The Prime Minister on June 19 inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University, an international University, close to the site of the ancient ruins of Nalanda in Rajgir, Bihar.

Asserting that Nalanda is a symbol of India’s academic heritage and vibrant cultural exchange, Mr. Modi said, “Nalanda is the proclamation of this truth that books may burn in the flames of fire, but the flames of fire cannot destroy knowledge. Nalanda is an identity, respect, and pride.”

He expressed his happiness over the presence of representatives of many countries on the day of the inauguration. He pointed out that the new campus of Nalanda University also proves that Bihar is on the path of development.

The Parliament of India established the Nalanda University through the Nalanda University Act, 2010. The Act formed the basis for implementing the decisions arrived at the second East Asia Summit (EAS) (Philippines, 2007) for the establishment of the university as an “international institution for pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical and spiritual studies” and at the forth East Asia Summit (Thailand, 2009).