Indian Universities Plan British Outposts.
An article with the above heading has been published in the Times(14 Feb. 2022). Lord Johnson of Marylebone, the former Universities Minister said, ‘ Roll out the red carpet for India’s fabled Universities’. Indian High Commissioner Gaitri Kumar confirmed that talks were ongoing to open Indian Institutes of Technology in the UK. IIT Indian alumni are CEO’s of some of the biggest organisations in the US.
My following comments were published in the Times:
Ancient India was a knowledge powerhouse. The world’s first residential University was built in Nalanda, India in 427CE. Historical sources indicate that the University had a long and illustrious life which lasted almost continually for 800 years from the fifth to the twelfth century CE. It was a residential University believed to have 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students at any one time. Students from many parts of the world came to study there. Amongst the subjects taught were Theology, Grammar, Logic, Astronomy, and Medicine. The great philosopher Chanakya was a student of this university. He was the Guru of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and author of the classic volume, ‘Arthashastra’ a Sanskrit text outlining theories and principles of governing a state. Nalanda was sacked by Bakhtiyar Khilji destroying 9 million manuscripts. It reversed human knowledge for centuries.
Another ancient University was in Takshasila built in the 6th Century. Sixteen branches of learning were taught here presided by specialist professors. It was burnt by a tribe called White Huns who were from the other side of the Chinese Wall.
Another university of repute was called Vallabhi in Western India. It taught vocational courses like making of boats, building houses, veterinary science and agriculture.
India fell into darkness after foreign occupation of 1000 years. Its creativity was destroyed and.
However in 1947 India began a new journey and in the short period of 75 years it is reclaiming its place as a leading nation.
India is now in the cusp of a breakthrough in knowledge that will be of great significance in the coming decades. UK will benefit greatly from the best academic institutions of India.
Nitin Mehta
14/ 2/ 2017
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