Patna: The ancient Nalanda University of Bihar had been started today with 15 students and 121 faculties and 2 schools. The campus of the University had been established at Rajgir.
Set up following a 2010 special Act of Parliament, the university acquired 455 acres at the Rajgir foothills but as there has not been any construction so far, it will for now function from Rajgir Convention Centre, a state government building. Government-owned Tathagat Hotel will serve as the hostel.
Vice Chancellor of University Gopa Sabharwal said, “We will have a low-key launch with classes for the School of Ecology and Environmental Studies and the School of Historical Studies beginning at 9 AM today. Right now there are 15 students and 11 faculty members at the campus.”
Dr Sabharwal said there were two reasons for starting on a small note as she wanted the students and teachers to settle down, and that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj would be visiting on September 14.
He said, “We have decided to have a big function when Mrs Swaraj visits NU on September 14. By that time things will settle down and the media glare will also decrease to some extent.”
VC said, “More than a thousand students from various countries across the globe had applied for the seven schools on different subjects that will function at the university, of which only 15, including one each from Japan and Bhutan, were selected.”
Though each discipline is to have a maximum of 20 students, only 15 in all have joined in the two schools of the planned seven that will be starting Monday. The 15 were selected from around 1,000 applicants after multiple screening and tests. The admission process is still on. Of the 15, three students are from Bihar.
The students include a Bhutan university dean on study leave and a postgraduate in Buddhist Studies from Japan. The first two schools to start are the School of Ecology and Environmental Studies and School of Historical Studies.
The NU came into existence by the Nalanda University Act passed by Parliament. Economist Amartya Sen is the Chairman of the Governing Body of the university, while renowned teachers from various countries are its members.
Bureau Report
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