Rajgir: Nalanda University welcomed Bhutan’s prime minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, the first lady, and an official delegation to its campus, celebrating a historic bond of learning and cultural exchange.
Vice chancellor Sachin Chaturvedi greeted the visitors and underlined Nalanda’s philosophy of oneness with nature, sustainable development, and peace. He connected these ideals to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and India’s Lifestyle for Environment initiative, saying the university stands as “a living symbol of peace, knowledge and ecological consciousness.”
Tobgay expressed gratitude to India, Bihar, and Nalanda University for the warm reception, noting Nalanda’s position as the world’s oldest centre of higher learning, predating universities such as Oxford and Bologna. He described the ancient institution as a “vast city of scholarship and spirituality” that shaped Buddhist traditions still thriving in Bhutan.
Highlighting Nalanda’s diverse faculty and student community, Tobgay called for closer cooperation in scholarships, cultural partnerships, and academic exchanges. He invited Nalanda University to join Bhutan’s upcoming Global Peace Prayer Festival.
“Nalanda is not just a university of the past—it is a timeless beacon of peace, unity and spirituality that continues to inspire the world,” Tobgay said. “As Bhutan’s only Vajrayana Buddhist kingdom, we deeply cherish Nalanda’s role in shaping our spiritual and cultural traditions.”
The visit concluded with an interactive session with students, where select questions from a university competition were posed to the Bhutanese leader. Nalanda reaffirmed its commitment to peace, sustainability, and international collaboration.
