PM Modi inaugurates new campus of Nalanda University in Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University in Bihar's Rajgir.

Established through the Nalanda University Act, 2010, the new campus of the university is close to the site of the ancient ruins of Nalanda.

Modi unveiled a plaque at the new campus as he inaugurated the campus. The prime minister also planted a sapling on the campus.

Modi said the rebuilding of Nalanda is going to start the golden era of India. "Nalanda's reawakening, this new campus, will give the world an introduction to India's capability," he added.

" I am happy that I got the opportunity to visit Nalanda within 10 days after swearing in as prime minister for the third time. Nalanda is not just a name, it is an identity and respect. Nalanda is a value and mantra fire can burn books but it can't destroy knowledge," Modi said.

Interim Vice Chancellor of Nalanda University Prof Abhay Kumar Singh felicitated Modi on the occasion.

“Nalanda University served a larger role by connecting our society with those our near and far neighbours through land and sea. The universities destruction marked a downturn in our history and is continued through the colonial period. In that era, we not only saw a decline in our capabilities and confidence but in our connectivity as well with those nations who are now members of the East Asia Summit. In the rebuilding of Nalanda University, there are multiple messages, both national and international," said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the inauguration of the new campus.

About the new campus

The new university started functioning in 2014 from a makeshift location with 14 students. Construction work on the university started in 2017.

The university has participation from 17 other nations apart from India—Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. These countries have signed MoUs in support of the university.

The university offers 137 scholarships to international students.

Apart from Modi and Jaishankar, Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, and the ambassadors of 17 countries attended the event.

Ahead of the inaguration, the PM visited the ruins of ancient Nalanda, a UNESCO world heritage site, in Rajgir.

Before his Nalanda visit, Modi tweeted, "It's a very special day for our education sector. The new campus of the Nalanda University would be inaugurated at Rajgir. Nalanda has a strong connect with our glorious past. This university will surely go a long way in catering to the educational needs of the youth".