PM lends support to President Kalam's 'Nalanda Project'

New Delhi, Jan 7 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is keen to give a concrete shape to President APJ Abdul Kalam's 'Nalanda Project', whose objective is to recapture the glorious traditions of the ancient seat of learning in Bihar and ''provide leadership in world peace''.

Dr Singh stated this while inaugurating the three-day 5th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which began here today.

In this connection, he pointed out that Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea and other countries in the East Asian and South-East Asian regions were supporting the Nalanda Project.

Dr. Singh also concurred with the sentiments expressed recently by Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo that the Nalanda project ''should emerge as ''an icon of Asian Renaissance'' and ''a centre of civilisational dialogue and inter-faith understanding.

He said he was conscious of the importance of educational opportunities for persons of Indian origin for study in India. ''I want Indian un iversities to be more open to children of overseas Indians,'' he said, while describing India as the land of the ancient universities of Takshila, Nagarjuna and Nalanda, which attracted the best of brains from far off places.

Dr Kalam had earlier spelled out the global vision of a ''fully autonomous academic body'' proposed to be set up at the original site of the ancient Nalanda university, which would ''work towards building an inclusive society in a world free of violence, terror, war, and fear.'' The President said its functional basis would be determined through a ''process of discussion with hundred scholars drawn from different parts of the world.'' They ''may include those who have been internationally recognised for their exemplary contribution to peace in the world.'' The Bihar governmenthas already drafted a bill on the objectives and formation of the proposed university.

In Dr Kalam's scheme of things, the concept of ''a unique institution in Nalanda in the context of current ambience in the world'' was designed for a "unity of minds" in the 21st century. It would draw ''inspiration from the rich historical traditions of Nalanda, Bodhgaya, where Lord Buddha got enlightenment, and other spiritual centres in Bihar.'' Being planned as a multi-discipline university, it will have a sweeping focus from science and technology to spirituality.

UNI