Ancient Vikramshila university to be revived too: Manjhi

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today said the ancient Vikramshila University, famous as a seat of Buddhist learning, would be revived on the lines of Nalanda University.
"We will reinstate the Vikramshila University (VU) to its lost glory. It will be on the lines of Nalanda University," said Manjhi while talking to reporters here.
A committee of experts would be setup to oversee the revival of VU, said the chief minister who was speaking to media persons after reviewing law and order, development works, and implementation of welfare schemes in Bhagalpur division, comprising Bhagalpur and Banka districts.
Vikramshila had once been a globally famous seat of Buddhist learning, and was rated along with Nalanda and Taxila. It was established by King Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty in around late 8th or early 9th century AD.

The university prospered for four centuries before being destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khalji in 1200 AD during the Delhi Sultanate period.
Vikramshila ruins were excavated by archaeologists during the 1960s. According to available information it had over a hundred resident teachers and more than 1,000 students from India and other countries.
Apart from Buddhism related studies, occult sciences, metaphysics, logic and grammar were also taught at the university.
The excavated ruins near Antichak village in Bhagalpur district are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.