecology and environment studies. She said that Japan government was also helping in the construction of Gaya-Rajgir NH-82 as part of its assistance to the university.