Ancient Education in India : Nalanda, The Learning Temple!

Special story dedicated to teachers day.

     This story is especially for people who think India is a developing country!. The story of Nalanda University. The profound wisdom made others jealous to its deeper. The sacred piece of land where Buddha and Shankara walked through. The place that contained whole Indian brilliance. I will call the destruction of Dharmaganja, Nalanda library is the greatest disconnection happened between its past and future generation ever in the world.

Nalanda University : The learning heaven

     The story starts with Gurukula the first and the best ever education system that existed. Nalanda University founded in the 5th century in Gupta dynasty. It reached the peak in the 7th century and had the capacity to educate 10,000 students every year, few records say the student's count is even more. The university located in North-east India and near to Nepal.

     There were 2000 staffs who educate students about Veda, Brahmasiddhanta and the Khanda Khadyaka of Brahmagupta (Astrology), Medical books written by Charaka, Sushruta, and Vagbhatta, Yoga, Art of war etc. 

Architectural Masterpiece

     To the students, there are three layers of Dormitory (a large bedroom for a number of people). Base layer for new students, middle layers for middle students and the top layer for most experienced students like Sariputra the famous disciple of Buddha. For fresh air and sun shine, it had a unique ventilation system.

     Harappan civilization inspired drainage system which collects wastes from houses and dormitories through small drainage and dumps it in large and deeper drainage.

     There was a creative Oven called Chulla where we can heat up from both top and bottom at the same time and there is an octagonal cooking room where we can find water filter system. The complex of Nalanda University divides through a walk way. The right side of the road called chiayas (temples) and left side called as viharas (Monasteries) both are symbolic of study life and personal life of students respectively.

     It had worlds first Library called Dharmaganja which contains three buildings namely Ratnasagara, Ratnodadhi, and Ratnaganjaka. Nalanda not only a place for great lectures but also a huge place of ancestors information also. It is stored with lacs and lacs of books given by our ancient scientists and other great icons.

Lectures of Nalanda were Gods of the 20th century!

     Buddha and Shankara, an enlightened walked through this piece of land preaching philosophy to their students. Kautilya popularly called Chanakya who is a masterpiece in politics and philosophy used to share students in their insights on political science and administration.

     The first surgeon ever noted in the history of the world Sushruta, and Charaka gave practical training to their students about the operation and other medical related stuff. They played a major role in passing information about their ancestor's rituals in the medical field to their next generation through writing books such as Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita (Ayurveda).

     At the 6th century, we had a physicist called Kanada who established a school aimed to explain the existence of the universe based on atomic theory!. He used to teach students of Nalanda university about atoms.

     We had chemistry lecture called Nagarjuna. Aryabhata and varahimithra for Astronomy, Baudhyayana and Brahmaguptha for mathematics, Patanjali for Yoga. Osho says if Patanjali born in the 20th century he could easily win 10 noble awards!.

     Apart from it, we had other subjects like metallurgy, Veda and other ancient literature. It was said that to complete Veda, a student needs 12 years and based on the selection of other topics student has to spend time with Nalanda.

     Before its extinction, it flourished the people across the world for over 700 years. In its service, it was attacked thrice from the invaders but failed to rebuilt third time. It was brutally attacked third time by Bakhtiyar Khilji. 

Decline of Learning heaven lead to disconnection of our parents

     While doing research and looking into the details of the university really am feeling jealous about my education. There is no doubt jealous and aggressiveness made University sink down. According to the Xuan Zang's 7th-century record of his journey to the West, it flourishing for centuries before it was destroyed by Afghan invaders in the 12th century.

     Bakhtiyar Khilji the tiny man burnt the library for three months. Just imagine how much books can burn in 90 days!. He created the greatest disconnection between the ancient India and the new India. We lost our parent communication. Am typing these words with great anxiety!.

     With 200 horsemen and required defensive armor, Khilji marched towards Nalanda. He just killed thousands of monks and students, the University completely flooded with blood.

An old monk came from inside and begged the general to spare at least the library.

"Books will do no harm, please do not destroy the library," begged the old monk.

"Is there a copy of the Holy Quran inside?" asked the general.

"No, there is not," replied the monk. 

The answer infuriated the general beyond limits. The monks had to be punished, "And if any believe not in Allah and His Messenger, We have prepared, for those who reject Allah, a Blazing Fire!"

"Then, it is settled. Burn the library," he ordered his troops as he swung his sword again, beheading the old monk.

addressing his soldier Abdulla he says "Brother Abdulla, It is going to take a long time to eradicate idolatry from Hindustan. Insha'Allah, we will succeed one day, and we will clean this place forever. We shall make this Kafir land truly Dar Al-Islam."

But this is not the End

     After 800 years, A P J Abdul Kalam, Ex-POI played a major role in reviving the University. While addressing Bihar legislative assembly they shared their opinion on the University. The University offers Master’s degrees in three schools presently- The School of  Historical Studies, The School of Ecology and Environment Studies and the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions.

The letter written from Abdul Kalam,