Nalanda University reopens after hundreds of years!

[Contrarian]

Nalanda University reopens

PATNA: The ancient Nalanda University (NU), which attracted students from the world over, has risen again on Monday, as classes began at its newly established campus at Rajgir.

The event marked the fruition of the idea proposed by former President APJ Abdul Kalam while addressing a joint session of Bihar legislative assembly and legislative council way back in 2006.

"We will have a low-key launch with classes for the School of Ecology and Environmental Studies and the School of Historical Studies beginning at 9am. Right now there are 15 students and 11 faculty members at the campus," NU Vice-Chancellor Gopa Sabharwal said earlier.

Sabharwal said there were two reasons for starting on a small note as she wanted the students and teachers to settle down, and that Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj would be visiting on September 14.

"We have decided to have a big function when Swaraj visits NU on September 14. By that time things will settle down and the media glare will also decrease to some extent," Sabharwal added.

The university on Sunday completed the three-day orientation programme of the students.

The University of Nalanda (File Photo)
"More than a thousand students from various countries across the globe had applied for the seven schools on different subjects that will function at the university, of which only 15, including one each from Japan and Bhutan, were selected," said the VC.

At the time when Kalam mooted NU, Singapore government had also proposed revival of the university having international character, but suitable to the modern times.

Former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar also showed a keen interest in it and the work on the concept began soon after.

The NU came into existence by the Nalanda University Act passed by Parliament. Economist Amartya Sen is the Chairman of the Governing Body of the university, while renowned teachers from various countries are its members.

Former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo and ministry of external affairs secretary Anil Wadhwa are also part of the governing body.
Nalanda University reopens - The Times of India

 

[Cherokee]

I think the dumb Muslims destroyed this thinking that Buddhists were Hindus. At that time India was on its way to become a Buddhist country and Hinduism was on the way out. But dumb Islamic invaders did not know this and indiscriminately killed monks thinking they are brahmins

Wrong on all counts . Invaders did not discriminate between Hindus/Buddhists or anybody for once . Secondly death of Buddhism in India has much more to do with Hindus than with Islamic invaders . Read about Collapse of Harsha Empire and how it spelled doom for Buddhist . And then comes effects of invasion .

 

[Nova2]

Good ! finally it opens after 1197AD.

 

[Skull and Bones]

Proud moment for us.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

This is the Great University that Xuanzang wrote about more than a thousand years ago.

The way he wrote about it made it seem like paradise on Earth.

I heard you had to answer a difficult riddle to gain entrance to the Great University, I guess Xuanzang must have succeeded because he spent 2 years studying there. If he was turned away that would have been a huge waste, back then it took him 17 years to complete his journey from Zhongyuan to the subcontinent!

 

[Contrarian]

Truly happy to see the University reopening.

My only wish is that they make it a grand University of thousand acres with all Budhist nations equally represented...instead of the usual cost-cutting bureaucratic crap.

 

[Levina]

The 15 were selected from around 1000 applicants after multiple screening and tests.
And interestingly among the significant contributions to Nalanda University has been the US $1 million given by China to set up a library and Thailand ambassador’s donation of US $100,000 .

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

The 15 were selected from around 1,000 applicants after multiple screening and tests.
And interestingly among the significant contributions to Nalanda University has been the US $1 million given by China to set up a library and Thailand ambassador’s donation of US $100,000 .

Well yeah, China has the largest population of Buddhists in the world, by quite an enormous margin.

We also have the largest statue in the world, the Spring Temple Buddha.

 

[kaykay]

A very proud moment for Indians.

Well yeah, China has the largest population of Buddhists in the world, by quite an enormous margin.

We also have the largest statue in the world, the Spring Temple Buddha.

In its governing body there is one professor from Peking university, professor Wang bangwei.

 

[Levina]

Well yeah, China has the largest population of Buddhists in the world, by quite an enormous margin.

We also have the largest statue in the world, the Spring Temple Buddha.

Then you've a hindu majority.Lolzz
Because I believe Buddhism branched out of hinduism.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Then you've a hindu majority.Lolzz
Because I believe Buddhism branched out of hinduism.

LOL, I don't think people worry about that, when it comes to religion Chinese people will typically pray to those deities that they think will help them. Which is why Guanyin (another Buddhist deity) is so popular.

Here is a statue of her in Japan (I think in Japan they call her Kannon, @Nihonjin1051).

She's very popular (especially around the coastal regions of China) because she is said to hear people's prayers and help those who need it.

Her full name in Chinese is a direct translation of the Sanskrit name Avalokiteśvara. Guanyin = Guanshiyin = 觀世音 = Observing the sounds/cries of the world.

 

[Aepsilons]

Well yeah, China has the largest population of Buddhists in the world, by quite an enormous margin.

We also have the largest statue in the world, the Spring Temple Buddha.

How very beautiful !

Just like the Tian Tan Buddha in Hong Kong

 

[harpoon]

Next reclaim Humpi...once considered the most beautiful city in the world.

 

[Aepsilons]

LOL, I don't think people worry about that, when it comes to religion Chinese people will typically pray to those deities that they think will help them. Which is why Guanyin (another Buddhist deity) is so popular.

Here is a statue of her in Japan (I think in Japan they call her Kannon, @Nihonjin1051).

She's very popular (especially around the coastal regions of China) because she is said to hear people's prayers and help those who need it.

Her full name in Chinese is a direct translation of the Sanskrit name Avalokiteśvara. Guanyin = Guanshiyin = 觀世音 = Observing the sounds/cries of the world.

This Buddha is known as Ryozen Kannon in Japan. If I am correct, in Japanese Buddhism, Ryozen Kannon is the Buddha of Compassion.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

How very beautiful !

Just like the Tian Tan Buddha in Hong Kong

Haha yeah this Buddha statue is on Lantau island, just to the west of HK island.

I went there for a school trip once when I was really young. But it doesn't really come close to the scale of the Spring Temple Buddha in Henan.

This Buddha is known as Ryozen Kannon in Japan. If I am correct, in Japanese Buddhism, Ryozen Kannon is the Buddha of Compassion.

That's exactly the one.

She's probably the most popular deity in my area.