Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new campus of the historic Nalanda University in Rajgir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reached Nalanda, first took a close look at the old heritage of Nalanda University. After this he reached the new campus of Nalanda University, where he planted the Bodhi tree and then inaugurated the new campus.
On the occasion of the inauguration, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and heads of missions of 17 countries were also present.
In the inaugural program organised, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that it is a matter of great pleasure that today Nalanda University is being inaugurated by the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has come to Rajgir for the first time. I welcome him wholeheartedly. I also heartily congratulate the Governor, Foreign Minister and all the guests.
Nalanda University had a glorious past. It was recognised as a center of knowledge. In ancient times, 10 thousand students used to study here and there were 2 thousand teachers. Not only India but also many students from different countries used to study here. Students from China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Tibet and many other countries of Asia used to come and study here. This university was unfortunately destroyed in 1200 AD.
The Chief Minister said that since we got the opportunity to work since November 2005, we have been doing many changes for the development of Bihar, which also included reestablishing Nalanda University. In March 2006, when President Abdul Kalam came to Bihar, he talked about re-establishing Nalanda University.
From that time we took on the initiative to restore Nalanda International University and requested the Central Government for this, but due to some reason the work got delayed, the State Government made a new law for this and acquired 455 acres of land for the restoration of the University.
In the year 2008, Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam ji again came to Nalanda University as the first visitor and saw the work being done there. In the year 2010, on our request, a bill for this was passed in the Lok Sabha. The state government acquired the land and handed it over to the central government.
The work progressed slowly and partial studies started here from the year 2014. In the year 2014 itself, the government of Shri Narendra Modi was formed in the country and the work of Nalanda University started happening at a very fast pace. In the year 2016, the then President Late Pranab Mukherjee laid its foundation stone. Today I am very happy to see that Nalanda University has become fully functional. Presently 400 students from 17 countries are studying here.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great pleasure that today the entire campus is being inaugurated by the respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, for this we express our heartfelt gratitude to him. Rajgir is one of the most cherished historical place. Rajgir was the first capital of the Magadha Empire. Earlier it was called Rajgriha. Later the capital was shifted from here to Patna.
Rajgir is the confluence of five religions. Lord Buddha of Buddhism lived in Venuvan. Lord Mahavir of Jainism has a direct connection with this place, most of the temples of Jainism are here. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the Guru of Sikhism had come here. Sheetal Kund was constructed here. Sufi saint of Muslim religion Makhdoom Saheb attained enlightenment here.