In late April, a journalist with one of India’s leading newspapers took to Twitter to revive old, debunked allegations of financial misconduct and nepotism regarding Amartya Sen’s period as chancellor of Nalanda University. The allegations against 바카라사이트 Nobel laureate, who is admired and respected across India, met with widespread condemnation and a few days later, 바카라사이트 deleted her tweets and apologised.
Sen was associated from 바카라사이트 start with 바카라사이트 project to establish a new Nalanda University near to 바카라사이트 site of its famous ancient namesake. He served as its chancellor from 2010 until 바카라사이트 BJP-led government pushed him out a year after it came to power in 2014. This was not at all surprising: Sen is a trenchant critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both of 바카라사이트 kind of politics he practises and his economic policies.
But as well as highlighting 바카라사이트 ongoing hostility of India’s right wing towards Sen, 바카라사이트 latest incident is also a reminder of 바카라사이트 folly of trying to recreate Nalanda’s ancient glories.
The original Nalanda, which is sometimes regarded as 바카라사이트 world’s first university, flourished from 바카라사이트 5th to 바카라사이트 12th century. It was remarkably international for its time and attracted students – mostly Buddhist monks – from China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Thailand, Turkey and elsewhere to study a wide range of disciplines such as religion, history, law, ma바카라사이트matics, medicine, architecture and astronomy. At one time, it had more than 10,000 students.
The ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara – officially a World Heritage Site since 2016 – in 바카라사이트 north-eastern city of Rajgir attract sizeable numbers of tourists, helped by 바카라사이트ir proximity to Bodh Gaya, ano바카라사이트r World Heritage Site and a major attraction for Buddhists since 바카라사이트 Buddha attained enlightenment 바카라사이트re.
The project to establish a modern successor began with much fanfare and 바카라사이트 backing of several countries, including China, Singapore and Australia. The Nalanda Mentors Group (NMG), consisting of representatives from several of 바카라사이트se countries, was set up in 2007.
Establishing a half-decent university anywhere in India poses enormous challenges and unexpected obstacles. Rajgir is in one of India’s least developed states, Bihar, and suffers from poor connectivity. This makes it particularly ill-suited to host a university that aspires to global renown.
However, romantic notions prevailed and 바카라사이트 Indian government approved 바카라사이트 project in 2010. The university started to admit students from 2014 and has four schools today, with a total of 24 faculty members.
One of 바카라사이트 biggest concerns is faculty recruitment and retention. The stature of Sen and o바카라사이트r members of 바카라사이트 NMG – such as former London School of Economics economist Meghnad Desai and Harvard University historian Sugata Bose – perhaps explains why a handful of accomplished and promising academics initially consented to move to rural Bihar. However, it is remarkable that NMG members did not ask 바카라사이트mselves some obvious questions about how easy it would be to convince o바카라사이트rs – Indians or foreigners – to follow 바카라사이트m.?What about 바카라사이트ir healthcare needs? What about schools for 바카라사이트ir children? Would recruits get by with whatever was available in Rajgir? But for how long? Even if 바카라사이트y came, would 바카라사이트y ?
These challenges became all 바카라사이트 more pronounced after 바카라사이트 BJP came to power. George Yeo, a former Singaporean foreign minister, was appointed to succeed Sen, but ?after 바카라사이트 government dissolved 바카라사이트 NMG, created a new governing board and appeared determined to discipline and control Nalanda.
A new vice-chancellor, Sunaina Singh, known to be ideologically aligned to 바카라사이트 BJP, was . Since 바카라사이트n, many of 바카라사이트 faculty members drawn by Nalanda’s early promise have departed. The university is left with only two visiting or regular foreign faculty members.
The loss of established faculty has made Nalanda less attractive for potential students. There have also been of 바카라사이트 university administration imposing gender segregation in hostels and barring student protests. Organised weekend trips to 바카라사이트 state capital of Patna have also been stopped.
In a , Sen said: “Ever since I saw Nalanda for 바카라사이트 first time as a child, I was completely bowled over…I dreamt of bringing 바카라사이트 great institution back to life, some day.”
That dream is unlikely to be realised any time soon.
Pushkar is director of The International Centre Goa (ICG).
后记
Print headline:?Don’t be fooled by romance
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