Nalanda Maha Viswa Vidhyalaya

After so many years of discussions among Asian nations, the dream of rebuilding the Nalanda University, and the vision Dr. APJ Abdhul Kalam was announced few months back. Singapore, China, Indonesia, Japan and many other Asian nations are involved in this project and are the countries like Japan and singapore are donating generously to re-build the first ever known university near to its ruins at Bihar, India. Why all these countries that share different opinions on every possible international matters, have come together to build this University. Why is it so important. ?

If Nalanda University was not destroyed by Afghan ruthless conqueror Khilji in 1193, it should have been the oldest university known to mankind. Nalanda University is established in 5th century (i.e. some where in the years of 400-500) , now we are in 21st century (2011), if we could have been protected the university, imagine how magnanimous it would have been now. 

Nalanda was an old centre of learning that attracted students from many countries in the world, particularly China and Tibet, Korea and Japan, and the rest of Asia, but a few also from as far in the west as Turkey. Nalanda, a residential university, had at its peak 10,000 students, studying various subjects. Nalanda is the only non-Chinese institution in which any Chinese scholar was educated in the history of ancient China.

It was exactly the time when Nalanda flourished, Indian astronomy, Trigonometry, Calculus, Logic, Psychology and Religion were well celebrated and recognized across the world. It is important to note here on how friendly the Indians were to foreigners, who come for their educational and research works. The two well known scholars in Mathematics and religion, Xuangzang and Yi Jing mentions the warm welcome they received as they arrived in Nalanda from China. 

Nalanda served as converging point to the great scholars of the time. Nalanda at its peak, has around 2000 professors of different nationals working on diversified subjects. After china's invasion of Tibet and negligence in colonial era, many great Buddhist works were abandoned. Its an important to re-build the university to focus again on Buddhist philosophies and scholarly works of the time. 
Once its all completed, I hope it brings out the warmth and friendly relations that we had with China and many other nations of Asia and also the common cultural thread that we all shared and enjoyed.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7UR9UEY79k
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nalanda
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/09/opinion/09garten.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

***Post has the information collected from Internet