The Magnificent Nalanda University
Wordspire Writer: Reyaansh Goradia | Age 13 | Mumbai
Aryabhata, a famous mathematician and astronomer, is believed to have studied at the ancient Nalanda University. After his studies, he made multiple discoveries and inventions, such as the invention of Zero, and the value of Pi. Many such graduates of Nalanda University have made multiple great discoveries. These great discoveries have been learnt by students who have been mentored by the Buddhist monks, Sanskrit gurus and other teachers at Nalanda University.
Construction
The construction of Nalanda University began in 427 CE under the Gupta dynasty near present day Bihar. Multiple rulers played a major part in assembling the university, but it was majorly proposed and developed by Kumaragupta I. The university spanned 35 acres and contained red brick structures including monasteries, temples, lecture halls, and dormitories housing over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. The red brick provided cooling during summers and heat during winters.
A Pinnacle of Affection
Nalanda University received multiple donations from kings and merchants of that era to make sure the university functions smoothly. They considered themselves as investors of the university. They invested their resources so students could study with ease. Furthermore, they donated so that knowledge is spread out to everyone and not saturated to one student.
The Gurus
The teachers of Nalanda University were highly intuitive Buddhist monks and Sanskrit gurus. There were multiple famous gurus who taught at Nalanda University such as Aryadeva, Dharmapala, Shilobara, Dharmakirti, Shantarakshita and Padmasambhava. However, the most famous gurus are Aryabhata and Nagarjuna, who made a mark around the world in today’s era.
The Tragedy
Mohamad Bakhtiyar Khilji fell severely ill in the late 12th century and was unable to be cured by his own court physicians. Out of desperation, he went to Acharya Rahul Sribhadra the head of the Ayurveda department at Nalanda University. He asked for his treatment, however on 1 condition, ‘He must be cured without medicine’. Guru Acharya knew this was impossible and gave him a Quran (a Muslim holy book), whose pages were secretly soaked with medicine, and told Khilji to read it daily.
Since Khilji had a habit of moisturizing his fingers with his tongue while turning the pages, the medicine in the pages entered his mouth and cured him. Khilji was jealous as he wanted only Muslims to have the knowledge while the gurus wanted to share it with the world. So, he burned the university and the library with a surfeit (an excessive amount of) knowledge in it. The gurus were harried (worried and angry) because of this.
The Modern Nalanda University
In 2010, the government of India established a modern Nalanda University near Rajgir, Bihar. It spans around 455 acres and is built sustainably, containing a 6.5-Megawatt Solar Farm and a 200-Kilowatt Biogas Plant which makes it self-sustainable. It also contains extensive water bodies and greenery which is around 100 acres. The main buildings are libraries, lecture halls, classrooms, gymnasium, sports stadiums, amphitheater, and a water harvesting system.
18 countries from the East Asia Summit (EAS) have supported the development of Nalanda University including Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia and the USA. Nalanda University teaches multiple curriculums such as those in Buddhist studies, Philosophy, Comparative Religions Ecology, Environment Studies and Languages and Literature. It also has courses on Management, International Relations, and Peace Studies.
Conclusion
The Nalanda University stands as one of the greatest centers of learning in India, from producing legends like Aryabhata and Nagarjuna to reshaping modern education. Although it faced a tragic destruction, its legacy was never truly erased. By reestablishing the Nalanda University, India commits to revive ancient heritage while adapting to the present day.
*Disclaimer: The above article has been written by a student studying creative writing. He has researched on the information from original sources and tourist guides.