Thursday, May 16, 2013

Nalanda University project takes major step forward !!

In a major step towards realising the ambitious Nalanda International University, coming up in Rajgir in Bihar, an international jury has selected the architectural design of an Ahmedabad-based firm for the varsity.

The design of Ahmedabad-based company Vastu Shilpa Consultants was selected by a jury that comprised top architects from Singapore, China, Japan and India.

Vice Chancellor Gopa Sabharwal, addressing the media here Thursday, said 79 proposals had been received and eight final entries were shortlisted.

B.V Doshi, principal architect of the firm, said they based their design in such a way that "it would give a glimpse of what Nalanda stood for - as a centre of knowledge, a centre of understanding life and its processes".

Rajeev Kathpalia, of the firm, said while designing the university, they kept in mind the soil, the environment and the manner in which Nalanda University was constructed.

The first phase of the varsity, an initiative of the government of India supported by the East Asia Summit, would be completed in two years, said Sabharwal.

The university, located around 100 from Patna and 12 km from the ruins of the ancient seat of learning, is to begin its academic session 2014, with masters classes in ecology, environment and historic studies, she said.

The varsity would come up at Rajgir on a 446-acre plot.

Kathpalia said the buildings would be designed on the concept of "net zero" energy consumption. The university would generate its own energy, using photo voltaics. It would also collect the bio mass of neighbouring villages to generate its own electricity and use the rainwater for its use.

The Detailed Project Report had estimated the cost to be Rs.1,560 crore.

"Nalanda university has got funding from some East Asia Summit members. The government is committed to seeing the project through, and will pitch in with funds," an official unwilling to be named told IANS.

The university, which will have seven schools, will be fully residential, like the ancient Nalanda university. It will offer courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with social sciences.

Master plan for Nalanda International University finalized !!

The much awaited master plan for the Nalanda International University will be designed by Gujarat based Vastu Shilpa Consultants.

The decision was taken on Monday in New Delhi by a high-power jury set to finalise the architectural design.

The jury included former chief planner of Singapore town Liu Thai Ker, Professor Osamu and Ishiyama of Japan University, Li Xiaodong of Tsinghua University (China) and Neelkanth Chhaya of CEPT University (Ahmedabad).

“All eight shortlisted models were invited. After a comprehensive scrutiny, the jury opted the model of Vastu shilpa Consultants,” Dr Gopa Sabharwal, vice chancellor of Nalanda University said.

The university is set to come up on 446 acres of land in Rajgir, 10 km from the site of the ancient university in Nalanda. The university will be fully residential, like the ancient Nalanda University. The project took shape in 2006 at the initiative of the then President APJ Abdul Kalam.

The ancient university at Nalanda was home to over 10,000 students and nearly 2,000 teachers. It existed until 1197 and attracted students and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Nalanda University’s design in final stage !!

The much awaited Master Plan for the Nalanda International University at the ancient seat of learning in Bihar is in its final stage, the vice chancellor said Saturday.

“A high-power jury is set to finalise the architectural design in New Delhi May 6,” vice chancellor Gopa Sabharwal said.

The jury includes architects Liu Thai Ker of Singapore, Li Xiaodong of China, Osamu Ishiyama of Japan and Neelkanth Chhaya of India.

She said the jury that visited the site of the proposed university in Nalanda district Friday will assess the proposals of eight architectural firms before making a final selection.

According to her, 79 proposals were received to finalise the design for the university. “Eight companies were shortlisted after a comprehensive scrutiny,” she said.

Janata Dal-United MP N.K. Singh, a member of the Nalanda Mentor Group headed by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, said it was decided to select the best design as it will reflect a grand architecture.

“The main aim is to revive the glory of the ancient university, and the ancient university was an architectural marvel,” he said.

The university is set to come up on 446 acres in Rajgir, 10 km from the site of the ancient university in Nalanda, about 100 km southeast of Patna.

The university will be fully residential, like the ancient Nalanda university. It will offer courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with social sciences.

The project took shape in 2006 at the initiative of then president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

The ancient university at Nalanda was home to over 10,000 students and nearly 2,000 teachers. It existed until 1197 and attracted students and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey.
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What the ruins of the original Nalanda university tell us about an old civilization of India ?

  Our knowledge of Nalanda comes from three kinds of primary sources: archaeology, epigraphy (the study of inscriptions) and texts that surv...