Q1. Nalanda was more than just a monastic-cum-scholastic establishment of ancient and early medieval India. Discuss. (10M, 150W)

Answer: Nalanda University was founded by Kumargupta of the Gupta dynasty in Bihar in the early 5th century, and it flourished for 600 years until the 12th century. During the era of Harshavardhan and the Pala monarchs, it rose to popularity. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was a center of learning, culture, and intellectual exchange that had a profound impact on the development of Indian civilization and beyond.  

Monastic-cum-scholastic features of Nalanda University: 

• Monastic establishment: Nalanda was a monastic establishment in the sense that it was primarily a place where monks and nuns lived and studied. It used to teach all major philosophies of Buddhism.  
• Monastic order: The head of the institution was known as the “Mahathera” or “Great Elder,” who was responsible  for overseeing the entire community of monks and nuns, as well as managing the daily operations of the monastery. 
• Code of conduct: The students at Nalanda were expected to follow a strict code of conduct and were required to  participate in daily meditation and study sessions. 
• Residential scholastic university: It attracted students and scholars from all over the world, including China, Korea,  Tibet, and Central Asia. It was a residential university, with over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers living on campus. 
• Mixed subjects: The curriculum at Nalanda covered various fields of knowledge, including Buddhism, logic,  grammar, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy. The scholars at Nalanda were known for  their research and contribution to the development of various disciplines. 

Nalanda was much more than just a monastic-cum-scholastic establishment: 

• Intellectual Legacy: Nalanda was a hub of learning, it had a vast curriculum that included not only Buddhist teachings,  but also mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy. The scholars at Nalanda produced important  works such as Aryabhata, who made significant contributions to trigonometry and algebra. 
• Preservation of Knowledge: Nalanda was not just a place of learning but also a repository of knowledge. The  university had over 9 million books and manuscripts on religion, science, philosophy, and literature. 
• Multiculturalism: Nalanda was a truly multicultural institution, where scholars from different countries and cultures  such as China, Tibet, Korea, and Central Asia lived and studied together. This helped to foster understanding  and respect between different cultures. 
• Architecture: Nalanda’s architecture was a remarkable feat of engineering and design. The university was spread over a vast area and consisted of several buildings, including temples, lecture halls, and dormitories. The structures  were built with great care and attention to detail, using materials such as red brick and stone.  
• Artistic and Cultural activity: The monastic establishment at Nalanda was also a center of artistic and cultural  activity, with monks and nuns producing works of art, literature, and music. 

Nalanda was much more than just a monastic-cum-scholastic establishment. It was a center of learning, culture, and intellectual  exchange that had a profound impact on the development of Indian civilization and beyond. Unfortunately, Nalanda was destroyed  by an invading army of Turkish ruler Qutbuddin Aibak's general Bakhtiyar Khilji in the 12th century CE, and the university was left in ruins. However, its legacy lives on  as an important center of Buddhist learning and a symbol of India’s rich cultural and intellectual history.