Yes, India had the first university – the University of Nalanda, founded in the 5th century CE.
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Yes, India had the first university – the University of Nalanda, which was founded in the 5th century CE. This legendary university is considered to be the oldest university in the world. It was a Buddhist center of learning that attracted scholars from all over Asia. The University of Nalanda was a residential university, meaning that students lived on-campus in dormitories. Students were provided with free education, housing, and food.
According to some sources, Nalanda University had over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers at its peak. It offered courses in various fields such as Buddhism, philosophy, logic, medicine, and grammar. The university also had a vast library containing over 9 million manuscripts, making it one of the largest libraries in the ancient world.
The University of Nalanda was destroyed by invaders in the 12th century, bringing an end to an era of learning in ancient India. However, its legacy and knowledge continue to inspire and influence scholars across the world.
As the famous scholar Hu Shih once said, “India was China’s teacher in trigonometry, quadratic equations, grammar, phonetics… but above all, India taught us the method of the unattached observation which led to the eventual attainment of Buddhism.”
Here are some interesting facts about the University of Nalanda:
- The university had a nine-story library building, which was said to be so large that it had to be cooled by means of water flowing through its walls.
- The library contained a rare collection of books and manuscripts from all over the world, including China, Greece, and Persia.
- The University of Nalanda was a great center for Mahayana Buddhism, and it attracted students and scholars from as far away as China, Korea, and Tibet.
- The Nalanda University campus covered an area of approximately 14 hectares and had eight separate compounds for different purposes.
- The university was home to some of the greatest thinkers and scholars in ancient India, including Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, and Vasubandhu.
Below is a table highlighting some key information about the University of Nalanda:
Name of University | University of Nalanda |
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Location | Bihar, India |
Year of Establishment | 5th century CE |
Fields of Study | Buddhism, Philosophy, Medicine, Grammar |
Number of Students | Over 10,000 (at its peak) |
Number of Teachers | 2,000 (at its peak) |
Library Size | Over 9 million manuscripts |
Notable Scholars | Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Vasubandhu |
Destruction | 12th century invasions |
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The video discusses the history of the world’s oldest university, Nalanda, which was lost for 800 years before being re-established in the 19th century. The new international university, based on the ancient university, will be a beacon of peace and non-violence in the multipolar world.
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The University of Calcutta was the first university in India located in Kolkata, West Bengal. It was established on 24 Jan 1857.
India has a long and venerable history in the field of higher education. In ancient times, the country was known to have been home to the oldest formal universities in the world. The world’s first University was established in Takshila or Taxila or Takshashila (now in Pakistan) in 700BC.
Nalanda University is known as the first university in India. The university was established in the 5th century and lasted till the 13th century.
Soon after, in 1857, the first three official universities were started in Bombay (Mumbai), Calcutta (Kolkata) and Madras (Chennai). Followed by the University of Punjab in 1882 and the University of Allahabad in 1887. These universities were modeled after the University of London and focused on English and the humanities
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The oldest establishment date listed by the UGC is 1857, shared by the University of Calcutta, the University of Madras and the University of Mumbai.
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Nalanda is an ancient center of higher learning in Bihar, India from 427 to 1197. Nalanda was established in the 5th century AD in Bihar, India. Founded in 427 in northeastern India, not far from what is today the southern border of Nepal, it survived until 1197.
Seal of the University of Calcutta | |
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Latin: Universitas Calcuttensis | |
Established | 24 January 1857 |
Founder | List Alexander Duff Sir Charles Wood Maharaja Maheshwar Singh Bahadur Dr. Fredrick John |
Accreditation | NAAC |
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