Nalanda University reopens

[Srinivas_K]

Nalanda University reopens

PATNA: The ancient Nalanda University (NU), which attracted students from the world over, has risen again on Monday, as classes began at its newly established campus at Rajgir.

The event marked the fruition of the idea proposed by former President APJ Abdul Kalam while addressing a joint session of Bihar legislative assembly and legislative council way back in 2006.

"We will have a low-key launch with classes for the School of Ecology and Environmental Studies and the School of Historical Studies beginning at 9am. Right now there are 15 students and 11 faculty members at the campus," NU Vice-Chancellor Gopa Sabharwal said earlier.

Sabharwal said there were two reasons for starting on a small note as she wanted the students and teachers to settle down, and that Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj would be visiting on September 14.

"We have decided to have a big function when Swaraj visits NU on September 14. By that time things will settle down and the media glare will also decrease to some extent," Sabharwal added.

The university on Sunday completed the three-day orientation programme of the students.

The University of Nalanda (File Photo)
"More than a thousand students from various countries across the globe had applied for the seven schools on different subjects that will function at the university, of which only 15, including one each from Japan and Bhutan, were selected," said the VC.

At the time when Kalam mooted NU, Singapore government had also proposed revival of the university having international character, but suitable to the modern times.

Former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar also showed a keen interest in it and the work on the concept began soon after.

The NU came into existence by the Nalanda University Act passed by Parliament. Economist Amartya Sen is the Chairman of the Governing Body of the university, while renowned teachers from various countries are its members.

Former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo and ministry of external affairs secretary Anil Wadhwa are also part of the governing body.

Nalanda University reopens - The Times of India

 

[Free Karma]

The sad part is with people like Amartya sen and others it's probably going to be a sickular breeding ground.

 

[kseeker]

The sad part is with people like Amartya sen and others it's probably going to be a sickular breeding ground.

Amartya Sen and his likes should

Who the fcuk cares what they have to say

 

[arnabmit]

Nalanda University is ailing at childbirth | IndiaFacts

September 1 2014 was a day of pride for the people of India, and specifically the people of Bihar as the Nalanda University, once an ancient international centre for learning, finally started functioning eight centuries after it was looted and plundered by Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1193 CE.

The first session for the academic year 2014-15 started with courses in Historical Studies and Environment Studies. Although the university has officially started its session, the formal inauguration is scheduled to take place in the middle of September after a formal opening by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. So far, 15 students have been enrolled in the university and more are expected in the coming days.

But this moment pride should be followed by caution. If the original Nalanda was famed for being a storehouse of knowledge and erudition attracting scholars throughout the globe, the revived one has been mired in controversies since day one.

The Nalanda project was conceptualized as an international university involving many countries like Japan, Australia, and Vietnam. The then UPA government financially backed a Nalanda mentor group which was set up in 2007 under the chairmanship of Nobel laureate Professor Amartya Sen. This group carried out meetings in Singapore, Tokyo, New York, Delhi and Gaya to conceptualize the establishment of the university. The Parliament enacted an Act to launch the project in 2010 which was approved by the President on 21 September and came into force on 25 November 2010.

Following its inception, this project faced controversy after controversy. Among numerous contentious incidents that marred this glorious project, the most notable ones are given below:

1. The series of controversies began with the appointment of a 'Vice Chancellor-designate' of the new university even before the Parliamentary Act was notified for its establishment.

2. The candidate selected for the position Gopa Sabharwal, was appointed through an order issued by a secretary in the MEA on the recommendation of the mentor group. Gopa Sabharwal was a reader in the department of sociology in the Lady Sri Ram College with limited knowledge about Nalanda. She did not meet the mandatory qualification set by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the vice-chancellors of the central and state universities—that is, to be distinguished academicians with a minimum ten years of experience as a professor in a university system. Topping this peculiarity was Gopa Sabharwal's monthly salary of Rs 5 lakhs which was more than double the salary of the Delhi University vice-chancellor.

3. Ignoring the government's recruitment rules that require public notice, Dr Sabharwal picked up her friend Dr Anjana Sharma, an associate professor in Delhi University, as the Officer-on-Special Duty (OSD) on deputation with a gross monthly salary of Rs 3.30 lakhs, which is more than the salary of a Vice-Chancellor of any national university.

4. Around 2011, the Standing Committee of the Parliament under the Ministry of External Affairs, which was managing the Nalanda project stated in its report that the Nalanda project which was estimated in 2007 to cost Rs 1,005 crore "needs to be revised."

5. In its very first meeting, the mentor group nominated Upinder Singh, daughter of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and her colleague Ms Nayanjot Lahiri as advisers representing India in international platforms. Both nominees are not experts on any aspect of the Nalanda tradition or history.

6. Even though on 25 August 2011, officials of the Ministry of External Affairs claimed that no vice-chancellor had been appointed to the Nalanda University, according to an RTI reply, vice chancellor Gopa Sabharwal and seven of her associates were drawing salaries since October 2010. Gopa as Vice-chancellor draws a salary of Rs 5, 06,513 per month.

