The Nalanda University Bill,2010

THE NALANDA UNIVERSITY BILL, 2010

(Shri Bal Apte ji Speech on 21.08.2010)

SHRI BALAVANT alias BAL APTE (MAHARASHTRA): Sir, while participating in the discussion on this Bill for establishment of the Nalanda University, initially I would like to make two general observations. One is about our approach to education and the establishment of universities.

Sir, education is one and it encompasses all possible disciplines. But, unfortunately, our administrative structure is such that if a university is established for a particular purpose, then it doesn't come from the Education Ministry but it is established by some other Ministry which has nothing to do with education. Here this University is being initiated by the External Affairs Ministry. If some university is to be established in a tribal area, then again it is not through the Education Ministry but it is the Tribal Ministry which introduces it. If it is a college or university for social work, then sanction does not come from the Education Department but it comes from the Social Services Department. If a college or an institution is to be established in a rural area, it comes from the Rural Development. All these Departments have nothing to do with education and yet they establish universities. In such a situation, it is necessary that for the purposes of development of education in this country and when they are talking about that knowledge society, then education has to be under one command with the entire structure being seen as a part of the whole. That is missing. This is my first observation.

Secondly, all these years, after Independence our perspective has always been Euro-centric. Our history is looked at from a Euro-centric point of view; our geography and economy are looked at from Euro-central point of view and even our map is drawn from a Euro-centric point of view. Now, the United Nations has corrected that map and the correct size has come. Otherwise, everything is Euro-centric.

Fortunately, all this pattern is, in a way, evolving into something better and that is the aspect which is at the basis of the establishment of this University, and now we are looking eastward. Initially, it was South-Asia, then South-East Asia and now East Asia. This change of attitude is very relevant and, I would say, very welcome. Sir, from the economic point of view this is better. The other day I had asked a question about our Free Trade Agreements, particularly to know whether we are concentrating on this area or not. Fortunately, we are having Free Trade Agreements -- AFTA, SAFTA, ASEAN -- and, therefore, our attitude is changing economically.

So far as other aspects of international life are concerned, this entire area has a deep civilizational underpinning which naturally brings us together and our coming together may be able to shape the destiny of the world tomorrow. This area which is coming together economically, culturally and politically is very very relevant because this solid combination will shape the destiny of the world. Sir, before the establishment of this University and the establishment of South Asia University, these civilisational underpinnings were noted not only by us but by this entire region and this is reflected in three statements of this region which are the foundation of this legislation. I would like to refer to these three statements.

One is given in the SAARC meeting held in Dhaka. The Dhaka Declaration of 13th November, 2005, expressly mentions, in so far as this region is concerned, our shared values, beliefs, aspirations and shared cultural heritage. This entire region has shared values and shared cultural heritage. Therefore, it becomes very relevant. In that circumstances, in 2005, we offered for South Asia that yes, we would establish a university here for this entire region. That offer was reiterated by our Prime Minister in 2008 in Sri Lanka that said that we would do it in Delhi. Consequently, the South Asia University Act was passed by this Legislature last year. Unfortunately, it was passed without discussion, and, therefore, we did not have the opportunity to share our views here. But, the legislation is passed and a University for South Asia is established in Delhi. I don't know about its progress, and in so far as established universities and their progress is concerned, I have always been pessimistic. But, I hope that something might have been done.

Sir, the second relevant international statement was made in the Second Summit of East Asia. That was in 2007. There, the Chairman’s Statement, that is, the Statement of that Summit mentions renewal of our historical ties, and as a part of that renewal of historical ties, it is mentioned that let us revive the Nalanda University. The reason that was given then was "for improving regional understanding, appreciation of one another's heritage and history." This is the commitment which we made and the Bill has now come.

Sir, the third document, which really throws much light on what this country can do for this entire region, is the ASEAN-India Summit. These summits are going on for quite some time now. This Fifth ASEAN-India Summit was held in January, 2007, and I do not know the coincidence, but it was 14th January, that is the day of Makar Sankranti, the day of change - change towards brightness. On that day, the Chairman’s Statement, that is, the Statement of that ASEAN-India Summit mentions three things. One, they say and they are addressing India, that your 'Look East' Policy is welcome.

Secondly, they say, "We acknowledge India's cultural and religious influence in Asia and other parts of the world." They have referred to this cultural and religious influence along with the influence of Bollywood, our weightless goods.

