By Arpan Tulsyan,
Nalanda: How It Changed the World by poet-diplomat Abhay K. (Penguin, 2025) is a meticulously researched account of one of the world’s oldest centres of learning. More than just a historical chronicle, the book examines Nalanda’s enduring legacy and its relevance to contemporary higher education in India. In this review, I particularly focus on exploring how the book bridges historical scholarship with present-day educational challenges.
The name Nalanda literally signifies “the giver of knowledge that never ceases.” Mahavihara in Sanskrit and Pali means “great monastery”. Both these together highlight Nalanda Mahavihara’s dual role as both a monastery and a university, where monks engaged in rigorous scriptural learning and discussion, alongside studying philosophy, logic, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and linguistics. Notably, many principles of India’s National Education Policy (NEP 2020)—such as critical thinking, problem solving, innovation, holistic learning, research-driven education, and global academic collaboration—can be traced back to Nalanda’s foundational principles.
While tracing Nalanda’s evolution from a revered centre of Buddhist learning to its tragic destruction and decline – the author leaves readers with a very pertinent question – what would it mean to revive the spirit of Nalanda today? Beyond physical reconstruction, the author urges us to reclaim Nalanda’s intellectual and pedagogical ideals. I identify six key principles from the book that resonate today and remain relevant for strengthening India’s higher education system.
Knowledge infrastructure and immersive learning
First, the book vividly discusses how Nalanda pioneered structured, multidisciplinary education centuries before modern universities of Bologna, Oxford, or Paris emerged. With a thriving residential community, a vast library, and an environment that encouraged dialogue and debate, it was an institution designed to push the boundaries of knowledge. Its model of immersive learning—where scholars lived, debated, and collaborated—provides important insights for contemporary higher education, particularly in fostering research excellence.
Its quadrilateral layout of courtyard structure, learning halls surrounded by student residences prefigured the modern university campus. At the heart of Nalanda was Dharmaganja, a library so vast that it was said to have housed more than 9 million manuscripts. In many ways, it set the precedent to the modern idea of open-access research, knowledge-sharing, and digital repositories that universities strive for today. Contemporary India should take cue and work towards bridging the pressing need to improve higher education infrastructure, enhance hostel facilities, expand libraries and increase research publications and citations to match global benchmarks.
Interconnected and inquiry-based learning
Second, is Nalanda’s intellectual rigor which was rooted in dialogue, debate, and inquiry-based learning. The book very eloquently describes its recursive method of knowledge-building—first, a concept would be proposed, then debated, then tested against other disciplines. Mathematics informed astronomy, logic shaped philosophy, medicine drew from Buddhist metaphysics. This interconnected approach remains crucial in addressing today’s global challenges, from artificial intelligence to climate change.
Internationalisation of education
Third, Nalanda represents the lost legacy of internationalisation of education in India. Nalanda was an institution without borders. It attracted students and scholars from host of south east Asian and central Asian countries including China, Korea, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Indonesia, and Persia, creating one of the earliest global learning networks.
Today, India sends about 1.3 million students abroad for higher education, but only about 72,000 foreign students come to India -far fewer than China’s 500,000+ international students. By improving university rankings, strengthening faculty exchanges, research partnerships, and infrastructure, India must embrace the internationalisation of knowledge and make its institutions magnets for the world’s best minds.
Merit-based, inclusive education
Fourth, Nalanda was open to scholars from all backgrounds, where talent, not privilege, determined the opportunity. The book describes how dvarapandit (Scholar at the gate) orally screened the monks who wanted to study at Nalanda Mahavihara. A large number of them were turned back and only 2-3 out of 10 were admitted based on merit. Thus, while entry was highly competitive, the university did not discriminate based on wealth or social status. This ethos of inclusion is a valuable reminder of the importance of expanding access to quality education for all.
Robust financial ecosystem
Fifth, Nalanda thrived because it was patronised by emperors, wealthy donors, and local communities who understood that education was a public good, not a private commodity. India has consistently increased its investment in education; however, it continues to be lower than the recommended 6% of the GDP. Further strengthening financial support for universities through stronger public funding, university endowments, public-private partnerships and philanthropies can accelerate research excellence, faculty development, and student opportunities, ensuring that Indian institutions remain globally competitive.
Beyond Job-readiness
Sixth, education today often focuses disproportionately on employability, but Nalanda saw learning as a path to human flourishing, ethical leadership, and societal well-being. Its Buddhist philosophy emphasised learning as a path to enlightenment, not just employment. If Indian education is to be truly transformative, in addition to job-readiness, it must integrate ethics, sustainability, and civic responsibility into its core curriculum.
This book is not just for history enthusiasts, but for anyone invested in India’s education system. Through exploring the legacy of Nalanda, it urges us to embrace its intellectual spirit to shape our future. Read it to understand not just the institution of Nalanda, but the idea of Nalanda. An idea that established knowledge as boundless, inquiry as fearless, and education as a service to humanity. By embracing these ideals, India can once again emerge as a global leader in education.