Prime Minister Narendra Modi on.
Wednesday inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar. The new campus of the university will be set up close to the ancient ruins of the university.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a plaque at the new campus of Nalanda University and planted a sapling as he inaugurated the campus.
He also watched the ruins of ancient Nalanda University before inaugurating the new campus. The archaeological site of Nalanda contains the remnants of a renowned monastic and educational center. The complex features various structures, including stupas, shrines, and viharas, which serve as residential and educational facilities. Additionally, the site showcases significant works of art created using stucco, stone, and metal.
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, “I am happy that I got the opportunity to visit Nalanda within 10 days after swearing in as PM for the third time… Nalanda is not just a name; it is an identity and a respect. Nalanda is a value and a mantra. fire can burn books, but it can’t destroy knowledge.”
Nalanda and the pursuit of science
He expressed his happiness over the presence of representatives of many countries on the day of the inauguration. He pointed out that the new campus of Nalanda University also proves that Bihar is on the path of development.
The Parliament of India established Nalanda University through the Nalanda University Act, of 2010. The Act formed the basis for implementing the decisions arrived at the second East Asia Summit (EAS) (Philippines, 2007) for the establishment of the university as an “international institution for the pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical, and spiritual studies” and at the fourth East Asia Summit (Thailand, 2009).
PM Narendra Modi’s Nalanda visit
Modi visited ancient Nalanda, which was announced as a UN heritage site in 2016, around 9.45 am and inaugurated the campuses around 10.30 am. He will also give a speech, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Abhay Kumar Singh said Modi’s visit would make the university, where students from 26 countries are studying, more popular globally.
Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joined the Prime Minister.
Nalanda University history
In 2007, after then-president APJ Abdul Kalam’s suggestion, the Bihar assembly passed a bill to build a foundation for a new university. The Hindu reported that the government provided 455 acres for the university, which was created on November 25, 2010, by a special Act of Parliament and designated as a national institution.
The new university began operating on September 1, 2014, from a temporary location with just 14 students. The temporary location, the International Convention Centre in Rajgir, 10 km from ancient Nalanda, was inaugurated in September 2014 by the then-external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.
Net Zero’s Green Campus
The campus has two academic blocks with 40 classrooms, with a total seating capacity of around 1,900. It has two auditoriums with a capacity of 300 seats each. It has a student hostel with a capacity of around 550 students. It also has various other facilities, including an international center, an amphitheater that can accommodate up to 2,000 individuals, a faculty club, and a sports complex, among others.The Campus is a ‘Net Zero’ Green Campus. It is self-sustaining with solar plants, domestic and drinking water treatment plants, a water recycling plant for reusing wastewater, 100 acres of water bodies, and many other environment-friendly facilities.
The PM added that Nalanda University is a significant development for India. Nalanda is not just a name, but a symbol of pride. While books may burn, the spirit of Nalanda endures, reiterated PM Modi.
I want to thank our neighboring nations for their support and extend my gratitude to the people of Bihar for their contributions, said PM Modi after the inauguration of the new Nalanda University campus.
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