India’s Oldest University to be Recreated
The Indian parliament is set to discuss potential legislation which would recreate Nalanda University in the Indian state of Bihar. Nalanda University is well known in India as one of the world's oldest universities. While much of its ruins still remain, this Buddhist academic learning centre was mostly destroyed more than 800 years ago.
At its peak, Nalanda University taught about ten thousand students from across the Asian continent. However, Turkic forces destroyed the university in 1193.
With backing from the Indian foreign ministry, the Singaporean government and even Amartya Sen, the Nobel laureate for Economics, the restoration of Nalanda University is set to once again attract students from across Asia, like China and Singapore. Although India consists of a Hindu majority, Bihar and the Indian government are committed to promoting Buddhist culture and learning through this historic university.