The world's oldest recognized university in India
The University at Nalanda name as Takshashila functioned from 500 to 1300 AD until destroyed by invaders?
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For example, the university
had a
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Towering
observatory called the Ambudharaavlehi
for astronomical research.
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It has boasted a
massive library called Dharma Gunj or Mountain of Knowledge that was set up in three buildings named Ratna Sagar, Ratnodavi and Ratnayanjak.
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The entrance
examination was very difficult and the pass rate was 3 out of every 10
students. Despite this hurdle, the Chinese traveler,
Hien Tsang wrote in his diary that 10,000 students and 200 professors were
at Nalanda University.
Taksha (the shortened moniker
for TakshaShila) University was
named after "Taksha’s Cut-Rock (or
"Stele") City" in ancient northern India, the site of the
ancient world's supposed first
international university. It is described as the wealthiest city in India.
The designation "Taksha"
symbolizes the abiding ideals
of solid and deep-rooted respect for teachers, unfettered
freedom of thought, learning of different streams of
knowledge, excellence in education, and extraordinary
discipline that prevailed at the ancient University.
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Takshashila,
flourished from 600 BC to 500 AD, in the kingdom of Gandhar. 68 subjects were taught at this university and the minimum entry age, ancient texts show,
was 16. At one stage, it had 10,500 students including those from Babylon, Greece, Syria, and China.
Experienced masters taught the
vedas, languages, grammar, philosophy,
medicine, surgery, archery, politics, warfare, astronomy, accounts, commerce,
documentation, music, dance and other performing arts, futurology, the occult and
mystical sciences,complex mathematical calculations. The panel of masters
at the university included legendary scholars like Kautilya, Panini, Jivak and Vishnu Sharma. Thus, the concept of a
full-fledged university was developed in India.
Some of the students who graduated out
of the Takshashila university
included the great political master Chanakya (also called Kautilya/Vishnugupta who not only
authored the world’s finest work till today on political duties, statecraft,
economic policies, state intelligence systems, administrative skills and
military strategy, called the Artha Shastra which consists of 15 books, but who also guided
Chandragupta Maurya as a mentor who founded the Great Mauryan Empire, and also
served as the prime minister of the Mauryan Empire!)
Reference
