MANJARI KISHORE
Singapore, Nov 14
‘The three-dimensional model including education with value system, economic development and transforming religion into a spiritual force, is what is essential for world peace; and that is exactly what we envision Nalanda university to forerun as a seat of education and research, which enables unity of minds from an international community,’ emphasized the President of India, Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam in his keynote address via live videocast.
The President delivered a philosophically enriching speech at the international symposium on ‘Nalanda: Buddhist Cultural Links Between Eastern and Southern Asia’ organized under the aegis of East Asian Institute, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Institute of South Asian Studies and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of National University of Singapore Monday in the heart of the city-state, Singapore.
Speaking on India’s economic development under the topic of ‘Evolution of Enlightened Citizen on Planet earth’, Dr.Kalam shared the country’s vision of becoming a ‘developed nation’ by the year 2020. Five areas where India’s competence for an integrated action lies are: Agriculture and food processing, Education and Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology, Infrastructure development and self-reliance in critical technologies.
Reiterating the significance of his proposed three-dimensional model, he said, this should lead to the evolution of a prosperous and peaceful world society and it is precisely in this context that he envisions Nalanda university to play a pioneering role, leading to the evolution of universal peace.
The Foreign Affairs minister of Singapore, Mr.George Yeo whose initiative culminated in the 16 country seminar on Nalanda optimistically said that the Buddhist community in the region wants to get involved in this project involving revival of Nalanda university and Buddhist circuit in India.
A great deal of information was shared by Mr.NK Singh, Deputy Chairman of Bihar Planning Commission on the vision and operationalization of the Nalanda University. Establishing the historical glory of Nalanda, Rajgir, pawapuri and all the nearby historically significant spots, he said, “the biggest challenge today is to actualize our dream and vision of a revived Nalanda university through a doable work plan and that is where we seek suggestions from an international consortium. The suggestion, views and comments could be posted on the government of Bihar website which will soon be uploaded with the Nalanda University Bill 2006”.
Impressed by his visit to Museum of Asian civilization in Singapore, Mr.Singh has also sought Singapore’s cooperation for technical support for enhancing Patna and other museums in the state.
In an impressive digital presentation on Buddhist Travel Circuit which commenced with a musical ‘buddhanam sharnam gacchami….’, Sanjay Kothari, joint secretary, Ministry of tourism and culture, India gave a detailed plan on the infrastructural support for this circuit, the benchmarks already achieved and areas to be worked upon.
The opening ceremony which kicked off with Prof.Wang Gungwu’s welcome note ended with a great sense of optimism from all participating sections like diplomats, Buddhist monks, academia and Singapore-based ‘Bihari’ organizations like ‘BIJHAR’ that are already conjuring up images of a revived Nalanda university. This was further enabled by some intellectually stimulating plenary sessions on ‘Modern memories of ancient bonds’ by Harvard scholar, Prof.Sugata Bose, ‘China’s historical tryst with Buddhsim’ by Prof.Tan Chung, ‘Buddhism in practical context: South East and East Asia comparison’ by Prof.Ishii Yoneo and ‘Relevance of Nalanda’s past for our modern times’ by Harvard academician and anthropologist Stanley Tambiah which covered the day-long symposium.
Singapore, Nov 14
‘The three-dimensional model including education with value system, economic development and transforming religion into a spiritual force, is what is essential for world peace; and that is exactly what we envision Nalanda university to forerun as a seat of education and research, which enables unity of minds from an international community,’ emphasized the President of India, Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam in his keynote address via live videocast.
The President delivered a philosophically enriching speech at the international symposium on ‘Nalanda: Buddhist Cultural Links Between Eastern and Southern Asia’ organized under the aegis of East Asian Institute, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Institute of South Asian Studies and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of National University of Singapore Monday in the heart of the city-state, Singapore.
Speaking on India’s economic development under the topic of ‘Evolution of Enlightened Citizen on Planet earth’, Dr.Kalam shared the country’s vision of becoming a ‘developed nation’ by the year 2020. Five areas where India’s competence for an integrated action lies are: Agriculture and food processing, Education and Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology, Infrastructure development and self-reliance in critical technologies.
Reiterating the significance of his proposed three-dimensional model, he said, this should lead to the evolution of a prosperous and peaceful world society and it is precisely in this context that he envisions Nalanda university to play a pioneering role, leading to the evolution of universal peace.
The Foreign Affairs minister of Singapore, Mr.George Yeo whose initiative culminated in the 16 country seminar on Nalanda optimistically said that the Buddhist community in the region wants to get involved in this project involving revival of Nalanda university and Buddhist circuit in India.
A great deal of information was shared by Mr.NK Singh, Deputy Chairman of Bihar Planning Commission on the vision and operationalization of the Nalanda University. Establishing the historical glory of Nalanda, Rajgir, pawapuri and all the nearby historically significant spots, he said, “the biggest challenge today is to actualize our dream and vision of a revived Nalanda university through a doable work plan and that is where we seek suggestions from an international consortium. The suggestion, views and comments could be posted on the government of Bihar website which will soon be uploaded with the Nalanda University Bill 2006”.
Impressed by his visit to Museum of Asian civilization in Singapore, Mr.Singh has also sought Singapore’s cooperation for technical support for enhancing Patna and other museums in the state.
In an impressive digital presentation on Buddhist Travel Circuit which commenced with a musical ‘buddhanam sharnam gacchami….’, Sanjay Kothari, joint secretary, Ministry of tourism and culture, India gave a detailed plan on the infrastructural support for this circuit, the benchmarks already achieved and areas to be worked upon.
The opening ceremony which kicked off with Prof.Wang Gungwu’s welcome note ended with a great sense of optimism from all participating sections like diplomats, Buddhist monks, academia and Singapore-based ‘Bihari’ organizations like ‘BIJHAR’ that are already conjuring up images of a revived Nalanda university. This was further enabled by some intellectually stimulating plenary sessions on ‘Modern memories of ancient bonds’ by Harvard scholar, Prof.Sugata Bose, ‘China’s historical tryst with Buddhsim’ by Prof.Tan Chung, ‘Buddhism in practical context: South East and East Asia comparison’ by Prof.Ishii Yoneo and ‘Relevance of Nalanda’s past for our modern times’ by Harvard academician and anthropologist Stanley Tambiah which covered the day-long symposium.
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