The way it is shaping, the project of reviving the famous fifth century centre of learning at Nalanda, near Rajgir in Bihar, in a modern format seems to be entering an extremely troubled phase. If matters do not improve soon, the venture is likely to bring India a lot of negative international publicity, and detract from its leading soft power status. Conceived in 2006, the modern Nalanda University opened its doors to its first few students in 2014 under the mentorship of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, who, as the university’s first chancellor, lent lustre to the scheme to develop Nalanda as an Asian centre of modern learning by attracting an international student body and faculty with facilities for the most advanced knowledge production.
The concept was initiated by India and was given ready international backing, with the 18-member East Asia Summit, which includes China, Japan, Russia, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, offering support both financially and in many other ways. But the Narendra Modi government virtually sacked Prof. Sen. His successor, former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo, who was associated with Nalanda from its inception, was also sent packing. Mr Yeo has hinted at “governmental interference”. The unkindest cut is that the name of Y. Sudershan Rao, who headed the RSS’ history wing and was made chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research amid deep controversy in academic circles, for he has few qualification as a historian, is doing the rounds as the possible new chancellor of Nalanda University.
