MORE than 800 years after it was reduced to ashes in an invasion by a medieval ruler, India’s Nalanda University sprang back to life like the proverbial phoenix in the historic city of Rajgir in Bihar on Monday.

    Academic activities got underway at the new international university on a makeshift campus, about 12 km away from the ruins of the famous ancient university, with classes in the School of Ecology and Environmental Studies and the School of Historical Studies.

    Out of the 15 students enrolled for the inaugural session, only nine attended classes on the inaugural day. Among them were two foreigners — Yakiro Nakamora from Japan and Ngawang of Bhutan.

    Vice chancellor Gopa Sabharwal welcomed the students and the faculty to the “reborn” university amid palpable enthusiasm on the campus.

    Sabharwal said that the revival of the university was the outcome of nine years of sheer hard work.

    “The university had received applications from about 1,400 students from 35 countries for the different subjects to be taught at the university,” she said.

    The fully residential university, expected to be completed by 2020, will have seven schools for postgraduate and doctoral students, offering courses in science, philosophy and spirituality and social sciences. Each discipline will have a maximum of 20 students.

    There are altogether 11 faculty members on the campus at the moment.

    Classes are being held at the International Convention Center built by the Bihar government a couple of years ago.

    A new campus is, however, coming up in an area spread over 184 hectares and is expected to be fully operational by 2020.

    Several other countries have come forward to help revive Nalanda University. Singapore has pledged US$5 million for its development while China has contributed US$1 million to set up its library. While Thailand has donated US$100,000, Australia would contribute a sum of US$100,000 for a chair at the School of Ecology and Environmental Studies.

    The ancient residential learning center at Nalanda used to attract thousands of students and researchers from different parts of the country and abroad between the 5th and 12th century before it fell prey to rampaging invaders led by Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193.

    Its ruins have since remained a big tourist attraction in Bihar. (SD-Agencies)