'Nalanda Proclaims The Truth That Flames Cannot Destroy Knowledge': PM Modi Unveils University's New Campus In Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (19 June) inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Nalanda University Chancellor Arvind Panagariya.

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 an identity, a respect. Nalanda is a value, a mantra, a pride, a saga. Nalanda proclaims this truth... that while books may burn in flames... the flames cannot destroy knowledge," he added, referring to the attack on ancient Nalanda University by invader Bakhtiyar Khilji.

The original Nalanda University, established around 1,600 years ago, is considered to be amongst the first residential universities of the world.

Due to its international reputation, large number of students used to come to study at the university from China, Mongolia, Tibet, Korea, and other Asian countries.

At the end of 12th century, Afghan invader Bakhityar Khilji demolished the University, killed the monks, and burned the vast library there.

In 2016, the ruins of Nalanda was declared as a UN Heritage Site.

Earlier, PM Modi visited the ruins of ancient Nalanda University in Bihar. The ruins were declared a United Nations Heritage site in 2016.

The Nalanda University is conceived as a joint collaboration between India and East Asia Summit (EAS) countries.

The new campus has two academic blocks with 40 classrooms having a total seating capacity of around 1,900. It has two auditoriums having a capacity of 300 seats each.

The campus also has a student hostel with a capacity of around 550 students. It also has various other facilities including International Centre, Amphitheatre that can accommodate up to 2,000 individuals, faculty club and sports complex among others.

The campus is a ‘Net Zero’ green campus, and is self-sustainable with solar plant, domestic and drinking water treatment plant, water recycling plant for reusing wastewater, 100 acres of water bodies, and many other environment friendly facilities.

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