The Great nalanda University !!

Nearly 90 km from Patna lies a morsel of the past. Though dead and mostly buried, it jibes at the present: it speaks of a legacy that the state of Bihar perhaps so undeservedly lays claim to. Till recently, no one listened to the ruins of Nalanda. Now, their silence is being heard.

In a visionary gesture, the Nitish Kumar Government has decided to revive the university that was perhaps the biggest international seat of learning between 5th and 12th centuries AD, the first residential academic centre that attracted scholars from as far as China, Tibet, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey. Some of these countries, including China and Japan, are now coming together to bring Nalanda to life.

“You can gauge the enthusiasm from the fact that the issue figured in the recent talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao and then with the Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. It also figured in the East Asian Summit held in January in Philippines this year and is likely to be raised again at the summit in November in Singapore,” says N.K. Singh, Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board.

Though countries from East and Southeast Asia—for whom Bodh Gaya and Nalanda were crucial pilgrimages—had always wanted to revive the university, it took concrete shape when it was pursued by outgoing President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He had outlined the contours of the proposed university during his special address to the Bihar Legislature last year. Of the 10 suggestions for a prosperous Bihar, revival of the university figured as crucial.

The Nitish Administration lapped up the idea, with the Chief Minister taking a keen interest in the project. He, perhaps, realises that the project can transform Bihar’s image in the international arena and yield long-term benefits for the state in terms of investment. Within a short span and at a surprising pace, the Government identified around 500 acres of land for setting up the international university and had a bill enacted by the state assembly. “By next week, we hope to take possession of around 450 acres,” says Nalanda District Magistrate Anand Kishore.

The proposed university will be situated 16 km from the ruins of Nalanda at the foot of the hills in Rajgir (earlier known as Rajgriha) and start functioning from 2009. It will be unique in the sense that it will be owned jointly by several countries, especially from South and Southeast Asia. The University Act clearly talks about setting up a consortium of international partners and friendly countries, and the project has already attracted the attention of some of the most dynamic economies of East and Southeast Asia, ringing hope in a state lagging far behind in all indices of development. The Nalanda project hopes to revive the historical ties this region enjoyed in areas like trade, science, mathematics, astronomy, religion and philosophy.

Possibly the first of its kind in the world, it intends to recreate the spirit of its ancient counterpart. “The architecture and the buildings for the university and its campus shall be carefully designed so as to reflect its vision and mission as set out in the objectives of the university,” the Act for the university states. 
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Global varsity dreams hit a familiar wall !!

When you have a professor in the prime minister’s chair, the creation of academic institutes is expected to be high priority. Manmohan Singh hasn’t disappointed, announcing the South Asian University and Nalanda University and envisaging these not just as an extension of India’s soft diplomacy but also as its attempts at creating its own Ivy League.

Unfortunately, the two have failed to soar above the mediocrity that defines most of our educational institutes and due to reasons that are familiar — lobbying, unimaginative academic leadership, coterie building and red-tapism. The blame must be shared by the MEA for taking up the running of the universities — a sector it has neither expertise or understanding in.

While the infighting within the SAU has increased to the extent that an eminent faculty member recently wrote to the PM warning that the “dream would die” unless action was taken, the university has also failed to create an academic environment that would attract students as well as faculty from the SAARC countries it is targeting.

Nalanda University, which is yet to start its first academic session, has other problems. Prof Amartya Sen, who headed the Nalanda Mentor Group, had to write to the Prime Minister complaining about red-tapism. According to sources, the MEA is now attempting amendments to the Nalanda University Bill 2010 to iron out problems.

Where Nalanda scores over SAU is in the greater sense of ownership in the project. While SAU seems to be just drifting along, Nalanda, steered by heavyweights like Sen and Prof Sugata Bose, and assisted by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, stands a better chance. A model that the MEA could take note note of is that for revival of Presidency University in Kolkata, where the Prof Bose-headed Mentor Group is making waves, attracting globally reputed faculty.
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Dialogue must for world’s balanced development !!

Former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has said that Dharma and Dhamma have similar roots. Dialogue between Sanatan Dharma and Buddhism is the need of the hour. This only will pave the way for balanced global development. Joshi was addressing the concluding session of two-day International Dharma-Dhamma Convention at Vidhan Sabha building here on Sunday. Culture Minister Laxmikant Sharma also expressed his views on the occasion.

Joshi said that Guatam Buddha never believed anything blindfolded. He used to examine a thing on merit basis and then accept or reject it.

Joshi informed that besides Buddhism, education of Vedas was also imparted at Nalanda. He said that such education should also be imparted at Sanchi Buddhist and Indic Studies University. Joshi also threw light on similarities between Buddhism and Brahmanism. He said that a balance and middle path will have to be adopted for human welfare and development. If we succeed in properly propagating principles of Dharma and Dhamma in entire world, these problems will also be solved.

He said that unending desires are the root cause of man’s miseries. Therefore, besides everyone’s welfare and everyone’s happiness, this convention should also give the message of controlling desires.

Joshi praised Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for establishment of Sanchi Buddhist University and described him as a dynamic Chief Minister. Culture and Public Relations Minister Sharma said that conventions’ conclusion will be published in book form. Besides, a booklet containing photographs of entire event will also be published. He informed that World Sanskrit Literature Convention will be held next month. Sharma informed that foundation of Hindi University will be laid soon.

