Nalanda University fails to maintain its sheen!

By M.Y.Siddiqui

Nalanda University, set up in 2010 in Bihar by the Government of India under an Act of Parliament in pursuit of a political dream envisioned by the former President APJ Abdul Kalam, former Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh, Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen to restore and revive the ancient glory of the ancient university, which was one of the oldest seats of learning in the world, has lost its sheen and is yet to take off meaningfully. The very idea of the university in the initial stage had enthused countries in South East Asia, East Asia and some European countries that had pledged financial and other support to the new university appears to have evaporated after initial contribution of about rupees eighteen crore, making the university loose its sheen.

Ancient Nalanda University was established in the 5^th Century B.C., which existed for eight hundred years. Turkish military General Bakhtiyar Khilji finally destroyed it in 1200 A.D. During its eight century long existence, the University had braved several foreign invasions. Ruins of the University have stood ravages of time serving as a reminder of the lost glory. Modern Nalanda University derives its inspiration from its ancient predecessor. Its mandate intends it to be an international institution for the pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical and spiritual studies. Ministry of External Affairs is the nodal Ministry, responsible for all about the new University, its upkeep, expansion and modernization.

Till 2020, Nalanda University got a cumulative budgetary gran of Rs.904 crore from the Union Government in the Ministry of External Affairs. It also got a little over rupees 18 crore endowment funds from foreign countries, which seem to have lost further interests in the affairs of the University. From 2014 when the courses of studies commenced to 2020, Nalanda University enrolled 710 regular students, 97 per cent of whom completed successfully their courses. Currently, the University has 172 regular students, 24 teaching staff, 18 visiting or guest faculty and 40 non-teaching staff. This in itself speaks volume of how the University has become victim of the neglect and apathy of the current NDA Union Government, which has been reducing educational budget in general consecutively during the last seven years of it being in power.

At the very outset, the cumulative budgetary grant looks high. But inquiry from the Ministry of External Affairs reveals the bulk of the budgetary grants have been incurred on infrastructure development. In business parlance, at a total of 710 regular students, per student expenditure comes to 1.38 crore. If 992 students, enrolled in other programmes, are included, per student expenditure is around Rs.57 lakhs. From this point of views, the University has lost its lusture to capture the past glory of the ancient Nalanda University.

Ancient University of Nalanda’s glory reached all across the globe as a beacon of light that represented the famed civilizational strength of India. Whether the modern Nalanda University will reach that glory remains a question mark for now! After all, it has been conceived as a world class international university!

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