After Nalanda, Bihar to revive Vikramshila University

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Friday announced the development of Vikramshila University, an ancient seat of Buddhist learning, on the lines of the revived Nalanda University.

"We will try to develop and revive Vikramshila University on the lines of Nalanda University," Manjhi told media persons during his visit to Bhagalpur, about 150 km from here.

He said: "All possible efforts would be made to revive Vikramshila University like Nalanda University."

Manjhi said that a committee of experts will be set up soon to look into it.

Vikramshila was among the most important centres of Buddhist learning in ancient India but the remains of Vikramshila University located near Antichak village in the Kahalgaon sub-division of Bhagalpur district, about 150 km from Patna, have been sadly neglected for years.

Now, it appears, the ruins of the university would be conserved on the lines of its older counterpart Nalanda.

Vikramshila University was set up by the Pala dynasty (750-1174 A.D) king Dharmapala in the late 8th or early 9th century.

The ancient Vikramshila University was intended to complement the existing world class universities at Nalanda and Takshila. It lasted four centuries before being destroyed during an attack by Bakhtiyar Khilji of the Delhi Sultanate.