At the convention, Vedacharya David Frawley (Vamdev Shastri) said that ancient knowledge will be taught in modern context at Sanchi Buddhist University. He said that Dharma and Dhamma teach to increase humanitarian relations. The Vamdev Shastri said that Dharma and Dhamma mean that all the hearts should light up with spiritual light. He also laid stress on yoga and meditation.

Rammohan informed about Sanchi Declaration and research papers presented during the plenary session. Ven Vangla Upastissa Nayaka Thero informed that Sanchi Buddhist and Indic Studies University is the result of three years’ hard work. For this, he lavished praise on Chief Minister and Culture Minister.
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Indian universities should emulate Nalanda: Lord Swaraj Paul !!

Indian universities, which failed to make it to the top 200 World University Rankings, should draw inspiration from ancient academies like Nalanda to be recognised globally, says NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul.

Paul, an MIT alumnus and Chancellor of two British universities, said that his own experience in higher education suggests that the concept of community building brings significant benefits and results.

 "Wherever possible I have encouraged and promoted this idea. In every instance there has been a radical improvement in the performance and ratings of the university concerned. This is not especially new thinking.

"It is present in the spirit of the ancient academies like Nalanda, which we are now trying to rebuild, and in the notion that education is Goddess Saraswati's gift to India," he said.

His comments came after no Indian university figured on the list of top 200 universities on the prestigious QS World University Rankings announced earlier this month.

America's Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) grabbed the top slot from UK's Cambridge University on the list of 700 universities that were ranked under the scheme.

Paul said the ranking criteria used to define the top 200 universities "could be a bit too harsh" on Indian institutions as many of them were doing well in their academic endeavors.

Examining the possible reasons for Indian institutions not figuring in the top 200 ranking, Paul said that they were under-funded.

"I believe, on average, higher education in India is substantially underfunded. We need to invest more money into advancing educational excellence and we need to encourage more endowments supported by private funds. This has begun in some areas but needs to be accelerated if it is to produce any visible results in the near future," Paul said.

He emphasised the need to cultivate the concept of "community and inclusion" which, according to him, cuts across generations and gives alumni, faculty and students a sense of participation and joint endeavour.

Paul wondered whether Indian universities were too conscious of hierarchy and over-regulation? Is the division between state responsibilities and central responsibilities appropriate or too restrictive? Is the education in the states too politicised? Do quota systems promote or retard educational advancement?

"Our (Indian) students are unquestionably among the best and the brightest anywhere. The time is long overdue for our advanced education to have the same high ranking," Paul, who graduated from MIT six decades ago and is the Chancellor of Wolverhampton and Westminster Universities, said.
Read more: http://goo.gl/6BkaU

From Vedas To Cloud: The Transformation Of Education In India !!

The education system in India has come a long way of evolution – from the vedic days dating back to around 1700 BC to today’s computer age and e-learning. Throughout, Indian tradition has always accorded special importance to education.

The Vedic Tradition

The Vedas were the main repository of knowledge and were passed on from generation to generation by the oral tradition, the teaching mainly taking place in the gurukul system (students in residence with the teacher). In later times the scriptures and other texts including poetry were recorded on palm leaves specially treated for preservation and written with a sharp writing instrument. The gurukul system was the main stay of education and was mainly availed by the higher castes – Brahmins and the royalty. During the Buddhist period the first “universities” appeared at Taxila (now in Pakistan) and Nalanda where a multitude of disciplines were taught: philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, grammar, logic, arts and crafts. Besides India, students traveled from Tibet, China, Greece and Persia to attend these universities. Nalanda University had the largest library in the world, which was unfortunately set to fire & burnt later by moghul invaders (the fire reportedly burned for three months).

Moghul and British Influence

The Moghul period brought with it the Islamic influence in education, the madrassas. The colonial system that followed with the British Raj saw the next major transformation: the widespread use of English as language of learning and instruction, and the introduction of the western system of teaching science, engineering, medicine, law and other disciplines. During the British Raj, Christian missionary schools and colleges started to dot the education landscape. Also institutions were founded as well as academies to train defense and administrative personnel. These formed the core of the higher education system going into the 20th century.

Post-Independence

The government schools reaching into city and rural areas and the missionary schools had been the backbone of primary and secondary education, but in recent decades a mushrooming of private schools, especially in the urban areas, has drastically changed the scenario. After Independence, the Indian government set up premier tertiary institutions like the IITs for engineering education, the IIMs for management education, and similar institutions for medicine and law education. These have become benchmark institutions, recognized the world over for their excellence. Graduates from many of these institutions went to top universities around the world for their graduate education, often settling down there abroad for life and career.

Private institutions have also sprung up in large numbers in the last few decades offering widely varying educational facilities. One unfortunate trend with the growth of higher education has been an increasing emphasis on exam and grades oriented learning, fueled by the proliferation of competitive entrance exams for science, engineering, medicine, law, etc. and tutorial centres who compete to prepare the students for these exams.  A material percentage of today’s college graduates are perceived as not meeting the needs of industry.
Read more: http://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2012/10/09/from-vedas-to-cloud-the-transformation-of-education-in-india/