Perceived to be an amalgam of ancient and modern thinking, the university will be guided by an interim governing board, chaired by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.
The Rajya Sabha today passed a bill for establishing a transnational university at Nalanda in Bihar, which was a seat of learning in ancient India.
India along with 16 countries of East Asia would like to see Nalanda as "an icon of Asian renaissance".
Perceived to be an amalgam of ancient and modern thinking, it will be guided by an interim governing board, chaired by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.
Nalanda, situated 90 km south east of Patna, near a village called 'Bada Gaon', still has the ruins of the ancient Nalanda University which, according to studies, existed in the fifth century AD. The studies also said the ancient university had 10,000 students and facilities like nine-storeyed library building.
The Nalanda University Bill, 2010, which seeks to establish a teaching campus on 441 acres attracting students and faculty from across South and South East Asia, was passed by the House after a scholarly debate.
The debate saw Karan Singh (Congress), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), N K Singh (JD-U) and M Rama Jois (BJP) at their erudite best recalling India's rich contributions to the culture and civilisation of the world.
Quoting head of the Mentor Group, Amartya Sen, the JD-U member said, "When Oxford (UK) was being inaugurated, Nalanda was being destroyed - it did represent transition of knowledge from Asia to Europe. We want to rebuild Asia and regain knowledge leadership. Nalanda will become an icon of Asian renaissance."
Replying to the debate, minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur said prominent academicians would be involved in the university which will be housed in a complex to be built on a design to be chosen through an international competition.
"Our focus has to be on Buddhist studies....A school of Buddhist studies has to be established," Kaur said. However, several members emphasised that the new Nalanda University should reflect the modern needs of the 21st century. "Buddham, sharanam gachchami (I take refuge in the Buddha), alone will not suffice," Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP) said.
Observing that India's foreign policy now is focussed on "look east", eminent journalist HK Dua (Nom) said the initiative would be helpful in achieving the objective.
Some members said the governing board should have top minds from the world of learning instead of bureaucrats.
As Buddhism is flourishing in several countries of East Asia, Jois said the "inauguration of the university should be an occasion to inaugurate peace with China".
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