This thread aims to discuss Indian large-campus university development, in particular the very interesting Vedanta and Nalanda University projects. However, this thread is not just limited in scope to these particular projects.

Also of note is the Odyssey Science City, Anantapur (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=435097), which isn't strictly an educational project, so won't be mentioned here. But it has a thread of its own.

-Jai

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Vedanta University
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Overview of Vedanta University

The Vedanta University, Puri-Konark Orissa, is an incredibly ambitious project planned to be India's first and only world class, multidisciplinary university. It will be a not-for-profit university that aims to compete with universities the caliber of Harvard or Oxford. The goal is several-fold: to develop India's future generations of Leaders, Nobel Laureates, Olympic Champions, Community Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and CEO; to spawn a world-class township; and to create immediate economic benefit to the region.

The university will house several inter-disciplinary centers of excellence and will support approximately 100,000 undergraduate, masters and doctoral students enrolled in 95 disciplines, and employ a 10,000 internationally renowned faculty members , making it Asia's largest university, and one of the largest universities in the world. It will also have a state-of-the-art Olympics Sports Complex, fully equipped to train India's future olympians.

The project aims to attract a student body of the best minds from around the world, making it international in character. It aims to be a world leader of research with cross-disciplinary Centres of Excellence, R&D with private-public partnership to ensure greater application of innovation, and will combat eurocentric academic monopoly with insights on globally relevant topics from an Asia-centric perspective. Eventually, the university foundation hopes that Vedanta University would stem the annual exodus of Indian students seeking higher education abroad, out of which about 80,000 head for the USA alone.

Vedanta University is the brainchild of Indian businessman Anil Agarwal. Needing a total outlay of 150 billion rupees (approximately US $3.2 billion) to set up the university, the foundation has been endowed $1 billion contributed from Mr. Agarwal's personal funds, the largest single person contribution ever made towards the endowment for any educational institution worldwide. The University has recieved full, enthusiastic support from the State, National governments and Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India himself. Currently,


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The Vedanta University Campus

The sprawling Vedanta University campus will follow a Mandala layout, centered around a large body of water. Its idyllic surroundings will include a picturesque lake in its immediate vicinity and rolling hills at a distance. The gentle, flowing waters of the Nuanai river meeting the crashing waves of the Casuarina tree-lined beach at Balighai would complete the scenic backdrop. The well-known ruins of the Sun Temple at Konark would be a few minutes away.

Vedanta University will be developed in several phases until its planned completion in 2025. However, the university is expected to start admitting its first batch of around 3,500 students as early as 2009, into its engineering, liberal arts, and basic science programs. Most academic schools, including those of law and performing arts, as well as a few centers of excellence would be in place by 2016.

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6117/02sl2.jpg
^ The Train Station Plaza, the point of arrival for many visitors to Vedanta University

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8532/03py5.jpg
^ The University Green, the main campus prominade. Tall shade trees and fountains provide relief from the summer heat.

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/4177/04rk7.jpg
^ Great stretches of lawn offer views of state-of-the-art facilities.

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9655/05yh5.jpg
^ Example of an academic building

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/2175/06kz9.jpg
^ Example of an academic building. The landscape and the architecture employ the best elements of Indian design traditions and the latest building technology.

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4215/07gg6.jpg
^ The university green leads to the campus quadrangle gateways.

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/4631/08dt4.jpg
^ The students residences are expressed in lively architecture.

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/3383/09pg6.jpg

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7510/10jk7.jpg
^ At the heart is a large grass courtyard for leisure and recreation.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/2139/11aa1.jpg
^ The learning spaces are just next door, grouped around academic courtyards.

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8692/12yo8.jpg
^ Classrooms lecture halls, offices and laboratories enjoy shaded courts with fountains

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5315/13dl6.jpg
^ The Vedanta Stadium, venue of multi-sport, national competitions is the signature building of the Olympic Class Sports Complex.

The campus layout will be designed by Ayers Saint Gross, a Baltimore based architectural firm. Ayers Saint Gross has 90 years of experience developing some of the best university campuses in the USA such as Duke, Carnegie-Mellon and Johns Hopkins.

Additionally, Mumbai architect Hafeez Contractor, would be hired to impart an Indian touch to the various department and office building architectures.


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The Vedanta University Township

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6968/01ja0.jpg

The Government of Orissa has identified 10,000 acres of land for the campus on a seafront location on Puri-Konark marine drive between Nuanai and Balighai, only an hour away from Orissa's state capital, Bhubaneswar, and minutes from the world famous Sun Temple at Konarak.

With close to 500,000 people living in its premesis, it aims to be an educational hub that will trigger development and provide employment, directly and indirectly, hundreds of thousands of people in the region, thus giving rise to a thriving township.

The township will include primary and secondary schools, apartment complexes and private residences, theaters, cinema, parks and recreation areas, restaurants and shopping complexes. The township will also have allocated land for a research & development park. This park would serve as an incubator for other research laboratories, centers of excellence, and research oriented private companies as Vedanta University spin-offs. It will serve to channel venture capital funds into research and education. The entire area is expected to eventually evolve into a large research-cum-education complex, similar to the economic hub around Stanford with a combined market capitalization of $300 billion.

The Orissa Sate government will provide all necessary support infrastructure for this undertaking. The campus will have connectivity via a swanky new international airport being constructed near Bhubaneswar, connected by means of a four lane expressway under construction. Furthermore, railway stations will be located in the campus and township.


Cheers,
Jai

For latest news:
Official Site (http://www.vedanta.edu.in/)
Vedanta University Blog (http://vedantauniv.blogspot.com/)

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Nalanda University
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The formal plans for Nalanda University haven't been released yet. When it does, I will edit this introductary post accordingly. Till then, here are some articles that give an overview of the project.
An awesome article detailing not only the Maitreya Buddha project, but also the re-establishment of the ancient Nalanda University in Bihar.

Buddhism really is coming back to its motherland, thanks in great part to the Tibetan refugees who have made India their home!

Buddhist bonanza (http://www.expresshospitality.com/20070131/management09.shtml)
Rabindra Seth
www.expresshospitality.com
16-31 January 2007

Two great projects - the world's tallest Buddha at Kushinagar in UP and the revival of Nalanda University in Bihar - are now on the drawing board and are likely to be taken up in 2007. This may give India a tourist draw card as alluring as the Taj Mahal.

The Buddha statue project is the brainchild of Maitreya - an international organisation. Its name is derived from Sanskrit, meaning universal love. The aim, the sponsors say, is not just to build a unique statue but "to benefit as many people as possible for as long as possible". The 152 metre (500 feet) high Buddha in the centre of 750 acres of landscaped environs is designed to last at least a 1,000 years.

Under the throne of the statue will be buildings, housing temples, exhibitions halls, a museum, library, audio-visual theatre and hospitality services. All around will be beautiful parks with meditation pavilions, fountains, tranquil pools and a collection of sacred art, plus a hospital of international standards and educational facilities. (Maitreya is already providing free education to 500 students at Bodhgaya)

Land for the project has been donated by the UP government which, at last count, had already acquired 40 per cent and the process is on for acquiring the rest. Maitreya and the state government have entered into an agreement to create a Special Development Area extending to 7.5 kilometres around the project where healthcare and educational programmes will be implemented.

Maitreya had originally planned the project at Bodhgaya, but the inordinate delays in decision-making in Bihar compelled it to shift it to Kushinagar. A spokesperson for the organisation told this writer that work on the project will hopefully start in 2007 when the acquired land is handed over.

The Nalanda University initiative was taken by the external affairs ministry as part of a move to re-kindle India's ancient links with east and south Asian countries, by reviving Nalanda as a centre for Buddhist learning. On its part the ministry of tourism and culture consulted the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, an autonomous body under it. Later, at meetings at the PMO, four key components were identified for a the Nalanda project - setting up an international centre of learning, developing the area around Nalanda, re-development of Bodhgaya and developing the entire area of Nalanda as a cultural corridor or as a centre of cultural tourism. A consultant from the UN World Tourism Organisation was also invited who recommended that a master plan be prepared.


http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8629/200701313218f8a3awh2.jpg
^ An artist's impression of the Buddha statue at Kushinagar. One of the four holiest Buddhist sites, Kushinagar near Gorakhpur in UP is where the Lord attained Mahaparinirvana. The other three are at Lumbini on the Nepalese side of the Indian border where he was born, Bodhgaya in Bihar where he attained enlightenment, and Sarnath near Varanasi where he delivered his first sermon.


Will tourism follow trade?

An international seminar on Nalanda-Buddhist cultural links was held in Singapore in November this year. It was jointly organised by the East Asian Institute, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences and the Institute of South Asian Studies in National University of Singapore. Sanjay Kothari, the new additional director general at the tourism ministry who represented India says, "the participants agreed that it was important to support the establishment of Nalanda University as well as the restoration of key Buddhist holy sites." They suggested, Kothari adds, "That the re-establishment of Nalanda University could be facilitated by linking up various centres of academic excellence and theological institutes in the region." Discussions on the practical aspects of the project will however, continue.

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8286/20070131311938a36gf1.png
^ We should not forget that it is not only the faithful who wish to visit Buddhist holy sites. There are countless others the world over who are fascinated by Buddha's message of peace. Not all the millions who flock to Bethlehem are Christians.

As was to be expected, the revival of Nalanda University has been welcomed by academics and others, although the tourism fraternity has been slow in its response. Fortuitously, FICCI has organised an international conference on positioning India as a hub for Buddhist tourism in the capital on January 25 slated to be inaugurated by minister for tourism and culture, Ambika Soni. In a message, she says she is confident that the conference will encourage public-private partnership in infrastructure creation, improve connectivity and help in discussion of marketing strategies.

