Singapore meeting sets the pace for reviving Nalanda University

Singapore, July 14 (UNI) The Nalanda Mentor Group today said it has outlined the five departments relating to studies and research work in reviving the age-old Nalanda University in Bihar State.

Chaired by Prof Amartya Sen, the 11-member group aims to finalise the total programme for the university by the middle of next year, and aims to start first semester in 2009 which would remain challenging.

Prof Sen said funding for the university has not been decided yet but infrastructure development and a 600-acre land acquisition programme was underway for the campus, which is expected to have thousands of students. At peak, the Nalanda University had 10,000 students and rose to fame as the ancient seat of Buddhist learning in India, he pointed out.

The inaugural meeting, held in Singapore on 13-15 July, discussed ways and means of expanding the curriculum to include subjects at the cutting edge of scientific research, he said in a statement.

The initial departments are to focus on philosophy and Buddhist studies; regional history of Asian countries; business and management studies; international relations and peace studies; and study of languages including Asian languages, both classical and modern, as well as linguistics.

Prof Sen said he expects the Mentor group to hold three more meetings in Tokyo, Beijing and New Delhi to finalise the complete programme for the development of the university, which will benefit the people of Bihar and had first initiated the idea of reviving the institution.

A time frame has not been set for the next three meetings but these would be held within the next 12 months for the project, which has received strong support from member countries of the East Asian Summit.

One of the leading members of the Mentor group, Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo added the development of the university would also bring other benefits to Bihar, including tourisms.

UNI