Two students from Pakistan granted admission in Nalanda University

02 September, Rajgiri (Bihar)

Following the tradition and literal meaning of ‘Nalanda,’ two students from Pakistan have been granted admission at the Nalanda University here, which has been revived by the Indian government, with the support of 18 East Asian countries.

The word ‘Nalanda’ in Sanskrit is a combination of three words Na+ Alam+ Daa, which means ‘no stopping of the gift of knowledge’ and fittingly, the brewing tension between India and Pakistan has been set aside while granting admission to two Pakistani nationals.

Officer-in-charge of admission of Nalanda University Saurabh Chaudhary, while confirming that two students from Pakistan have been granted admission said altogether, 83 students from Pakistan, Mayanmar, Bhutan, Vietnam, Brazil, Laos, Peru, China, South Korea, South Africa, Nigeria, Mayanmar and Japan had been granted admission and 80 of them had already taken admission.

He said the two students from Pakistan and one from Mayanmar had not turned up so far, but they had informed the authorities about their willingness to join the University.Nalanda University’s Director (Communications) Smita Polite said two students from Pakistan had expressed their willingness to study in the School of Environment and Ecology.

The varsity had received over 6,000 applications from students of 50 countries from across the world, she said. The University has admitted new batch of students in August and also started new departments — the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions.

President Pranab Mukherjee had recently attended the inaugural convocation ceremony of the varsity in Rajgir and had awarded degrees and medals to students. As it is, Nalanda, along with Takshashila, Vikramashila and Valabhi, were ancient seats of learning that attracted scholars from all over the world.