Hopefully, FICCI will arrange a session or two on the Maitreya and Nalanda projects to encourage the travel industry to get associated with them at an early stage. One would also expect marketing experts to refer to the opportunities that can be availed of with the re-opening of the trade route along the ancient Silk Road, linking Tibet with Sikkim through the 14,400-foot Nathu La. The pass was opened in July last year and neither the Sikkim government nor the tourism ministry at the center has said a word whether ‘tourism follows trade’ is on their agenda.

We should not forget that it is not only the faithful who wish to visit Buddhist holy sites. There are countless others the world over who are fascinated by Buddha's message of peace. Not all the millions who flock to Bethlehem are Christians.

(The writer is a freelance journalist. He can be reached at rabseth@yahoo.com)

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Really Old School (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/09/opinion/09garten.html)
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/926/09gartenlargelr5.jpg
Op-Ed Contributor
By JEFFREY E. GARTEN
Published: December 9, 2006

AT a summit meeting of leaders next week in the Philippines, senior officials from India, Singapore, Japan and perhaps other countries are scheduled to discuss the revival of an ancient university in India called Nalanda. It is a topic unlikely to receive much mention in the Western press. But no one should underestimate the potential benefits of this project to Asia, or the influence it could have on Asia’s role in the world, or the revolutionary impact it could make on global higher education.

Americans are used to thinking about the rising powers of Asia — China, India, South Korea and even some of the smaller countries — primarily as formidable economic competitors. In the case of Beijing, we also recognize the potential for superpower political and military status. But there are at least two questions that are key to Asia’s future that we do not generally ask.

First, for all the talk about the rise of Asia in the “knowledge age” that we live in, are these countries ultimately constrained in their potential to be great nations by their lack of top-flight systems of higher education?

And second, is the Asian region any more than a series of nation-states obsessed with guarding their sovereignty — and do they have the ability to interact peacefully and constructively, much as the European Union is trying to do, to pool their individual strengths for the betterment of their region and the world beyond it?

The possibility of rebuilding Nalanda University goes to the heart of both those issues. Founded in 427 in northeastern India, not far from what is today the southern border of Nepal, and surviving until 1197, Nalanda was one of the first great universities in recorded history. It was devoted to Buddhist studies, but it also trained students in fine arts, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, politics and the art of war.

The university was an architectural and environmental masterpiece. It had eight separate compounds, 10 temples, meditation halls, classrooms, lakes and parks. It had a nine-story library where monks meticulously copied books and documents so that individual scholars could have their own collections. It had dormitories for students, perhaps a first for an educational institution, housing 10,000 students in the university’s heyday and providing accommodations for 2,000 professors. Nalanda was also the most global university of its time, attracting pupils and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey.

The university died a slow death about the time that some of the great European universities, including those in Oxford, England, and Bologna, Italy, were just getting started, and more than half a millennium before Harvard or Yale were established. Its demise was a result of waning enthusiasm for Buddhism in India, declining financial support from successive Indian monarchs and corruption among university officials. The final straw was the burning of the buildings by Muslim invaders from what is now Afghanistan.

But Nalanda represents much of what Asia could use today — a great global university that reaches deep into the region’s underlying cultural heritage, restores many of the peaceful links among peoples and cultures that once existed, and gives Asia the kind of soft power of influence and attraction that it doesn’t have now. The West has a long tradition of rediscovering its ancient Greek and Roman roots, and is much stronger for that. Asia could and should do the same, using the Nalanda project as a springboard but creating a modern, future-oriented context for a new university.

At the Asian summit meeting next week, a consortium led by Singapore and including India, Japan and others will discuss raising the $500 million needed to build a new university in the vicinity of the old site and perhaps another $500 million to develop the roads and other infrastructure to make the institution work. The problem is that the key Asian officials are not thinking big enough. There is more talk about making Nalanda a cultural site or a center for philosophy than a first-rate modern university. The financial figures being thrown around are a fraction of the endowments of Harvard, Yale or Columbia today. A bolder vision is in order.

The rebuilt university should strive to be a great intellectual center, as the original Nalanda once was. This will be exceedingly difficult to achieve; even today, Asia’s best universities have a long way to go to be in the top tier. In a recent ranking of universities worldwide, Newsweek included only one Asian institution, the University of Tokyo, in the world’s top 25. In a similar tally by The Times of London, there are only three non-Western universities in the top 25.

The original Nalanda might have been the first to conduct rigorous entrance exams. The old university had world-class professors who did groundbreaking work in mathematical theorems and astronomy. It produced pre-eminent interpreters and translators of religious scriptures in many languages.

The new Nalanda should try to recapture the global connectedness of the old one. All of today’s great institutions of higher learning are straining to become more international in terms of their student body, their professors, their research and their course content. But Asian universities are way behind. A new Nalanda, starting as it will from scratch, could set a benchmark for mixing nationalities and cultures, for injecting energy and direction into global subjects and for developing true international leaders.

In the old days, Nalanda was a Buddhist university, but it was remarkably open to many interpretations of that religion. Today it could perform a vital role consistent with its original ethos — to be an institution devoted to religious reconciliation on a global scale.

Today, Nalanda’s opportunity is to exploit what is lacking in so many institutions of higher education. That includes great medical schools that focus on delivering health care to the poor, law schools that emphasize international law, business schools that focus on the billions of people who live on two dollars a day but who have the potential to become tomorrow’s middle class, and schools that focus intensely on global environmental issues. Can Asia pull this off? Financially, it should be easy. China’s foreign exchange reserves just broke all global records and reached $1 trillion. And Japan’s mountain of cash isn’t that far behind.

But the bigger issue is imagination and willpower. It is not clear that the Asian nations are prepared to unite behind anything concrete except trade agreements, either for their benefit or the world’s. It appears doubtful that with all their economic prowess, and their large armies, they understand that real power also comes from great ideas and from people who generate them, and that truly great universities are some of their strongest potential assets. I would like to be proved wrong in these judgments. How Asia approaches the resurrection of Nalanda will be a good test.


Jeffrey E. Garten, former dean of the Yale School of Management, is a professor of international trade and finance there.

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Updates since the article was written:


Nalanda university to be studied from space (http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=17377)
Scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have been asked to help explore ruins in and around the ancient Nalanda University in Bihar.

P.K. Mishra, the superintending archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Patna circle, said the radar mapping would help to explore the ruins for further excavation.

'A team of scientists from ISRO will visit Nalanda in February for the radar mapping work. We could plan the excavation after the results of the radar mapping,' Mishra said...

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Amartya Sen's help sought for Nalanda varsity (http://www.indiaedunews.net/Bihar/Amartya%5FSen%27s%5Fhelp%5Fsought%5Ffor%5FNalanda%5Fvarsity%5F324/)
Bihar has decided to take help from Nobel laureate Amartya Sen for setting up an international university in Nalanda, a 2,000-year-old seat of learning. "The government will take the help and advice of Sen," Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said.

...Nitish Kumar also said that his government would place a bill in the assembly to set up the proposed university. "The government is ready with the draft," he said.

Japan has shown interest in investing Rs.4.5 billion for the varsity at Nalanda, where ruins of a 2,000-year-old university still stand.

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Nalanda University will be revived: Nitish Kumar (http://www.***************/news2007/jan/011307/nitish_promises_to_revive_nalanda.html)
Patna: January 13, 2007

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while attending a function organized to mark the 140th birth anniversary of Sir Ganesh Dutt at Bhartiya Nritya Kala Mandir in Patna on Saturday, said a new wind was blowing in Bihar where education would once again reach a height that the state once enjoyed during the Buddhist and Mauryan eras.

"People have found a new hope and expectations are running very high for a better academic environment in Bihar," Kumar said.

"The ancient seat of learning Nalanda University will be revived and will be turned into an international hub of knowledge that would restore the pride of all Biharis who, for such a long period, had been living in an academic dark age," the Chief Minister said amidst roar of applause. ...

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A developed Bihar (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/Cities/Patna/India_needs_a_developed_Bihar/articleshow/1324247.cms)
President APJ Abdul Kalam on Friday desired that Bihar should once again become the best-administered state as it had once been and suggested that the political system, irrespective of its party affiliation, should work for the development of the state. ...

The President also did not forget to refer to his dream project, the revival of ancient Nalanda University. "I have visited the ruins of Nalanda University," he said and hoped it would once again become the capital of knowledge to spread the knowledge to entire world.

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Cheers,
Jai

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=35485
Singapore to Help Revive Ancient Indian University
Kalinga Seneviratne

SINGAPORE, Nov 15 (IPS) - With support from Singapore, Japan and other countries interested in Buddhism, India's ancient Nalanda University, dating back to 5th century B.C., may soon be restored to its past glory as a primary seat of learning in Asia.

An ambitious 150 million US-dollar project was unfolded at an international symposium titled ‘Reviving Buddhist Cultural Links', held here this week. Essentially a joint venture between the provincial government of India's eastern Bihar state -- where Nalanda is located -- and the Singapore government, it envisages the participation of several countries with large Buddhist populations, including Sri Lanka, Thailand and China.

Opening the symposium on Monday, Singapore's foreign minister George Yeo said the project was not about the religion but "Buddhist values and philosophy which have become an integral part of East Asian civilisation".

Yeo added that as Asia reemerges on the world stage, Asians could "look back to their own past and derive inspiration from it for the future." Thus he noted, "We should develop Nalanda as an icon of the Asian renaissance, attracting scholars and students from a much wider region as the ancient university once did."

Indian President Abdul Kalam, delivering a keynote address via live multimedia videocast from New Delhi, described the project as a "model for evolving a happy, prosperous and peaceful society in our planet" and helpful in the "evolution of the enlightened citizen." The process, he said, has three components -- education with a value system, religion transforming into spirituality and economic development for societal transformation.

