PM Modi inaugurates new campus of Nalanda University
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Nalanda University’s new campus. The Prime Minister praised the varsity’s previous challenges and stated that Nalanda represents India’s identity, respect, value, and ethos. This is Narendra Modi’s first official visit to the state since being sworn in for a record third term as Prime Minister.
Addressing the audience, PM Modi stated, “I am pleased that I was able to visit Nalanda within ten days of being sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time…Nalanda is more than just a name; it represents identity and respect. Nalanda is a virtue and a mantra…fire can burn books but cannot destroy knowledge.”
Also read: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha: Powers and Perks Unveiled
PM Modi described Nalanda as a wise, reiterating the well-known truism that “flames may burn the books, but they cannot erase knowledge.”
He stated that the university is part of both Indian and Asian history. “Our fellow countries have also participated in the reconstruction of the university,” he continued.
PM Modi calls university a spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”
PM Modi described it as the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” saying that students from all over the world have begun to come here. Students from about 20 nations are studying in Nalanda.”
He had already seen the ruins of the historic Nalanda University in Bihar. The ruins were designated a United Nations Heritage site in 2016.
Rekindling India’s links with its history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Wednesday, ahead of Nalanda University’s inauguration, that the university will “go a long way in catering to the educational needs of the youth.”
Also read: India beats Pakistan; Nuclear Arsenal Surpasses for the 1st Time in 25 Years
EAM S Jaishankar, Nitish Kumar attended the ceremony
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Nalanda University Chancellor Arvind Panagariya all attended the opening ceremony.
Foreign envoys from 17 countries attended the event, including Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
The campus is organized into two academic buildings, each having 40 classrooms and a seating capacity of approximately 1900. It has two auditoriums, each with a seating capacity of 300. It features a student hostel with a capacity of around 550 persons. It also has various other amenities, including an international center, an auditorium that can accommodate up to 2000 people, a faculty club, and a sports complex.