Rajya Sabha clears the bill to set up an international university at Nalanda in Bihar
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, August 20, 2010
The ruins of Nalanda University
The Rajya Sabha on Friday passed a bill for establishing a trans-national university at Nalanda in Bihar, which was a seat of learning in ancient India. India along with 16 countries of East Asia would like to see Nalanda as an icon of Asian renaissance. Perceived to be an amalgam of ancient and modern thinking, it will be guided by an interim governing board, chaired by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.
Nalanda, situated 90 km south east of Patna, near a village called 'Bada Gaon', still has the ruins of the ancient Nalanda University which, according to studies, existed in the fifth century AD. The studies also said the ancient university had 10,000 students and facilities like nine-storeyed library building.
The Nalanda University Bill, 2010, which seeks to establish a teaching campus on 441 acres attracting students and faculty from across South and South East Asia, was passed by the House after a scholarly debate.
The debate saw Karan Singh (Congress), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), N K Singh (JD-U) and M Rama Jois (BJP) at their erudite best recalling India's rich contributions to the culture and civilisation of the world.
Replying to the debate, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said prominent academicians would be involved in the university which will be housed in a complex to be built on a design to be chosen through an international competition.