Then, thirdly, they say, "We welcome India's offer to institutionalise the training course for diplomats from ASEAN countries." We have initiated that and we have said that we will establish a permanent institution here for training diplomats for the entire region. So, India, a natural, historical hub of knowledge and training, is again seeking to assume that role. Thereafter, the Fourth East Asia Summit was held in Thailand and we again offered that this University shall be an international university and it was decided there that Nalanda University will be established in this country. In this background, the present Bill is introduced and naturally, what the preamble says is from these Summits' statements. The preamble says that we are establishing an international institute for pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical and spiritual studies and for matters connected therewith.

Secondly, it mentions that we are doing this to improve regional understanding and appreciation of one another's heritage and history -- the second East Asia Summit -- and, thirdly, networking and collaboration between the proposed Nalanda University and existing Centers of Excellence -- the fourth East Asia Summit -- so that the participating countries can work together symbolizing the spirituality that unites all mankind. This is what the Summits said, and, this is what we have adopted as the Preamble, naturally, and, now, this Bill has been introduced.

Sir, earlier, the Bihar Government had taken a welcome initiative and had already established the University of Nalanda in 2007. As several other good initiatives by the Bihar Government for development, this initiative was naturally very good, and, now, that University under this Bill is being incorporated under an Act of Parliament. Sir, at this stage, I will not go into the sections of the Bill. The objectives are those which have been mentioned earlier.

As I said, this shows that we are, again, going towards the idea of this country being the hub of knowledge and learning, and, it is very relevant in this 21st century where we are talking about the establishment and existence of knowledge societies in which India has a primacy in terms of its youth, its talent, its knowledge and in terms of information, knowledge and wisdom. Information is relevant if it is knowledge, and, knowledge is relevant if it is blessed with wisdom, and, all these put together is one word in this country, which is called, 'Vidya'. Vidya is knowledge with wisdom, and, we say,  Earlier, it was wealth; yes, people came here mainly for wealth; but people came here for knowledge. So, we have that rare combination of wealth and wisdom, and, therefore, the Universities in this country were sought after by the entire world. The history goes back to 3000 years. 800 years B.C., Takshila University flourished. This university had 18 disciplines, from Combat to Construction, from Ved to Vadan and, students from as far as Mesopotamia, Parthia, Media came to this university to study.

Sir, we had university at Gunashila. Sir, Bihar had been the cradle of the Indian civilization, of the Hindu civilization. All this is in Bihar. Gunashila, a Jain university in Bihar, was established 500 years B.C. It was a Jain university promoting mainly women's education, and, then, there was Kundinpur, again, of 500 B.C., and, it was mainly for physical training. Then, Kanchi was there from 100 B.C. to 1200 A.D., and, then, of course, Nalanda. Nalanda flourished between 400 A.D. to 1200 A.D. This university had students and teachers from all over the world. Hiuen Tsang was a student here who toured the entire world. Several other Chinese were students here. There were 78 disciplines, as they say, 14 fo

k, 64 कला, from Ayurveda to Dhanurveda, and, from Ved to Viman. Unfortunately, anti-civilisation invaders came and all this was destroyed. Now, we have this University.

Sir, I have two-three specific suggestions in so far as this University is concerned. One is, the motto of this University should be शील वृRk फला fo

k। शील is character and वृRk is conduct. So, the knowledge should be such which will guide both character and conduct, and that should be the motto of this University which is going to be an international University. Sir, an amendment is coming from one of the respected Members of this House who says that this concept of University should be abandoned. If it is to be really an international University, it should be a University of learning. So, it should be Vidyapeeth. He says adopt that word, bring it into English and enrich that language. Secondly, Sir, what this University should do -- in fact, every educational institution should do -- is this. Why are we here? Why are we learning? The example of the Yale University is, I think, worthy to be emulated. Sir, the Yale University established a course. They call it direct studies. This course was established after the Second World War and the reason was to tell the present students the ingredients of the civilisation for whose sake the War was fought. Why was the War fought? Not merely to defeat Hitler, but to save a civilisation and the ingredients of that civilization should be known. That is why the War was fought. That is why we are here. Therefore, that course of direct studies was established in the Yale University. I believe, this University should also establish a course as to why should we read. To protect the ingredients of a rich civilization which this entire region inherits and which this entire region has a responsibility to transmit to the rest of the world. Sir, if we do this and if we retain the high standards of education in this University, maybe this can be a hub like the South Asia University. Students not only from the Asian region but from the entire world will come for knowledge and wisdom which this country is destined to give to the world.
Thank you, Sir.

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