The Chinese scholar, Hsuen-Tsiang (or Xuanzang in today's Pinyin spelling), who visited India in 630 A.D. under the Guptas and stayed for some time at Nalanda, has left us a vivid description of the university. He wrote of "richly adorned towers" with observatories "lost in the vapours of the morning". The university's architecture was remarkable, with nine-storey buildings, eight separate compounds, ten temples, several meditation halls, a great library and dozens of classrooms. Its setting, too, was full of beauty, dotted with lakes and parks.
The accounts of foreign travellers portray a university throbbing with intellectual excitement, a centre of learning devoted not only to the study of Buddhist texts but of Hindu philosophy, the Vedas, and theology in general; logic, grammar and linguistics; the practice of medicine and the study of other sciences, notably mathematics and astronomy; and more down-to-earth subjects like politics, the art of war and even handicrafts. Contemporary visitors speak of a system of education that went well beyond the oral recitation and rote-learning normally practised in monasteries. Nalanda's teachers practised a variety of instructional methods: exposition was followed by debate and discussion, lectures featured lengthy question-and-answer sessions, and ideas were illuminated by extensive resort to parables and stories. Admission required a strict oral examination; literally so, since strangers were not permitted to enter unless they could satisfactorily answer a number of questions from the gatekeeper testifying to their basic level of educational attainment.
RE:nal
by ritesh on Apr 24, 2007 06:33 PM Permalink
Dear Karthik,
I thankyou for the matter that you had posted.I always felt that the discussion board is more like a Blog , but I really felt happy reading the matter.
RE:nal
by ab on Apr 24, 2007 06:35 PM Permalink
Its true muslims rulers have followed a very cowardise approach through out their small history because they were scared and insecure of other religions preaching peace and harmony. thats y they destroyed such great centres of learning such as nalanda because of their inner insecurity and inferiority complex. Even if u look today all muslim terrorists are COWARDS who hide and kill people, if they are brave enough they shud come in the battlefield and wage a war,but sadly that wil only happen if they hav any mettle in them and since they dont they only hide behind the bushes and fire that all they know
RE:nal
by Golu Gayani on Apr 24, 2007 09:58 PM Permalink
Thanks Karthik. Your message is so heart touching. I can close my eyes and visualize what would have this University been then. I am so greatful that there are highly knowledged readers with rediff.