"The mission of unity of minds is indeed gaining momentum from Bihar, the birthplace of ancient Nalanda," observed Kalam.

The symposium was attended by over 200 Asian scholars, government officials and Buddhist monks and nuns from Singapore, India, Thailand, Japan, China and many other countries.

N.K Singh, deputy chairman of the Bihar Planning Board, told the meeting that land for the project has already been allocated near the ancient Nalanda university site, and a bill to establish the university is expected to be passed by the Bihar state assembly in the third week of December. "The government of Bihar is going to put in its own resources... but we also hope to supplement it through an international consortium," Singh said, adding that Japan and Singapore have already expressed interest in funding the project with the latter showing a desire to be the "principle catalyst" in conceptualising the project.

Singh said he expected Singapore to bring together countries in the region to participate in the project and offer its expertise in the management of the university. Responding to concerns raised by some Buddhists that this university may have a secular framework, Singh said the concept of the university would be very broad ranging and "represent what Nalanda was at the time (of its foundation)."

Though already a seat of learning while the Buddha was alive, Nalanda University was founded by Kumaragupta I of the Gupta dynasty during the golden age of classical Indian culture. It came into preeminence as a centre of Buddhist scholarship between 5th and 12th centuries.

Nalanda at the height of its glory, accommodated over 10,000 students from across Asia. The famous Chinese scholar Hsuan Tsang is believed to have spent many years there, lecturing and writing his 3,000 stanza work on the ‘Treatise on the Harmony of Teaching.'

According to historians, Nalanda was key to the spectacular spread of Buddhism during this period to Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia, and Laos. Today it has 400 million followers or approximately half the number of those who practice Christianity and a third of those who practice Islam.

Nalanda was destroyed in the 12th century by Turkish Muslim invaders who burned down the library and the buildings, and killed many of the monks and scholars who could not flee. The site was abandoned.

Speaking at the symposium, Chinese Buddhist scholar Prof. Tan Chung, described Nalanda as "the oldest precursor of Oxford and Cambridge - a fortress of learning''.

According to the Chinese academic, ‘'China would not have been what it became but for the beneficial cultural influence of India." He argued that when the Han Dynasty was on the verge of collapse by the 6th century, it was the Buddhist influence which reunified China under the banner of Sui, whose rulers Emperor Wen and Emperor Yang both proclaimed themselves as the disciples of the Buddha.

Prof. Tan argued that Nalanda offered China a model where great centres of learning based on monasteries and temples could provide commoners lives that throbbed with spirituality and wisdom. "China during pre-Buddhist days could not have such vitality, and learning was the monopoly of a handful of families. The advent of Buddhism made a sea-change and China came alive as a popular land of spiritualism and wisdom. This development co-prospered with the introduction of the all-China Imperial Examinations and the civil service".

Others saw the project as way to get Asian giants India and China closer. In a passionate plea Prof. Wang Dehua, of the Shanghai Municipal Centre for International Studies said: ‘'Let's forget about the 1962 incident (India-China war). This project will symbolise the rebuilding of our old friendship and understanding. In the future we will be able to reach the dream of an Asian community with a project like this.''

Prof Tavivat Pantarigvivat of Thailand's Mahidol University, suggested that Nalanda should be established with the clear idea of a world religious university with a Buddhist focus, "to propagate compassion towards other religions". She offered Thailand's expertise in running such Buddhist universities in the development of the project.

With India emerging in the 21st century and becoming a knowledge-based society, "reviving Nalanda symbolizes the hopes and aspirations of South and East Asians that the civilisations of Asia will rise again based on knowledge and cooperation,'' observed Balaji Sadasivan, Singapore's junior minister for foreign affairs. (END/2006)

more on Nalanda University ...

http://bstdc.bih.nic.in/Nalanda.htm

http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebdha240.htm

http://www.bharatguru.com/Newbuzz/Travel/nal.htm

http://www.culturalindia.net/monuments/nalanda.html

http://www.wb-university.org/?do=shownews&banid=1&newid=166

http://www.ayurveda-california.com/Buddhist_ayurveda_monastic_college_Nalanda.htm

Great news - if only Taxila could be revived...

it will require huge investments from the gov't also.

Moreover, Taxila is in Afghanistan. Turht to be told, reiving it will do wonders for the Afghan economy and education sector. However, I'm not sure if a Hindu-Buddhist university will fly in an Islamic country like Afghanistan.

current leadership in Afghan isn't Islamic but yet i don't think it will go well with the ppl in general. anyway, one thing at a time and first let's take care of Nalanda.

I thought it was in Pakistan near Islamabad.

It's somewhere around the Afghan-Pakistan border.

@pding: The current Afghan government is much more moderate than the previous one (duh! The old one was a major human rights violator and thus didn't have any right to existence under international law), but it's still an Islamic country. The president must be a Muslim according to their constitution, and apostacy from Islam is still a capital crime (but they don't have hijab laws as far as I'm aware).

actually, there is one interesting aspect about current Afghan gov't. it's president Hamid Karzai was educated in Himachal Pradesh University (if i'm not wrong, but def in HP. not sure which university).

Himachal University in Shimla to be precise

He's also reportedly quite fluent in Hindi and Urdu because he studied in HP. Last but not least, Afghanistan's new government buildings are being built by, of all aid-giving governments, India.

Afghanistan is more pro-India than many people think. Hopefully one day they will rise again to become the prosperous land they once were, without interference from any other outsider, inshallah.

That whole area has deep historical ties with the ancient Hindu/Buddhist civilizations, the time when the university flourished.

on a sidenote, here is an interesting link from wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Universities_of_India

http://www.buddhist-pilgrimage.com/nagarjuna-konda.html
NAGARJUNA KONDA
The island takes its name from the Buddhist monk, Nagarjuna, who lived around the turn of the 2nd century AD. Excavations carried out in its this valley have unearthed the Maha Chaitya, Viharas and Monasteries. Nagarjunakonda is 150 kms. from Hyderabad, the state capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Named after acharya Nagarjuna, a Buddhist Scholar, Nagarjuna Konda is a burning feat of both engineering and ancient Buddhist architecture. The site is a remake of another original, to save it from submersion, under the Nagarjuna Sagar dam. While the dam is one of the largest, the site also presents some of the most antique items of Buddhism. More than that it represents a lost civilization, rich and excellent, thousand years ago, in the same place where Nagarjuna Sagar dam is now situated. The excavations led to the findings of ruins of a university, some statues of Buddha, relics and other pieces of Buddhist origin. The museum at Nagarjuna konda houses all these precious findings which, are considered priceless, in terms of Buddhist sentiments and, not to forget, for the rest of the artistic people too.

sLIDE SHOW:
http://ignca.nic.in/asp/showbig.asp?projid=ac08

The Historic items of the items found while constructing the nagarjuna sagar have been put in the exhibition. This hill contains some ancient scluptures of Gautam Buddha and the model of univeristy etc are placed there. Can go by Small launch and good time to visit this site is during monsoon when the dam is filled and can have a great look when the gates of dam are opened.I ti really tragedy to see that once a great palce of learning is only now has water and no learning place.
http://wikimapia.org/415524/

It looks like AP might need one of these revival universities too. They need it, for they have South India's worst education indicators (literacy rate etc.) despite their IT prowess, as stated many times on this forum.

An older article, but one that explains much more about Vedanta University

Vedanta University to rewrite history of academia (http://www.intentblog.com/archives/2006/10/vedanata_univer.html)
DK Matai - October 15, 2006

One of the hot subjects discussed at the peripheries of The Evian Group conference in Montreux, Switzerland, was Vedanta University. Vedanta University's motto is to "Rewrite the history of academia." The university, which is a "not-for-profit" venture, is being endowed with USD 1 billion from Anil Agarwal's personal funds.

A few months back, Anil Agarwal, an Indian businessman, who heads the London based Vedanta Resources corporation and Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Orissa state in eastern India, signed a memorandum of understanding to create India's first and only world class, multidisciplinary university, Vedanta University.

According to the institution's consultant A T Kearney, this is the biggest single person contribution ever made towards the endowment for any educational institution worldwide. The entire outlay to set up the dream university is estimated to be around 150 billion rupees (approximately USD 3 billion). M Siddiqi is the present Project Director of Vedanta University. Other senior administrative officials are currently being recruited internationally.


The three goals of Vedanta University are:

1. Education: To provide meritorious Indian students access to world class education within India

2. Research: To conduct cutting edge research on globally relevant topics from an Asian-centric perspective

3. Society: To produce tomorrow's leaders, and to promote economic growth in the region.


Academics & Research

According to the Anil Agarwal Foundation, Vedanta University will be modeled most closely on Stanford and Harvard universities and aims to be a peer institution to them in terms of world class research and education. Unlike other smaller prominent institutions in India which are focussed entirely on technical education, the planned university would be multidisciplinary in nature, encompassing all domains of human endeavour. It will provide the "finest quality of education" in liberal arts, law, medicine, business, humanities, basic sciences and engineering. The university will house several interdisciplinary centres of excellence in areas such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology. It will support approximately 100,000 undergraduate, masters and doctoral students enrolled in 95 disciplines, and employ a few thousand internationally renowned faculty members, making it one of the largest universities in the world. Vedanta University will have a roughly equal mix of Indian and foreign students.

The university will be governed by a board of trustees drawn from industry and society. It will be headed by a president and a provost. The various schools and colleges within Vedanta University will be led by a few deans who would be recruited locally within India as well as internationally. In order to stimulate cutting-edge research, each center of excellence will include five to eight professors of international caliber. The government of Orissa will pass legislation specifically to provide complete administrative and fiscal autonomy to the new university.

