Nalanda University Hosts National Symposium on Indian Knowledge Tradition; Governor Calls for Global Leadership in Knowledg

Nalanda University hosted a two-day national symposium on “The Role of Indian Knowledge Tradition in Building Viksit Bharat”, bringing together scholars and experts to examine how India’s intellectual heritage can contribute to contemporary education, innovation and global knowledge exchange.

Bihar Governor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain inaugurated the symposium at the Vishwa-Mitra Auditorium of Nalanda University.

Addressing the inaugural session, the Governor described Nalanda as a symbol of India’s rich and historic knowledge tradition. He said that a developed India should be defined not only by economic prosperity and national strength, but also by its ability to generate knowledge, encourage new ideas and offer solutions to challenges facing humanity.

He emphasised the need to connect India’s knowledge heritage with modern science, technology, innovation and global knowledge exchange, saying that India should once again become a country where the world comes to seek ideas and knowledge.

A particularly significant contribution to the discussion came from Nalanda University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, who underlined the importance of studying the Indian knowledge tradition through an interdisciplinary and evidence-based approach.

Chaturvedi stressed that Indian knowledge traditions should not be isolated from other disciplines. Instead, they should be examined through dialogue with diverse fields of knowledge and strengthened through rigorous, evidence-based research. His approach placed emphasis on connecting India’s intellectual heritage with contemporary scholarship while maintaining academic credibility.

Dr Atul Kothari highlighted the contemporary relevance of Indian knowledge traditions and their potential contribution to addressing global challenges and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Professor Bhushan Patwardhan emphasised the importance of understanding Indian knowledge through dialogue and continuity, while viewing ancient knowledge as a potential source of contemporary innovation.

Professor Ramesh Bharadwaj spoke about the need to bring Indian knowledge traditions back into education and to strengthen scholarship through authentic textual and archaeological evidence.

The symposium seeks to create a wider academic conversation on India’s intellectual heritage and explore ways in which traditional knowledge can interact meaningfully with modern research, technology and innovation.

With Nalanda once again serving as the setting for this dialogue, the symposium also highlighted the university’s continuing role as a space for international and interdisciplinary engagement with India’s knowledge traditions.