Senior Congress figure Shashi Tharoor publicly commended External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) this week for their role in establishing the new campus of Nalanda University in Bihar. Tharoor, who was visiting the university for a literature festival, expressed his admiration for the project, labeling it as one of the diplomatic corps's most noteworthy yet underrated accomplishments.
Praise on Social Media and Cultural Focus
Taking to the social media platform X, Tharoor shared his impressions. "I was hugely impressed by the Nalanda University campus while attending the @nalandalitlive. My warm congratulations to @DrSJaishankar and @IndianDiplomacy for this wonderful achievement, which deserves a higher rating among the many unsung contributions of MEA to our nation," he wrote in his post.
During his trip to Bihar, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram clarified that his visit was primarily cultural and not political in nature. He encouraged people to explore other local cultural sites, including the Bihar Museum and the Bapu Tower in Patna.
Tharoor's Independent Stance and Views on Education
This is not the first instance where Tharoor has voiced support for initiatives of the Modi government, occasionally placing him at odds with the official position of his own party. His latest comments align with his ongoing focus on India's educational landscape.
Recently, Tharoor highlighted a critical gap in the country's higher education system, noting that India no longer hosts any of the world's leading universities. He pointed out that while a handful of Indian institutions have broken into the top 200 global rankings, none feature among the elite top 10 or even the top 50 universities worldwide.
The Historical Legacy and Modern Revival
The new campus represents a monumental revival of an ancient seat of learning. The original Nalanda Mahavihara, a renowned centre of scholarship, flourished from around the third century BCE until the 13th century CE. It was destroyed around 1200 AD by Bakhtiyar Khilji.
In 2016, the archaeological site of the ancient university was granted UNESCO World Heritage status. Tharoor celebrated the modern incarnation, marking the rebirth of this iconic institution after a gap of roughly 800 years. He emphasized that the original Nalanda's greatness was not merely due to a lack of competitors but because it was, in essence, "an extraordinary institution" of its time.
The development of the new Nalanda University campus, spearheaded with significant involvement from the Ministry of External Affairs, stands as a modern attempt to reclaim that legacy of global academic excellence on Indian soil.