Vedanta University will be developed in several phases until its planned completion in 2025. However, the university is expected to start admitting its first batch of students as early as 2008, into its engineering, liberal arts, and basic science programs. Most academic schools, including those of law and performing arts, as well as a few centres of excellence would be in place by 2016. Eventually, the Anil Agrawal foundation hopes that Vedanta University would stem the annual exodus of Indian students seeking higher education abroad, out of which about 80,000 head for the USA alone.

As part of Agarwal's vision, Vedanta University would nurture future Nobel laureates, Olympic champions and heads of states and governments for India and the world.


Campus & Township

Keeping in view a variety of factors based on Agrawal's desire, such as a scenic location, proximity to a major city, and accessibility, the government of Orissa has identified 10,000 acres (40 km²) of land near the Puri-Konark marine drive between Nuanai and Balighai for the proposed Vedanta University. It has undertaken the task of connecting the site of the university to the swanky new international airport being constructed near Bhubaneswar, 70 km away, by means of an expressway. Furthermore, a railway station will be located in the campus. The Orissa government will also provide all necessary infrastructure to support this massive undertaking. The area would be developed into a university township with a permanent population of 40,000 in addition to the large body of students. The township would include primary and secondary schools, apartment complexes and private residences, theaters, cinema, parks and recreation areas, restaurants and shopping complexes.

The township will also allocate land for a research & development park. This park would serve as an incubator for other research laboratories, centers of excellence, and research oriented private companies as Vedanta University spin-offs. It will serve to channelize venture capital funds into research and education. The entire area is expected to eventually evolve into a large research-cum-education complex, similar to the economic hub around Stanford with a combined market capitalization of USD 300 billion, only an hour away from Orissa's state capital, Bhubaneswar.

Recent newspaper articles report that the campus layout will be designed by Ayers Saint Gross, a Baltimore based architectural firm. Ayers Saint Gross has 90 years of experience developing some of the best university campuses in the USA such as Duke, Carnegie-Mellon and Johns Hopkins. Additionally, Mumbai architect Hafeez Contractor, would be hired to impart an Indian touch to the various department and office building architectures. The railway station is planned to be built in an area within the campus that will be called the Train Station Plaza. It will be at one end of what will be called the University Greens - the main university promenade. The palm tree laced University Greens will lead to the University Quadrangle area. Classroom buildings will be centered around stylish lawns called Academic Courtyards. The entire campus would be dotted with fountains, both small and large. There will be an Olympic quality sports complex on campus, the Vedanta Stadium.

The sprawling Vedanta University campus will follow a Mandala layout, centered around a large body of water. Its idyllic surroundings will include a picturesque lake in its immediate vicinity and rolling hills at a distance. The gentle, flowing waters of the Nuanai river meeting the crashing waves of the Casuarina tree-lined beach at Balighai would complete the scenic backdrop. The well-known ruins of the Sun Temple at Konark would be a few minutes away.

Vedanta University would provide immediate benefits to eastern India. It would create enormous opportunities and usher in a knowledge revolution in a state that has hitherto been denied any educational or research institution of national importance by the Indian government in New Delhi.

Great news!

A couple days after the Indian Government denied plans to revive Nalanda University (http://www.indiaedunews.net/Delhi/No%5Fplan%5Fto%5Frevive%5FNalanda%5FUniversity%5F622/) (or more precisely, denied plans that excavated remains of ancient Nalanda would serve as the future university), the Bihar state government affirmed plans!:

Plans being formalised for international university at Nalanda (http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/b8de8e630faf3631/id/235046/cs/1/)
Malaysia Sun
Sunday 18th March, 2007
(IANS)

The long-awaited dream of setting up an international university at Nalanda, the famous Buddhist centre of learning in Bihar, is about to come true.

The detailed project report (DPR) is ready, land acquisition is going on and a bill on the university will be tabled in the ongoing budget session of the Bihar assembly.

The proposed university will be fully residential like the ancient Nalanda seat of learning. In the first phase it will have seven different schools with 46 foreign faculty members and over 400 Indian academics, states the final DPR, which was submitted to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in February.

The university will impart courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with other subjects. An internationally known scholar will be the chancellor of the university.

Bihar Human Resources Development Commissioner M. Jha said the idea of the university was first mooted in the late 1990s but it was President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's initiative in early 2006 that gave shape to the project.

The excavated remains at Nalanda are protected as a site of national importance. The university, a 5th century architectural marvel, was home to over 10,000 students and nearly 2,000 teachers.

Nalanda is the Sanskrit name for 'giver of knowledge'. Nalanda University, which existed until 1197 AD, attracted students and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey, besides being a pedestal of higher education in India.

Though it was devoted to Buddhist studies, it also trained students in subjects like fine arts, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, politics and the art of war.

The DPR states that in its first phase the university will offer only post-graduate, research, doctoral and post-doctoral degrees. However, the DPR is also in favour of offering undergraduate courses in specific areas.

Some 1,137 students from both India and abroad will be enrolled in the first year. By the fifth year the number will go up to 4,530. In the second phase, the enrolment of students will increase to 5,812.

The university on a sprawling 500 acre campus will have a 1:10 faculty-student ratio. The 46 international faculty members will receive an estimated $36,000 per annum as salaries.

The Bihar government plans to take the advice of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen for setting up the university.

Japan and Singapore have shown interest in investing about Rs.4.5 billion (about $100 million) for the varsity.

The state cabinet approved the University of Nalanda Bill, 2007, Friday. The bill will be introduced in the state assembly next week. The draft of the bill stated that the international university would strive to create a world free of war, terror and violence.

Educational Consultants of India, a consulting company under the union ministry of human resource development, has prepared the DPR of the International Nalanda University. 'The government has received a DPR of the university and will hand it over to the Overseas Development Agency (ODA) of Japan for developing it,' officials told IANS.

Jha said the chief minister was taking keen interest in completing the project.


-----==--=--==-----

Furthermore, Vedanta University's webpage (http://www.vedanta.edu.in/) has undergone a small update, including a small photo of the proposed site:
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/5091/01ki3.jpg


-----==--=--==-----

-Jai

good. if the centre has no balls, or more appropriately no initiative, to revive such cultural centres, then states govts and enterpreneurs should take over....We desperately need a Harvard type university in India and hopefully Nalanda will regain its ancient glory to unprecedented levels.

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/1057/image2fi4.jpg (http://www.vedanta.edu.in/)
The Vedanta University webpage (http://www.vedanta.edu.in/) has been updated with a lot of new content!
http://www.vedanta.edu.in (http://www.vedanta.edu.in/)

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/9105/35358141sz7.jpg
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8005/97152189tf5.jpg
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9681/18929118hn9.jpg
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5981/44358429fe0.jpg

Campus
Vedanta University will be built from scratch on 8,000 acres near the Puri-Konark marine drive between Nuanai and Balighai. The University will be connected by a dedicated railway station and an expressway directly to the new Bhubaneshwar International Airport.

Actual image of location, with phase one plan overlay:
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/4294/plan157ac7d1ix8.jpg


The campus will be developed in a phased manner to nurture a vibrant university township with a population of more than 500,000. The master plan is being developed by a specialized firm and global leader in campus planning, US-based Ayers Saint Gross. The development of the University and township will engage local and international architects in creating unparalleled infrastructure. The township will give rise to schools, recreational facilities, residential areas, commercial activities, parks, cultural institutions, and a research park. The interaction between the University, the research park and business incubator will lead to an interdependent and economically generative research and education complex.

The campus will also include a developed central water body, Olympic caliber sports facilities, and support infrastructure to nurture a growing community around the University complex.

Location
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7726/sat257d2643mv1.jpg
Vedanta University will have a total area of 8,000 acres near the Puri-Konark marine drive between Nuanai and Balighai. The University will be connected by a dedicated railway station and an expressway directly to the new Bhubaneshwar International Airport, and is located in close proximity to the temples of lord Jagannath. The location is several kilometers inland, separated from the ocean by protected forest reserves.

Mastuer Plan Phase One
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/2297/sat157aa17cpk9.jpg
The campus will be developed in a phased manner to nurture a vibrant university township with a growing population of more than 500,000. The Vedanta University master plan is being developed by a specialized firm and global leader in campus planning, US-based Ayers Saint Gross. ASG has several decades of experience focused solely on higher education facilities, including some of the world's most respected campuses. The development of the University and township will engage local and international architects in creating world-class infrastructure. The township will give rise to schools, recreational facilities, residential areas, commercial activities, parks, cultural institutions, and a research park. The interaction between the University, the research park and a business incubator will lead to an interdependent and economically generative research and education complex.

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8695/plan257ad118tp2.jpg

Cheers,
Jai

Nalanda International University: A Great Initiative (http://www.***************/readerswrite/2007/mar/b_bikramaditya5.html)
y Bibhuti Bikramaditya
Daejeon, S Korea

March. 27, 2007
Readers Write

At last, Bihar government presented a Bill for the revival of Nalanda International University at Nalanda. We all should appreciate and give congratulations to the present government with a thumping desk to start the process of the revival of this International University which was known for the ancient seat of learning till 1197 AD. This university attracted 10,000 students and 2,000 scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey, besides being a pedestal of higher education in India and produced great scientists in the past, Aryabhatt was one of them who came to Bihar at the age of 13 from Kerala (some people says he was born nearby Patna) and become Vice chancellor of the University. Though it was devoted to Buddhist studies, the varsity also trained students in subjects like fine arts, medicine and mathematics.

In the post independent era, talks were going on for the revival of this university and the demand was started in early 1990s but it took serious turn when our the President of India, Dr. Abul Kalam suggested to revive this university while addressing the both houses of Bihar Assembly. This gave impetus to this process and become an eye opener for Bihar government. Hats off to our beloved President of India. He deserves appreciation for this great initiative.

