Rajgir: Nalanda University welcomed the Union culture and tourism minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, to its campus on Thursday, where he praised the institution’s renewed global presence and its mission to revive one of India’s oldest centres of learning.
Shekhawat was received by Vice-Chancellor Prof Sachin Chaturvedi before an official campus ceremony. Addressing students, researchers and local schoolchildren invited under the university’s Sahabhagita outreach initiative, the minister said Nalanda’s significance extended far beyond its physical location.
“Nalanda is not confined to a geographical space; it represents an entire civilisation,” he said. “It has been a lighthouse of wisdom, a sanctuary for seekers of knowledge, a meeting point of diverse cultures. The soil of this place, its stones, every corner resonates with that ancient tradition.”
During his interaction with students, Shekhawat discussed cultural heritage, global challenges and Nalanda’s role in shaping future scholarship. University officials briefed him on ongoing projects to expand the library, improve student facilities and integrate technology into learning.
The minister said the institution must harness artificial intelligence to disseminate the knowledge reservoir of the Nalanda tradition more widely and effectively.
Prof Chaturvedi thanked the minister for the visit, noting the support Nalanda has received under the culture ministry’s Gyan Bharatam initiative. “Nalanda is making significant efforts to revive its ancient library and to strengthen the languages of the Global South,” he said. “These efforts reaffirm the university’s longstanding spirit of cross-cultural engagement.”
Thanks respected @gssjodhpur ji for your kind visit to the @nalanda_univ and sharing Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ‘s vision for #ViksitBharat @APanagariya @PMOIndia @MEAIndia https://t.co/c0O54vO5Zd
— Sachin Chaturvedi (@Sachin_Chat) November 20, 2025
In his concluding remarks, Shekhawat told students it was a “matter of great pride” to belong to an institution that had shaped global knowledge for thousands of years. He urged them to play an active role in Viksit Bharat, contributing through “knowledge, dedication and hard work.”
The visit comes as Nalanda University continues to expand its academic and cultural programmes while deepening ties with the neighbouring community.
