Enlightening Pilgrimage of Indian Heritage

A Wish That Came Through

(From the Travelogues of Mathew D. Kunnappilly)

An Introduction to Nalanda

Many years ago while reading about the history of educational institutions I came across a statement that the world’s first universities were at Nalanda and Taxila (Thakshasila). I was under the impression that world’s first university was Oxford, then came Cambridge, next Harvard, then Yale, etc. That intrigued my curiosity. Up on further investigation I found that these Universities existed during the time of Buddha and Mahavira. Which means these institutions were well established at least 500 years before Jesus was born. Therefore, the Jesuits or the Dominicans did not introduce the educational ideas first. I knew that ancient Romans and the Greeks were well advanced but they did not have any universities. At a time when Socrates and Plato were educating people at street corners, or in their own homes like in Gurukulam, or in their pupil’s home if the student is of Noble, like Philip’s son Alexander, there was a University at Nalanda? Since that time I wished to visit Nalanda. (My chance for seeing Txila was slim since it is in Pakistan now)

Nalanda is not yet fully excavated. For example, the three separate Temples on the West of the main structure, about 200 feet away and facing it, have only the front entrance to the Temple are exposed. The rest is still under the ground. Many scholars believe that the unexposed area is larger than the exposed.

The known written document on Nalanda is that of the renowned Chinese traveler of the 7th century, Hiuen Tsang. (We must remember that the main library of the university was burned down when the Moslem invaders thought that it was a military fort, and attacked it.) A university deputation escorted Hiuen Tsang from Bodha Gaya. He was given a warm welcome. The Title Mokshacharya (Preceptor of Salvation) was confirmed up on him. He stayed many years at Nalanda and studied Tantraism.

Without any other records it is safe to assume that this university was in existence for a long time before his arrival. No institution could have become world renown in short period of time. especially during that period. We may never know the exact date the Nalanda University opened its door the first time. If it had students from all over Asia in the seventh century AD, then it is highly probable that the university was in existence before Buddha’s time.

The University was fully a residential one. When Tsang was residing, they had about 4 thousand students and teachers there. The largest number of students and teachers Nalanda had was 10,000.

The education was fully free. No tuition, room and board, or any other charges, to be paid. The students were there to study. That is all they had to worry about. No one would kick them out because the parents did not have the money.

The discipline was very strict and laxity was never tolerated. But hardly ever risen an occasion of serious breach of discipline. Had it ever happened, the most drastic punishment would have executed.

The large number of students from all parts of India and abroad who came seeking admission to the university were accommodated in guesthouses near the different gates of the university. Very learned scholars known as Dwaraka Pandits (Gate Professors) superintended those houses. These Professors would interview the candidates to determine they’re academic ability, intellectual caliber, personal habits, behavioral patterns, and other qualities and defects. So hard were these tests and scrutiny, seven or eight out of ten candidates will have to go back home disappointed.

The true NEED BLIND, SELECTIVE ADMISSION, long before such concepts were ever imagined!

Even those who got admission were not quite secure. The pride of many new entrant to be humbled at the hands of abler students during group "discussions"

The Nalanda method of teaching was through discussions and debates among small groups of students and teachers. (Seminars in BC?)

The instructions were given in all branches of Buddhism, its scriptures and theology, Vedantic studies, Literature, Philosophy, Logic, Grammar, Rhetoric, Phonetic, Chemistry, Metallurgy, etc.

The teachers at Nalanda were real scholars. They were not PROFESSIOAL teachers. They were DEDICATED masters. A "Fellow at Nalanda" carried more weight than a don at Oxford or a Full Professor at Harvard carries today. Nalanda scholars were invited to different countries to establish educational centers there. Many went. Once accomplished their task, they returned to Nalanda. They never left Nalanda for "better" pay. We do not even know if they were paid any wages at all.

Today I am inclined to believe that the integrity of Indian society did not disintegrate into naught yet because it was held together with the glue of such noble institutions. The frightening fact is that the succeeding generations are withdrawing from the deposits their ancestors made without contributing to it. If this continues, one of these days, the fund will be depleted completely.

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