As per the reports, Japan and Singapore have shown interest in investing about Rs.4.5 billion ($100 million) in the university. Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has offered to donate Buddhist artifacts to the proposed university.

A high-level international team of consultants is going to be formed for the establishment of the International University. In the initial phase, Nobel laureate Prof Amartya Sen and British Economist Professor in London School of Economics & member of the House of Lords, Lord Meghnad Desai have agreed to be part of an international group of consultants. The state government is also in the process of roping experts from Singapore and Japan and other countries for the revival of this unique university.

The report states that in its first phase, the university will offer only post-graduate, research, doctoral and post-doctoral degrees. However, the report - prepared by the Educational Consultants of India, a consulting company under the union ministry of human resource development - is also in favor of offering undergraduate courses in specific areas.

The university will impart courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with other subjects. An internationally known scholar will be the chancellor of the university and 1,137 students from both India and abroad will be enrolled in the first year. By the fifth year, the number will go up to 4,530 and in the second phase, student enrolment will increase to 5,812.

The university, spread over a 500 acres, will have a 1:10 faculty-student ratio. The 46 international faculty members will receive an estimated $36,000 per annum as salaries.

The University of Nalanda Bill, 2007, states that the international university would strive to create a world free of war, terror and violence.

According to Chief Minister Sri Nitish Kumar, "This (bill), which is not only for Bihar or even India, will act as a facilitator for what will emerge as a centre for renaissance of the east. He strongly feels that the university will become a reference point for international relations and a centre for peace and resolution of disputes.

We do hope this University will be the center of excellence, will gather students from all over the world in all areas of life sciences and physical sciences including arts, culture and spiritualism which is the backbone of India.

------==--=--==-----

200 villages around Nalanda varsity to be developed (http://www.indiaedunews.net/Bihar/200%5Fvillages%5Faround%5FNalanda%5Fvarsity%5Fto%5Fbe%5Fdeveloped%5F716/)
March 28, 2007

Patna: Two hundred villages around a proposed international varsity at Nalanda will be developed in Bihar.

A day after the Bihar assembly unanimously approved the University of Nalanda Bill for setting up an international university, the villages around the proposed site are hopeful that the university will establish linkages with them that will result in their economic development.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, in an assembly speech earlier, said the government planned to develop 200 villages around the Nalanda University - the famous Buddhist centre of learning - like in the days of yore.

"At least 200 villages used to be attached to the ancient Nalanda University. We plan the same for the proposed university, to create a near-original ambience and to benefit the local population," he said.

The chief minister had requested the Patna-based K.P. Jaiswal Institute to start identifying villages that used to be attached to the ancient university. All the basic amenities, including, schools, roads, safe drinking water and electricity, will be provided in these villages and job opportunities will also be created for the villagers.

...

"This (bill), which is not only for Bihar or even India, will act as a facilitator for what will emerge as a centre for renaissance of the east. I strongly feel that the university will become a reference point for international relations and a centre for peace and resolution of disputes," he said.

[...]

The excavated remains at Nalanda are protected as a site of national importance. The university, a fifth century architectural marvel, was home to over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers.

Nalanda is the Sanskrit name for "giver of knowledge". The Nalanda University, which existed until 1,197 AD, attracted students and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey, besides being a pedestal of higher education in India.

Though it was devoted to Buddhist studies, the varsity also trained students in subjects like fine arts, medicine and mathematics. (IANS)

those graphic layouts seem awesome...I honestly hope the lost glory of this city is restored. the plan seems really encouraging....hopefully something solid starts under Nitish Kumar's regime itself.

i think i mixed up between Vendanta and Nalanda!

Ayers Saint Gross, which specializes in architecture for college campuses, has performed planning work for universities including University of Virginia, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Emory and Carnegie Mellon



Vedanta has got a nice architect to do the disigning..I have been to CMU and JHU...they are awesome campuses...and Stanford is supposed to be one of the best campuses.

Tenders

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/6592/eoi1wq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Those are some great proposals - I wonder if they will one day be mentioned alongside Oxford, Cambridge, etc?

Nalanda University tipped to be World Heritage site (http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=Nalanda+University+tipped+to+be+World+Heritage+site&id=16258)
IANS[Friday, April 20, 2007 15:06]
PATNA : The architectural remains of the ancient Nalanda University are all set to become the second World Heritage site in Bihar after the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya.

P.K. Mishra, a superintending archaeologist with the Patna Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Thursday said India has approached Unesco (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to turn Nalanda university, 100 km from here, into a World Heritage site.

The fifth century architectural marvel, which was home to over 10,000 students and nearly 2,000 teachers, are protected as a site of national importance.

"The ASI and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) have taken the Nalanda case to Unesco for World Heritage status for its preservation," Mishra said.

The Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya, 110 km from here, where Buddha attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago, was declared a world heritage site by Unesco in 2003.

The university of Nalanda - Sanskrit for 'giver of knowledge' - existed until 1197 AD, and attracted students and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey, besides being a pedestal of higher education in India.

Though it was devoted to Buddhist studies, the ancient varsity also trained students in subjects like fine arts, medicine and mathematics.

Vedanta to establish 1000-bed hospital in Orissa (http://www.kalingatimes.com/orissa_news/news/20070417_Vedanta_hospital_in_Orissa.htm)
KalingaTimes Correspondent

Bhubaneswar: In an attempt aimed at containing people's opposition to its proposed world class university project near Puri, Anil Agarwal Foundation has announced to set up a 1000-bed hospital in the first phase of the ambitious project.

The Foundation has already started the process for acquiring 8,000 acres of land alongside the Puri-Konark marine drive for the proposed Vedanta University that will be a world class, multi-disciplinary university with students from across India and around the world.

The Foundation, promoted by Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Orissa Government in July last year to establish the university with a total investment of Rs 15,000 crore.

Agarwal, who met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here on Monday, said that the proposal to set up a super-specialty hospital had been given by Patnaik himself.

The hospital, which will be a part of the Vedanta University, will have research and treatment facilities for cancer, heart diseases and diabetic.

As regards the delay in land acquisition for the varsity project, Agarwal expressed hope that the process would be completed as per the government procedures.

Agarwal and Patnaik also discussed about the commissioning of the alumina refinery being promoted by Vedanta Alumina at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district and the progress on its alumina smelter and captive power plant in Jharsuguda district.

The Sterlite Iron and Steel Company, another company owned by the Vedanta Group, had also signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a steel plant in Keonjhar district. However, there has not been much progress on the project so far.

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/4294/plan157ac7d1ix8.jpg

dont know if anyone noticed this earlier but this plan resembles a coronal section of the brain.....( i guess it was intentional)!!!!!:)

dont know if anyone noticed this earlier but this plan resembles a coronal section section of the brain.....( i guess it it was intentional)!!!!!:)
That's the first thing I thought of.

Here's the proposed location of Vedanta university on Google satellite map (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=13&ll=19.842128,85.893345&spn=0.118842,0.181274&t=k&om=1) if anyone is interested.

India, Japan set up mentors group to revive Nalanda varsity (http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=371363&sid=NAT)
New Delhi, May 15: Taking a significant step toward cementing cultural ties, India and Japan yesterday set up a "mentors group" to revive the glorious past of Nalanda University, the centre of Buddhist learning.

The mentors group will comprise leading academicians from the international fora who will work towards restoring its standing as an institute of excellence.

"We know Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that he wanted Nalanda University to become an institution of excellence," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters while briefing on a meeting between Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon yesterday.

The two sides also agreed to promote people-to-people contact in terms of students' exchange between the two countries.

In a joint statement issued during Singh's Japan visit in December last year, the two sides had agreed to "explore the idea of re-development of Nalanda as a major centre of learning with the establishment of an international university on the basis of regional cooperation."

The two sides recalled "the important role of Nalanda in the ancient period as a leading international university" contributing to Buddhist and secular studies.

Japan, primarily a Buddhist nation, is a major investor in development of infrastructure at Buddhist sites in India - which include Ajanta and Elora caves and Nalanda University - with more than 3.7 million dollars at stake.

Some initial rendreings of the first phase of Vedanta University Campus, from ASG Architects (http://www.asg-architects.com/story/clients/otb/campusPlanning/cp_vedanta.htm):
Ayers/Saint/Gross has been selected as the Lead Campus Master Planner and Architect for Vedanta University, envisioned to be a world-class, multi-discipline university in India. This project will entail the design and development of a state-of-the art education and research institute that will rank among the highest caliber schools internationally - at the level of Harvard, Stanford and Oxford.

This new University will be built around several colleges and ‘Centers of Excellence’ for cross-disciplinary research. The colleges will include Graduate, Post-Graduate, and Doctoral programs in various disciplines. It is aimed to have a globally diversified, high-quality student body, comprising an equal mix of Indian and international students – serving over 100,000 students in the long-term. The campus will house state-of-the-art facilities including a global resource library, research and development parks, student and faculty residences, and an Olympic caliber sports complex. The vision also includes the development of a University township that will evolve with the University and drive local development in the region as an education and research satellite city.
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/616/cpvedanta8faa5acgy9.jpg

From this month's Construction World magazine.

Vedanta University to have Medical College Hospital in Phase I
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9389/image2gu3.jpg

Ya know how we were talking about Taxila earlier?

Well, might as well just build it elsewhere like these - Punjab or Kashmir.

Vedanta, Nalanda, Taxila, Vikramasila and other ones should be re-opened:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Universities_of_India

Any successfull civilization is built on its unis.

Japan keen to fund Nalanda varsity (http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/June/subcontinent_June519.xml&section=subcontinent&col=r)
13 June 2007 (IANS)

PATNA —Japan's Consulate General to India Noro Motoyasu said on Monday that his country would provide funds for the setting up an international university in Nalanda to strengthen its cultural bond with Bihar.

