Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar, on Wednesday. The grand ceremony was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and ambassadors from around 17 nations. Earlier in the day, PM Modi expressed his excitement on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “It’s a very special day for our education sector. At around 10:30 AM today, the new campus of Nalanda University will be inaugurated at Rajgir. Nalanda has a strong connection with our glorious past. This university will surely go a long way in catering to the educational needs of the youth.”
The establishment of this new campus is a collaborative effort between India and East Asia Summit (EAS) countries, aiming to revive the legacy of the original Nalanda University. Founded approximately 1600 years ago, the ancient university is renowned as one of the world’s first residential universities and thrived for centuries before its destruction in the 12th century.
Also read: New Era for Nalanda University
The new campus is a testament to modern educational infrastructure. It features two academic blocks with 40 classrooms, accommodating around 1900 students, two auditoriums with a seating capacity of 300 each, and a hostel for approximately 550 students. The campus includes an international centre, an arena for up to 2000 individuals, a faculty club, a sports complex, and numerous other facilities.
A notable highlight of the new campus is its design as a ‘Net Zero’ Green Campus, equipped with solar plants, water treatment and recycling facilities, 100 acres of water bodies, and various other eco-friendly amenities.
Chancellor Arvind Panagariya expressed his happiness and optimism about retaining the spirit of the ancient Nalanda University. He remarked, “This is incredibly significant; we have been waiting for the day. We wanted the PM to inaugurate the campus. He has agreed to do so. I welcome him to the campus. Nalanda University was conceived here, and it is an international university. It was cast in those terms, and the project was started with cooperation from more than a dozen Southeast Asian countries. In the spirit of the ancient Nalanda, it lasted about 800 years; Europe was not what it is today, and the USA didn’t exist. The ancient Nalanda attracted students from all over. The new Nalanda started with the same spirit but with a modern touch.”
The inauguration marks a significant milestone in reviving an iconic centre of learning, blending the rich heritage of ancient Nalanda with contemporary educational needs and sustainability practices.
