Nalanda University
Patna: The idea of Nalanda is immortal, Bihar Governor Arif Mohamed Khan, said in conversation with the Grand Trunk Road Initiatives (GTRI) curator Aditi Nandan, during an interactive session here. He added, that although its physical structure was destroyed, the idea of Nalanda can never be destroyed, because it stands for the pursuit and sharing of knowledge, for which Indian civilisation has been known since millennia. “Bihar is the fountainhead of India’s rich heritage,” he said and described Nalanda as not only Bihar’s pride but also that of the whole of India.
Khan further elaborated that ‘Swadhayaya’ (Self Study or Pursuit of Knowledge ) and ‘Pravachan’ (Sharing of Knowledge) were the two pillars of Indian civilisation and India will continue to prosper and lead as long as it continues to acquire knowledge and share it.
On this occasion, author and diplomat Abhay K. presented his latest book, Nalanda: How it Changed the World to the Governor of Bihar, who said he looks forward to reading the book and learning about the great Monastery-University of Nalanda.
Speaking at GTRI about his book, unveiled yesterday by Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Abhay K. highlighted lesser-known aspects of Nalanda’s history, emphasizing its invaluable contributions in shaping our modern world. He said that the idea of Nalanda never died and though the physical edifices of the University were destroyed; it was born into many Nalandas. He added that his book Nalanda tells the riveting story of the rise, fall and revival of Nalanda University.
Abhay K. said he was delighted that his book was being launched in his home state of Bihar, which is actually named after Vihar, as plenty of Buddhist monasteries abounded in the state once upon a time. He added- “I am from Nalanda and writing this book on Nalanda has been a great joy and satisfaction. I learnt a lot about Nalanda while researching for the book. The book highlights the contributions of Nalanda in shaping our modern world. I am sure everyone will benefit from reading this book.”
Choudhary said he looked forward to reading it and benefiting from the wisdom of Nalanda, which was and remains the pride of Bihar.
Commenting about the book, writer and historian Rana Safvi wrote—“Son of the soil Abhay K. tells the story of Nalanda Mahavihara’s revered scholars, groundbreaking philosophies, and the vibrant life within the world’s first residential university. He traces how it shaped the intellectual landscape of its era, influencing generations of thinkers and spiritual leaders.”
Well-known historian William Dalrymple, commenting about Nalanda, wrote —“Abhay K has written a wonderfully accessible introduction to early India’s most important centre of philosophy and learning, the great monastery-university of Nalanda. Setting his story within a seductively sketched panorama of the golden age of early Buddhism, Abhay celebrates Nalanda’s dazzling libraries, scholars, teachings, doctrines and finally, its global influence. Sympathetic, scholarly and poetic, Abhay K’s Nalanda fills an important gap and deserves to be widely read.”
Abhay K. is the author of a dozen poetry books, including Celestial, Stray Poems, Monsoon, The Magic of Madagascar and The Alphabets of Latin America, and is the editor of The Book of Bihari Literature, The Bloomsbury Book of Great Indian Love Poems, Capitals, New Brazilian Poems and The Bloomsbury Anthology of Great Indian Poems. His poems have appeared in over a hundred literary magazines, including Poetry Salzburg Review and Asia Literary Review. His ‘Earth Anthem’ has been translated into over 160 languages. He received the SAARC Literary Award (2013) and was invited to record his poems at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., in 2018. His translations of Kalidasa’s Meghaduta and Ritusamhara from Sanskrit won him the KLF Poetry Book of the Year Award (2020–21). His translation of the Magahi novel, Fool Bahadur, was published by Penguin Random House, India. His paintings on the Buddhist philosophy of ‘Sunyata’ have been exhibited at Bihar Museum, Patna; National Museum, Delhi; and Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad.
– global bihari bureau
