Nalanda Diary
Quarterly Newsletter of Nalanda University, Bihar, India
Nalanda’s Momentum
As envisioned by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, the Sahabhāgita Samvāda initiative has gained remarkable momentum, reflecting Nalanda University’s commitment to inclusive, participatory learning that extends beyond campus boundaries. From mentoring young school students and fostering curiosity in languages and new technologies, to translating sustainability from principle into action, the initiative embodies the University’s ethos of learning deeply connected with society.
The University has hosted a series of notable activities, illustrating its holistic engagement. These include innovative pedagogy workshops for teachers, archival immersions at CARC exploring rare heritage collections, and Heritage Week celebrations, where students from neighbouring schools participated in quizzes, cultural exhibitions, and guided sessions on history, environment, and heritage. Traditional art forms such as Kalarippayattu workshops and painting competitions on themes like Viksit Bharat promoted creativity and intercultural understanding. The University also welcomed local communities to celebrate festivals such as Onam and Mahalaya, reinforcing cultural exchange and inclusivity.
Significant steps in social empowerment include the formation of the Nalanda University Self-Help Group (NU-SHG), providing women from surrounding villages with opportunities in arts, crafts, and sustainable livelihoods. Complementing this, Nalanda University emphasized financial inclusion through ICICI and SBI branches on campus to benefit local communities. Discussions with farmers and other stakeholders further demonstrated NU’s commitment to participatory knowledge-sharing and practical impact.
Under the Sahabhāgita initiative, Nalanda University regularly facilitates guided campus visits for school students and teachers, offering first-hand exposure to its Net-Zero practices and sustainability efforts, while reinforcing the University’s civilizational vision, social responsibility, and global outlook.