“The people of Japan were keen for close cultural relation with Bihar as it was the land of Buddha and Buddhism,” he said. Japan had earlier shown eagerness to invest Rs4.5 billion in setting up a university in Nalanda. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen will head a panel that will oversee the establishment of the international university in "Nalanda and its first meeting will be held in Singapore in July. The proposed university will be fully residential, like the ancient seat of learning at Nalanda. In the first phase of the project, seven schools with 46 foreign faculty members and over 400 Indian academics would be established.

Crumbling Nalanda will shine again
Ancient seat of learning was shut over 800 years ago. Rs 1,000-crore plan will give it a fresh lease of life

TOI Epaper, 17 Jun 07

Amitava Sanyal
New Delhi

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7186/17062007001016009c05c43db3.jpg

NALANDA, ONE of the world's oldest universities, is being revived by the Bihar government. The state has acquired the land required for the Rs 1,000-crore project and the university could have functioning schools as early as next year, over 800 years after a marauding invader, Bakhtiar Khilji, destroyed it.

Though it taught science, mathematics and logic, ancient Nalanda's pre-eminence in Buddhist studies has got the governments of Japan, China and Singapore interested in the project. "The university would not belong to Bihar, it would belong to the world," Dr Madan Jha, Bihar's principal secretary (education), told HT.

Among the seven schools planned in the five-year first phase - it will have 4,530 students and 453 faculty members at the end of it - would be those that offer integrated post-graduate and research programmes in informatics, developmental studies and applied sciences.

President APJ Abdul Kalam played guardian angel when, 16 months ago, he listed Nalanda's reconstruction as one of Bihar's 10 priorities. Since then, apart from buying the 500 acres required, the Nitish Kumar government has enacted the legislation necessary for setting up the university .

According to the project report by Educational Consultants India, the international character of the university would part ly flow from the 46 faculty members hired from abroad (there would be 582 faculty members at the end of the 10-year project). The plan for the university buildings, too, would be open to international bidding.

The way ahead is to be decided by a ‘mentor group' chaired by Professor Amartya Sen, the Nobel laureate. The first meeting of the group - which would include Harvard historian Sugata Bose, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeoh and scholars from Japan and China - is scheduled in Singapore in July. It would later meet in Tokyo, Beijing and India before submitting its recommendations by the year-end.
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7676/17062007001016bfea4fps4.th.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=17062007001016bfea4fps4.jpg)

found a render of the Vedanta University from World Architecture news (http://worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=1137)

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5453/1137aerial20copyuy5.jpg

After Nalanda, Aryabhatta University In Bihar (http://newspostindia.com/report-6259)
Friday 06th of July 2007

After initiating a move to set up an international university in Nalanda, the Bihar government has drawn up a blueprint for setting up a professional university here.

The proposed Aryabhatta University, an autonomous body, will grant affiliation to government and private technical institutes in Bihar and act as a regulatory body for maintaining standards in these institutes.

Medical colleges of the state will also be brought under the jurisdiction of this university.

The state government plans to get the nod of the cabinet soon in this regard after which the bill for the proposed university is expected to be passed in the next session of the legislature this month.

'The prime objective of setting up the university is to develop professional education in response to the changing demands of the competitive world,' officials said.

Once the university comes into existence, it will act as a single-window clearance system for maintaining a uniform policy as far as technical educational institutes in the state are concerned, they said.

Meanwhile, the work to start an international university in Nalanda has already been started by the Bihar government.

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen will head a panel that will oversee the establishment of the university and its first meeting will be held in Singapore this month.

The proposed university will be fully residential, like the ancient seat of learning in Nalanda, which was once home to over 10,000 students and nearly 2,000 teachers. In the first phase of the project, seven schools with 46 foreign faculty members and over 400 Indian academics will be established.

The university will impart courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with other subjects. A renowned international scholar will be its chancellor.

The idea of the university was first mooted in the late 1990s, but it was President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who gave shape to the initiative in early 2006.

It would interesting to see the final architecture.
How will they give "Indian touch" to such concrete blocks.

Is this British architecture.

Oh wait ..Aryans came from Eurore.
Vendanta is from Aryans right.


From this month's Construction World magazine.

Vedanta University to have Medical College Hospital in Phase I
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9389/image2gu3.jpg

upendora: you gotta think for a second if what you're saying is actually necessary? or is it just sensational?

Is this British architecture.

Oh wait ..Aryans came from Eurore.
Vendanta is from Aryans right.

Aryans, British architecture, Vedanta, 'Eurore'...dude, do you even realise that you aren't making any sense? Huh?

An advert placed by Vedanta -

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3783/vedantaunivorissaadvtii2.jpg

Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedanta_University)

Nice - unis are on a roll.

Is this British architecture.

Oh wait ..Aryans came from Eurore.
Vendanta is from Aryans right.

So is the logic here that as both the Brits & the Aryans came from Europe, that The Brits invented vedanta? As displayed by the use of Brit influeneced architecture on campus?
Now i like that.
We came , we conquered, & in passing invented eastern philosophy.
How kool is that...?

Hahaha.
We Indians are such dumbos.

I am amazed that others fail see perfect European architecture.
How can they realize that some private individual is cashing on their nationalistic sentiments. There is no talk of study of ayurveda or scriptures yet, but a super-speciality hospital.


So is the logic here that as both the Brits & the Aryans came from Europe, that The Brits invented vedanta? As displayed by the use of Brit influeneced architecture on campus?
Now i like that.
We came , we conquered, & in passing invented eastern philosophy.
How kool is that...?

Hahaha.
We Indians are such dumbos.

Speak for yourself.

I am amazed that others fail see perfect European architecture.
How can they realize that some private individual is cashing on their nationalistic sentiments. There is no talk of study of ayurveda or scriptures yet, but a super-speciality hospital.

That doesn't mean that every single university/educational institution, either being revived or built on ancient lines today, need implement the same disciplines and/or follow the exact same course structure in it's curriculum. There ain't no thumb-rule that states that such universities must include courses on ayurveda and scriptures or for that matter any other discipline in particular.

Although I would love to see buildings being built in India in general sport a rather distinctive ancient look, I don't mind these modern so called western (European, American who cares) architectural works either. And anyway geometrical shapes, nature forms (plant & animal) or imaginative abstract models aren't specific to any region/country/continent.

I like the renderings I have seen so far of 'Vedanta' and I'm sure that the design will go through numerous changes before the commencement of construction, for the better. A debate on curriculum choices and details, we can leave for later.


PS: What's so bad about having a super-speciality hospital on campus?

why is this thread called "resurrection"
I will come back when something is being resurrected.

why is this thread called "resurrection"
I will come back when something is being resurrected.
Then in that case, I guess I'll not be seeing you until 2010.

all this is way beyond me...
Possibly some judiciuos use of commas in upendoras post might make his sarcasm clearer to those of us without the nouse to get it?

Yeah, well anyway



Nalanda Mentor Group holds inaugural meeting in Singapore (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/287845/1/.html)
By Gamar Abdul Aziz, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 13 July 2007 0004 hrs

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5030/phpzrlxgrfh8.jpg
Foreign Minister George Yeo

SINGAPORE: The Nalanda Mentor Group is holding its inaugural meeting in Singapore from Friday until Sunday (13 to 15 July).

The group is established by the Indian government and is chaired by Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen.

It will discuss international cooperation, governance structure and funding for Nalanda University.

Group members, who include Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, will visit the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM).

ACM will host the Nalanda Exhibition on Buddhism in Asia in conjunction with the East Asia Summit in November.

The revival of the ancient Nalanda University in the Indian state of Bihar was raised by Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam during his state visit to Singapore last January.

Following his visit, Singapore hosted the Nalanda Symposium in November 2006.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced at the East Asia Summit in Cebu in January 2007 that India intended to redevelop Nalanda University as a centre for learning and inter-faith dialogue.

He also said India welcomed cooperation from member countries of the East Asia Summit.

The Nalanda Mentor Group members comprise:
George Yeo, Foreign Affairs Minister
Ikuo Hirayama, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Professor Wang Bangwei, Peking University
Professor Sugata Bose, Harvard University
Lord Meghnad Desai, Professor Emeritus, London School of Economics
NK Singh, Deputy Chairman of the Bihar Planning Commission
Professor Tansen Sen, City University of New York and
Neelakantan Ravi, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs of India.

Alternate members are:
Professor Wang Gungwu, Chairman, East Asian Institute, Singapore and Susumu Nakanishi, Director, Nara Prefecture Complex of Man'yo Culture, Japan. - CNA/yy

The Chronicle of Higher Education has two feature article on Vedanta University (subscription only), For Planners, the Opportunity of a Lifetime (http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i45/45a02602.htm) and In Rural India, an Ambitious Academic Vision (http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i45/45a02601.htm), as well as some some exclusive pictures and information on the project:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6425/01vr9.jpg
^ The site selected for Vedanta University is in a rural area in the state of Orissa, near the Bay of Bengal.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4700/02mc3.jpg
^ The university and related facilities would occupy more than 7,500 acres at the confluence of two rivers near the town of Puri.

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/7372/03id2.jpg
^ Adam Gross and Dhuri Thadani, of the architecture firm Ayers Saint Gross, in Baltimore, came up with the initial outline of the campus at a Mumbai restaurant called Olive.

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9834/04ot4.jpg
^ The plan for the campus proper features interlocking circles within a larger oval. One circle would house humanities programs, the other the sciences. The area within the intersection of the two circles would be the heart of the university.

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/9729/05aq4.jpg
^ Ayers Saint Gross is also planning the locations of townships for university employees, a research park, a resort, an airport, and much more.

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/9650/06lh9.jpg
^ Plans call for the university to open with about 3,000 students. This map shows what would be its first buildings.