7. The first two faculties that were approved to be taught were environmental studies and historical studies, to be followed by others such as information technology and international relations. This is a direct contradiction of the original vision that was outlined to launch the Nalanda—as a premier centre of learning in Buddhism. The nations which agreed to cooperate with India to revive the Nalanda did so to connect with the country's Buddhist heritage. More importantly, the 'School of Information Technology' has not been passed as the part of the Act whereas Buddhist Studies have been mentioned as the first one (Vide Clause 24).

8. Since the project was approved by the Parliament, a huge part of the funding was contributed through taxing the common citizen as is the case with Central Universities. But strangely, the Planning Commission and Prime Minister's Office decided to label Nalanda as an 'International University' to ward off financial regulations. However, the PMO did place the University in the 'Central University' domain to enable the release of funds stating: "Both capital investment and operating budget of the Nalanda University will have to come mainly from the Government of India on the pattern of Central Universities."

9. During his tenure as the President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam proposed the idea of reviving Nalanda while addressing the Joint Session of the Bihar Vidhan Mandal on 28th March, 2006. He was then offered the position of the Visitor of the University. However, in a letter dated 4 July 2011 to the then External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Dr. Kalam wrote:

"Having involved in various academic and administrative proceedings of Nalanda University since August 2007, I believe that the candidates to be selected/appointed to the post of Chancellor and Vice Chancellor should be of extraordinary intellect with academic and management expertise. Both the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor have to personally involve themselves full-time in Bihar, so that a robust and strong international institution is built."

This polite yet sharp letter displayed Dr. Kalam's frustration with Amartya Sen and his protégé Dr. Gopa Sabharwal neither of whom could inspire the confidence of this scientist, himself a former academician.

10. Regarding the project, the Parliamentary Standing Committee in their report for the financial year 2012-13 asked the Ministry of External Affairs to account for the 'grossly inappropriate allocation of funds since Rs. 2009-10, which is not in consonance with the ground reality.'

11. Strangely for a university located in Bihar, the mentor's group wanted to have the project office and the department of international studies buildings in New Delhi.

12. When pressed with tough questions by domestic and international press on the irregularities of the project, Dr. Sen blamed the local Bihari media of having a close-minded outlook.

For details kindly check the following links:

Kalam's letter bared truth about Nalanda University

Nalanda University:How Amartya advanced his favourite candidate as the V-C

Nalanda University:How Amartya advanced his favourite candidate as the V-C

Ten Reasons behind dissociation of former President Kalam from

Why Kalam's resignation was concealed?

Ten Questions Nalanda University must reply

Standing Committee grows suspicious about Nalanda University

Ten Questions Nalanda University must reply

 

[Eesh]

The sad part is with people like Amartya sen and others it's probably going to be a sickular breeding ground.

Process has already started. I saw the NU site. It says that it closed because universities were opened in London, Paris etc and students went to there. No mention of sacking and destruction by Bukhtiar Khilji, no kiliing of students, teachers and monks took place. Library? Oh not mentioned, but that perhaps went to Europe. Wait and see.

 

[anoop_mig25]

Since amrtya sen and other are mentor i just wished it does n`t becomes another JNU

Also since its funding has to come from Central gov hope it dose n`t becomes another white elephant

 

[Eesh]

Sanitization of Nalanda U.

The Nalanda University

Note:

After teaching thousands of students for centuries, Nalanda ceased its existence just as universities were opening up in Bologna, Paris and Oxford at the beginning of the second millennium CE. The shift of centres of knowledge from East to West was symbolic of the eventual transfer of power which followed within half a millennium.

Nalanda committed suicide perhaps. And Indians tranfered power to the British. Bravo

 

[pmaitra]

Since amrtya sen and other are mentor i just wished it does n`t becomes another JNU

Also since its funding has to come from Central gov hope it dose n`t becomes another white elephant

JNU and Amartya Sen are largely from opposing schools of thought. JNU is left liberal, while Amartya Sen is a Rothchild's demagogue. His ideology should be kept under check. If he, and his school of thought makes inroads into the Indian government fraternity, it will spell doom for India.

 

[Eesh]

JNU and Amartya Sen are largely from opposing schools of thought. JNU is left liberal, while Amartya Sen is a Rothchild's demagogue. His ideology should be kept under check. If he, and his school of thought makes inroads into the Indian government fraternity, it will spell doom for India.

Who is more dangerous: sanpnath or nagnath?

 

[anoop_mig25]

JNU and Amartya Sen are largely from opposing schools of thought. JNU is left liberal, while Amartya Sen is a Rothchild's demagogue. His ideology should be kept under check. If he, and his school of thought makes inroads into the Indian government fraternity, it will spell doom for India.

Whats difference can u post more about

Doesn`t both group propagates same ideology about economics where Gov plays major role and dooling out money through various well fare programme.

Also previous gov was too following Amartya Sen model so where they following Rothchild's but still Amartya Sen was not happy he wanted more

 

[CCP]

China donated $1 million USD.

 

[TejasMK3]

So now Nalanda has a new Chancellor:

Sad part is, he might be a Vatican agent....to head a Dharmic place of study:

http://www.straitstimes.com/breakin...hurch-hails-george-yeos-vatican-role-20130721

Couldve avoided a Vatican guy...

 

[Vishwarupa]

Looks like it a directive from President & East Asia Summit.

& Nalanda University has representatives from other countries also like china, SIngapore, Japan & Thailand.

Agreed we should have avoided Vatican Guy in our oldest university.