A Sustainable Marvel: Discover Nalanda University's New Net-Zero Carbon Campus with Solar Plants

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly established campus of Nalanda University in Bihar today, marking a contemporary tribute to the legendary ancient seat of learning. This significant event will be attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and ambassadors from 17 partner countries, including representatives from ASEAN nations, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, all of whom have signed memorandums of understanding in support of the university.

It’s a very special day for our education sector. At around 10:30 AM today, the new campus of the Nalanda University would be inaugurated at Rajgir. Nalanda has a strong connect with our glorious part. This university will surely go a long way in catering to the educational needs… pic.twitter.com/fUEXnKM1GJ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 19, 2024

Also Read: PM Modi to Inaugurate New Campus Of Nalanda University Today

A Historic Revival

Located less than 20 km from the historic Nalanda Mahavihara, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the modern university was re-established in 2010 through a legislative act by the Indian Parliament. This revival marks a significant milestone for the first residential university in the world, originally founded in 427 CE by Emperor Kumaragupta.

The New Campus of Nalanda University

The new campus, designed by the celebrated architect Padma Vibhushan late BV Doshi, integrates eco-friendly architecture with ancient Vaastu principles, creating a net-zero carbon footprint campus spread over lush greenery and 100 acres of water bodies. It features two academic blocks with 40 classrooms accommodating nearly 1,900 students, two administrative blocks, two auditoriums with a combined seating capacity of over 300, and hostels housing up to 550 students. The residential area includes 197 academic housing units, ensuring comfort and convenience for faculty and students alike.

The campus is well-equipped with a guesthouse, an international center, a dining hall that seats 1,000, an amphitheater for 2,000, and essential facilities such as a sports complex, medical center, commercial center, and faculty club. Nalanda’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its "net zero" green campus, which includes a 6.5-MW DC on-grid solar plant, a 500-KLD water treatment plant, a 400-KLD water recycling plant, and 100 acres of water bodies. An innovative 1.2-MW AC biogas-based waste-to-energy plant is also nearing completion.

Historical Significance

For over eight centuries, Nalanda thrived as a beacon of knowledge, thanks to the dedication of its learned monks and teachers. The first residential university in the world was at its zenith, boasting an impressive roster of 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students from regions like China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. Detailed accounts left by scholars, especially the Chinese monk Xuan Zang, offer invaluable insights into the academic and architectural grandeur of ancient Nalanda.

Nalanda was a hub of diverse intellectual pursuits, with Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical system, being widely taught. Its architectural design of open courtyards flanked by prayer halls and lecture rooms inspired Buddhist institutions across Asia. The university's influence extended to the ecclesiastical art of Thailand and the metal artistry of Tibet and the Malayan peninsula.

However, Nalanda's most enduring legacy lies in its monumental contributions to mathematics and astronomy. Aryabhata, the father of Indian mathematics, is speculated to have headed the university in the 6th century CE. His pioneering work in trigonometry, spherical geometry, and the study of celestial bodies laid foundational principles that resonate through modern science and technology.

Challenges and Rediscovery

Admission to Nalanda was as challenging as getting into today's elite universities. Prospective students underwent rigorous oral interviews with the university's top professors. The university's library, a treasure trove of nine million handwritten palm-leaf manuscripts, was the world's richest repository of Buddhist knowledge. Known as “Dharma Gunj,” or the “Mountain of Truth,” this library was a treasure trove of Buddhist scriptures, scholarly notes, and curriculum books spanning a vast array of subjects. Of its three main library buildings, one, as described by Tibetan scholar Taranatha, soared nine stories into the clouds.

Tragically, in the 1190s, this illustrious institution met a fiery end at the hands of Bakhtiyar Khilji, a Turko-Afghan military general determined to extinguish this Buddhist center of learning. The campus blaze reportedly raged for three months, reducing to ashes what was arguably the richest repository of Buddhist wisdom. Unfortunately, only a few manuscripts survived the destruction, now safeguarded in institutions like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Yarlung Museum in Tibet.

After six centuries of obscurity, Nalanda was rediscovered in 1812 by Scottish surveyor Francis Buchanan-Hamilton and later identified as the ancient university by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1861.

Looking Ahead

The re-establishment of Nalanda University is a testament to its enduring legacy and a significant step towards reviving its historical significance. As Prime Minister Modi inaugurates the new campus, it symbolizes not just a revival of an ancient institution but also a beacon of modern educational excellence and sustainability.