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/9130/07zz8.jpg
^ Within just a few years, the university is expected to grow to more than 11,000 students, requiring substantially more construction.

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8782/08ry5.jpg
^ A bird's-eye view shows the main entrance to the university, the area at the intersection of the two circles, and, beyond that, the location of the library.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/734/09ex7.jpg
^ A rendering depicts the humanities building, on the left, and the natural-sciences building, both of which Ayers Saint Gross is designing in collaboration with an Indian firm, STUP Consultants.

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5254/10rt3.jpg
^ Plans for the main floors of the humanities and natural-sciences buildings show air-conditioned classrooms, naturally ventilated corridors and lobbies, and ground-floor arcades that would protect students from monsoons.

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1152/11qh0.jpg
^ In another rendering, the two buildings -- both with vegetative roofs -- frame the entrance to the university.

-------==--=--==-------

Also here's another view of the Humanities building from Ayers Saint Gross:
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9719/abvedantaps7.jpg

-Jai

^^ Cool.....grt architecture,,,

I really appreciate the top view of the university, since the 6-point star that you can make out in the main circle is actually a symbol of creation. Specifically, it represents creation with two opposite-facing triangles crossing each other and, well, it's a less explicit version of the lingam-yoni. It's kind of subtle, but it adds a lot from a cultural point of view.

The actual building architecture, while normal at first glance, appears to make more use of glass than is usual for universities, and thus it will probably provide a better learning environment by allowing increased ammounts of natural sunlight.

Jai - thanks for purchasing the plan from that website. :rock:

Oh, I didn't, but I found their slideshow ;)
http://chronicle.com/media/flash/v53/i45/vedanta/

you mentioned 'subscription only'

nevermind

if this materialises, then it will be the first ever real University Town in India.

if this materialises, then it will be the first ever real University Town in India.

What about Shantiniketan and Manipal?

Looks like the Vedanta University is in trouble over land issues as usual. While opposition parties are expected to oppose all development projects, was surprised to see even the ABVP protesting against it.



http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20070713132314&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0

Protests were also against the government's permission to open private university without enacting law, allotment of 8000 acres of land to vedanta to set up a university on Puri-Konark sea beach

From August Issue of Construction World India:
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7660/image5dx8.jpg

Vedanta University: a flawed pipe dream

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/29/stories/2007082955271300.htm

Vedanta University: a flawed pipe dream

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/29/stories/2007082955271300.htm


the commies are dead against private education. and obviously they must be pissing in their pants seeing how such a large scale private university can stand as the top in the nation in coming years, beating the govt institutions. so, no wonder they are using their best propaganda machine and putting it to good work:)

Rejoinder to "Vedanta University: a flawed pipe dream" (http://vedantauniv.blogspot.com/)

Following is a rejoinder to the above article.

While it is possible that Vedanta University, may not turn out as envisioned,
it is definitely not a flawed pipe dream. We now show why some of the arguments given by Prof. Philip G. Altbach is flawed.

1. This article talks about $1 billion (the number $3 billion is thrown as an afterthought towards the end of his article) and how it is not a lot money. First, Vedanta University folks have talked about $3 billion, not $1 billion. The $1 billion number is the number that Mr. Agrawal has pledged to contribute; not the number he thinks the university needs. He thinks the later number to be $3 billion. If one wonders where the rest of the $2 billion is supposed to come, then there are two likely sources: (i) the tution paid by the students and (ii) the use of the real estate in the planned city around the Vedanta University.

Next, lets look at the budget of some of the existing Indian institutions:

* The 7 IITs had a budget of 683.5 crores in 2006-07 and a budget of 1553.70 crores (taking into account the expansion plan) for 2007-08.

* The Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore had a budget of 168 crores in 2006-07 and 283 crores for 2007-08.

* The 6 IIMs had a budget of 74 crores in 2006-07 and a budget of 144 crores for 2007-08.

* UGC had a budget of 2700.17 crores in 2006-07 and 3763.52 crores in 2007-08. This include funding about 20 central universities (does not include IGNOU)

* IGNOU had a budget of 91 crores in 2006-07 and a budget of 98.2 crores in 2007-08.

* SPA (School of Planning and Architecture) had a budget of 10.20 crores in 2006-07 and 22.30 crores in 2007-08.

* National Institute of Design had a budget of 11.25 crores in 2006-07 and 20.25 crores in 2007-08.

* Indian Statistical Institute had a budget of 59.14 crores in 2006-07 and 73.01 crores in 2007-08.

* The new IISERs are to be made at a cost of 500 crores each (over a period of 5-7 years)

* The new IITs are to be made at a cost of 1000 crores each (over a period of 5-7 years)

* The new central universities are to be made at a cost of 300 crores each (over a period of 5-7 years)

What Vedanta University folks have said is that they will spend $1 billion in the initial phase (i.e. Rs 4000 crores) and $3 billion (Rs 12,000 crores) over the next 10-15 years.

Based on the estimates about Rs 4000 crores can be used to build two new IITs (1000 crore*2) + two new IISERs (500 crores*2) + two new central universities (300 crores*2) + two new IIMs (150 crores estimate) + a new National Institute of Design (100 crores estimate). The recurring cost of these would be at 2006-07 estimates would be 2 IITs (200 crores total), two IISERs (200 crores total), two central universities (200 crores), two IIMs (30 crores), an NID (12 crores) = 650 crores. That is about 650/(8000) = 8.125% of the remaining $2 billion of the Vedanta University estimate which is a fairly small percentage of interest. (The Indian market has been making much more in recent years.)


2. The article says: "No research university in the world has 100,000 students or even anything close."

As per, http://www.osu.edu/osutoday/stuinfo.php#enroll_large
following are some large research universities in the US

Arizona State University, Main Campus 51,612
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities 51,175
The Ohio State University 50,504
University of Texas, Austin 49,696
University of Florida 49,693
Michigan State University 45,166
Texas A&M University, College Station 44,910
University of Illinois, Urbana 41,862
University of Wisconsin, Madison 41,447
Pennsylvania State University, University Park 40,709

As per http://www.asu.edu/enroll/news/news2.html
ASU will have 90,000 students in its campuses by 2020. (Note that
all its campuses are in the Phoenix metro area. It is not like the multi-campus UC system or U of Texas system.)

So Vedanta's goal of 100,000 students around the same time is not that different.


3. Location: It seems the author does not have much idea about the location. The Vedanta University location is about 30 miles from the outer periphery (read Khurda) of Bhubaneswar metropolitan area (the capital of Orissa) . Bhubaneswar is very well connected with the rest of the country both by train (BBSR, Khurda Rd Schedules, Puri Schedules) and by plane and it is expected to have international flights within a year or two. The Bhubaneswar metropolitan area has a current population of 1.6 million and at the rate it is growing (both in area and population) it is likely that by 2020 it will be more than 3 million and its periphery would be close to (if not completely engulfing) Vedanta University.


4. India is hungry for good higher education and people are willing to pay for it. May be the example of KIIT, Bhubaneswar (Orissa) will open the eyes of the author. KIIT was started in 1992 by three young people with an initial investment of few thousand rupees. In 15 years it has programs in multiple fields (engineering, management, medical science, Rural management, biotechnology, Social Sciences, Dentistry, Diploma, ITI, international high school) and is a deemed university. The growth and revenue of ICFAI and Amity also illustrates the revenue potential. Although none of the above are research universities, Vedanta University can collect similar revenues and spend a big part of it in research.

So it is not unreasonable that Vedanta University will have enough students paying enough in tuition to sustain it. Moreover, one should not take the real estate aspect of Vedanta University lightly. With 6000 acres, there will be enough land left beyond the core university, to earn a handsome income, which can then be ploughed into Vedanta University's research programs.

Currently, Bhubaneswar is a destination for many IT companies for their development centers. It has the big 4 of India (Wipro, Infosys, TCS and Satyam), IBM and many small and medium sized IT companies. With a top-notch environment the research park around Vedanta university should be able to attract research divisions of international companies.

i feel like giving a sermon now. this is capitalism at its best. make money from tuition, etc and provide quality education in return. also, the university land will be used to generate alternate resources. the key for the management is to persevere and prevail. the whole idea and attitude that such grand projects can be achieved only with govt support is a colonial British enforced idea which has continued, thanks to our socialist founding PM. the key to India's future will be replicating the success of IT enterpreneurs like Premji, Narayana Murthy, the Byrredys of Satyam, etc in other fields and show the Indian people that there is nothing wrong with making profits in return for the promised results, in this case, education.

Me checking the status in 2008.

Still nothing vedantic about this university. Just a big private university while capitalising on nationalist sentiments.

talking of which, any updates?

Me checking the status in 2008.

Still nothing vedantic about this university. Just a big private university while capitalising on nationalist sentiments.

There never was anything vedantic about this university. Vedanta is the name of the company that is run by the promotors.

Whatever these people may say, even if VU can take in 10,000 students on one big campus, have a great infrastructure, and spend the same, if not more than the IIT's etc. on R&D, I would still call it a grand success.

Besides, like i've said before, India doesn't need IIT's and IIM's, but more universities that can stand up to them in research and quality of education. It will happen, I am sure, and it will happen with private money.

I haven't updated this thread in ages, so here goes.

First a column that raises some interesting points. My only gripe with his reasoning is that comparing the large size of VU with MIT, Harvard, etc. campuses is that the latter are the cream of the crop of a country with a huge, developed upper-level education infrastructure already in place, and with literally hundreds of large, multidisciplinary universities with world-class facilities.

Compare that to India, and you can see why an initial investment into this knowledge industry is going to require a large investment that would go quite a ways in developing the institutional infrastructure from the ground-up. Plus, unlike the other mentioned universities, VU will literally create an entire sattelite city around the campus that, unlike cities in America, will require ground-up development as well.

