Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauding him for opening a new campus of the ancient Nalanda University in Bihar’s Rajgir. (Image: PTI/Reuters)
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama said the ancient university in Nalanda shone like a ‘sun in the east’ and attracted students from far and wide.
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Saturday penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating the Prime Minister on the inauguration of the new Nalanda University campus in Bihar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University at Rajgir in Bihar. The state’s governor Rajendra V Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were also present on the occasion.
“As a centre of learning, the original Nalanda University shone like a sun in the east. Education, rooted in rigorous study, discussion and debate, flourished at Nalanda, attracting students from far and wide across Asia. In addition to philosophy, science, mathematics and medicine they learned about the age-old Indian traditions of ahimsa and karuna, which remain not only relevant but also essential in today’s world,” the Tibetan spiritual leader said.
“It is wonderful that a new Nalanda University has been established in this historic location—may it prosper and thrive,” he wrote in the letter, which was also published in his website.
“I am encouraged by the growing interest among young people across India and further afield in ancient Indian knowledge and wisdom. It has such great potential to contribute to the creation of a more compassionate world,” he further added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited the ruins of ‘Nalanda Mahavihara’, a UNESCO world heritage site in Rajgir in Bihar’s Nalanda district.
The ruins of ancient ‘Nalanda Mahavihara’ comprise the archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution. It includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) and important artworks in stucco, stone and metal. Nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the Indian subcontinent.
Nalanda Mahavihara was founded by Kumargupta I of the Gupta dynasty in 5th century CE. It was patronised by various rulers including King Harshavardhana of Kannauj (7th century CE) and the Pala rulers (8th–12th century CE) as well as various scholars.
