Rajgir (Bihar), March 31 The world is becoming "more multi-polar" because there are many more cultures and societies that are making their voices heard, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday, asserting that the Nalanda tradition can be a powerful influence in this "democratisation" of the global order.
In his address at the second convocation ceremony of Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar, he also said, as the country advances towards a Viksit Bharat, "it is essential that India is ready for the world and equally, the world for India".
The university, which aims to revive the ancient glory of the historic Nalanda as an international institution for the pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical, and spiritual studies, was conceived as a collaboration between India and East Asia Summit (EAS) countries.
The historic Nalanda University, whose famed archaeological ruins is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in today's Nalanda district of Bihar.
The campus of the new university, bearing the name of the ancient seat of learning, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 19, 2024.
Jaishankar said each such milestone marks an evolution of an emerging institution and is a cause for celebration in itself, and "It has been my personal good fortune to be associated with this university from the very start".
"Now, having studied in a new university myself in my time, I recognise the significance of the event for this institution's future," the EAM said.
The Union minister emphasised that this "University is unique in its international character", and while that has always had a value, it is even more so in this age of globalisation.
"As we advance towards a Viksit Bharat, it is essential that India is ready for the world and equally, the world for India," he asserted.
This requires coming generations to be "more connected, to be more sensitive" to global developments, Jaishankar said, and suggested that the graduating cohorts can make a difference in this regard.
"International students in particular can promote India in their respective countries when they go back. All of you, I know, have given their best here and I know equally that you are taking a part of India back with you," he added.
Similar to the ancient Nalanda university which then attracted students, the new university too has international students enrolled in it various academic programmes.
The sprawling campus in Rajgir, too is located not far from the ruins of the ancient learning institution that Nalanda was.
"The very term Nalanda evokes memories of India's intellectual heritage and cultural grandeur. A revival of that tradition in this institution is an indicator not just of the rise of India, but of Asia itself. Today, there are intense debates going on about future directions of growth and progress in the world. Much of that understandably centres around technology," Jaishankar said.
"But as the Nalanda spirit reminds us, we should never forget, that there is always the human side", he said.
"The world is becoming more multi-polar because there are many more cultures and many more societies that are making their voices heard. The Nalanda tradition can be a powerful influence in this democratisation of the global order. And also be a reminder that technology and tradition - vikas bhi, virasat bhi - must march hand-in-hand," he said.
The EAM told the graduating cohorts that each one of you receiving a degree today, each one of you contributing to a degree, by being a fellow student or by being a teacher, will have a "justifiable sense of pride".
"I am confident that those graduating, those receiving their degrees today would repay by contributing to Nalanda University's growth in whatever capacity you can, from wherever you will be," he said.