And that's not accounting for the scale of this university, either, which, by the final phase, is planned to accommodate over 100,000 graduate and undergraduate students. That is MASSIVE. When you figure that the support infrastructure, residential, housing, facilities, etc. for students plus staff plus support personnel plus the number of commercial centers of excellence will be built around the entire project, 10,000 acres seems to me to be a pretty reasonable estimate of the land needed to literally create a world-renowned, multidisciplinary university, the university town, and the equivalent of a silicon valley all from scratch.


Of course, detractors simply are ignorant or willfully disregard those basic facts. This is yet another example of what happens when regional politics can slow down much needed and visionary projects with petty squabbling.


The making of India's biggest University (http://us.rediff.com/money/2008/mar/04guest.htm)
March 04, 2008

Vedanta and the Anil Agarwal Foundation want to go beyond business and do their bit for education in the country. They wants it to be the best possible and, more importantly, the biggest possible.

Hence the temple town of Puri will soon have a Vedanta University in its outskirts, spanning a whopping 10,000 acres. And it would bear resemblance more to a city than a university thanks to its size and the population of five lakh that it will hold.

The Vedanta University is to be totally not-for-profit, funded by a $1 billion endowment grant from Anil Agarwal Foundation, says the website for the university for which the company had signed an MoU with the Government of Orissa two years ago.

The size of the university, or rather the city, outsizes all top universities in the country and some of the big ones abroad. The MoU says that "the University will transform Orissa into a primary centre for knowledge in India," and "will join the ranks of the world's greatest Universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford."

But while Harvard University makes do with 380 acres, Chicago University has 211 acres, and MIT has 169 acres, back in India, Hyderabad Central University has 2,300 acres followed by IIT Kharagpur with 2,100 acres, Banaras Hindu University 1,300 acres and Kanpur University 1,055 acres, Jawaharlal University has 1,000 acres,

Madras University has 625 acres and other IITs have below 700 acres. Utkal University which is the biggest in Orissa functions from 400 acres. The MoU gives a lot of justification for the huge size of the plot the Anil Agarwal Foundation has asked for the university. It says that the campus would have academic and non-academic buildings to cater to the needs of one lakh students and faculty and staff of half that number.

Besides, the university will have multiple specialities like medicine, engineering, performing arts, humanities as also sports facilities of Olympian scale. "The campus shall house Olympic-calibre sports complexes, golf courses, and other sports and recreational facilities. "To have a creative environment, large water bodies and open spaces shall be adequately provided," it goes on.

The campus will be fully residential and "since the proposed location is far away from the modern city, the university township has to be independent and self-contained," it says. It further adds: "In order to accommodate the facilities as afore-specified, it is estimated to have a land area of about 10,000 acres."

The MoU also says that the Government of Orissa will provide a four lane road from Bhuvanaeshwar city to the site in two years. Though the student strength is to be one lakh and a faculty and staff of 50,000, the total population of the township will be five lakh, which is the population of the state of Sikkim.

Hence the water and power needs are also in that scale. Power requirement would be to the order of 150 Mw during 2008 and 2012 and up to 600 Mw by 2020. About 45 Mw of power suffices the state of Sikkim. The needs of Vedanta would surpass that.

The land requirements don't end with 10,000 acres, The MoU wants the 5 km radius around the site to be totally under the control of the campus so that no construction or development is allowed there. But the university justifies these with its big dreams to "nurture generations of global leaders." It is another matter that global leaders and Nobel laureates have been produced by universities with much smaller campuses.

Massachusets Institute of Technology has produced about 61 Nobel laureates, Chicago University has produced 41 laureates and Harward has given 35 Nobel laureates. All have less than 400 acres. Harward has the most at 380 acres and MIT the least at 169 acres.

And it is the size which is already evoking protests and resentment for Anil Agarwal Foundation's dream of a world class university.

The MoU signed by the company with the Government of Orissa in June 2006 will lapse in June this year unless the clauses are translated into a legislation. The protests have forced the Foundation to scale down the size of the campus to 6,300 acres in its website though the MoU still mentions 10,000.

According to C V Krishnan, head of education and healthcare, the draft legislation is ready and the State Cabinet is likely to approve it soon. He said that the university would begin enrollment for some courses from 2009 itself.

Prafulla Mahantara, who led the protests against the Vedanta mining project in Orissa, says that the university is nothing but land grab in another form. "It is going to displace 18 villages and also feed on water and power like a monster. We will not let it happen," he says.

These things don't find mention on the official website which has most recently invited tenders for setting up a 1,600 bed hospital as part of its multi speciality 95-discipline university.

The university to come up on the Puri Konark marine drive is annoying activists like Mahantara who question the relevance of such a venture in a place where children don't even have access to schools.What annoys me most in the entire article is the last gem by this hack "activist":The university to come up on the Puri Konark marine drive is annoying activists like Mahantara who question the relevance of such a venture in a place where children don't even have access to schools.Are you effing serious? I literally spit out my Corona on my screen as I read that.

Is this genius seriously complaining that because the area has so few schools that building one of the BIGGEST EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN HUMAN HISTORY in the region is a bad idea?

Ever have someone tell you something so wrong, so illogical and so Goddamn stupid that you don't even know where to begin to respond.

I mean Jesus H Christ. Does someone really need to state the bloody obvious? It is because Puni-Konark is in one of the most underdeveloped parts of India that Vedanta University will be a singular education friggin GODSEND.

Gee Messr Mahantara, how do you friggin think schools and educational facilities will come to the region? Investment, retard.

I'm guessing the real cause for his "annoyance" is that once the regions people and children will have newfound access to jobs, education, money and enjoy the fruits of comprehensive economic, social and academic liberation, his very reason for being -- that of being some hack populist "activist" who makes his money by intellectually raping the destitution of the poor -- will be eliminated.

Anyway, some more interesting news is that the Vedanta University campus design by Ayers/Saint/Gross was a winner of the Center for New Urbanism's 2008 Charter Awards (http://www.cnu.org/node/1760), which recognizes the best embody the principals of new urbanism.

Here's the description of the project.
In India today there is only one seat for every 10,000 university applicants, and those lucky enough to find a seat have limited choices of single disciplinary universities. To meet this unprecedented demand, the project's design sought to create a multi-disciplinary University for 10,000 students.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8476/orissaindia5vm0.jpg

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/3192/orissaindia4ef6.jpg

As designers their aspiration was to create a campus master plan which would reflect not only the goals and philosophies of this new University, but would be Indian in spirit. The result of these intentions led to a simple 'parti' of two overlapping circles inscribed within an oval. The circles represent the balance between the two major areas of discipline, Arts & Humanities and Science & Technology. Intersecting these circles in a spoke are areas for housing and student life, and surrounding these forms are professional schools, a medical school, and a hospital. At the core is a crescent open space which is the heart of the University, demonstrating a strong focus on the creation of a sustainable, pedestrian-oriented campus that fully embraces the principles of responsible development.

A total of approximately 500 buildings on 280 sites are identified within the university precinct to accommodate the anticipated student population, all of which will be no more than 5 stories, and have green roofs. Several localized sewer treatment plants will provide grey water for irrigation and toilet flushing and several utility pad sites for water storage, electrical transformers, pumps and cooling towers have been identified to maximize efficiency of utility services.

Transect Zone(s): T6 core.

Status: Plan Approved

Guiding Charter Principle(s): Principle 1, Principle 3, Principle 5, Principle 6, Principle 7, Principle 8

Project or Plan's Scale: Region

Features: Affordable/subsidized housing, Civic buildings & parks, Green buildings, Live/work, Transit oriented development.

Land area (in acres): 8700

It also has the largest view we've seen of the college campus plan. I'll post it in the next post, so this one won't have scrolling trouble and be unreadable


Cheers,
Jai

here's that largest view we've seen of the college campus plan:
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/1346/orissaindia3newlq7.jpg

This looks like a brilliant masterplan. Great vision.

I really hope we hear of some concrete construction underway soon.

This is one of the three universities coming up that I have a lot of expectations from. The other two being the IIT and Nalanda U in Bihar.

Looks great!
Don't put it on the international forums though, some fool will call us intolerant Zionists :lol:

Looks great!
Don't put it on the international forums though, some fool will call us intolerant Zionists :lol:Screw them. As if "zionist" is any more a slur than "islamist". If supporting Isreal's right to exist makes me a Zionist, then a damn proud one I am. After all, if people can support the partition of Pakistan on the basis of religion, than there should not be a double standard.

Anyway when I get time, I'll post it there. Sooo busy nowdays :(

^^ :applause:

Also, people don't realize that the symbol that the university is structured in is not a Star of David, but the Anahata chakra.
I remember at the Jehangiri Mahal in Agra Fort, an Anahata symbol was put up, and tourists thought it represented Judaism rather than Hinduism :lol:

This is so amazingly inspiring - it was always a part of my dream too - to be a partof a world premiere university in India - with follows the very advanced Vedic concept of harmoniuos education - in harmony with the elements too - develops one in all 3 aspects - mind body and spirit.

Where excellence is an automatic given and people take it from there to go on to b world leaders - it really starts from here.

An excellent sign for any country - when it's education system starts transforming will world leading R & D research - well being and personal transformation will naturally follow...
I from my core that the true greatness of our universal spiritual secrets are unlocked through institutions such as these to benefit not just our country but mankind itself...in all spheres of existence...

Is the project still having difficulties in acquiring land / the go signal to begin construction of the university?

How much of the original planned drawings do you think will actually be implemented in real life?

Vedanta sounds like an exciting project indeed!

this project reminds me of another project i remember getting all hyped up about a few years ago:

Centre Of India Tower

http://www.geocities.com/PicketFence/5192/centre_of_india1.jpg

Nalanda to move from ruins to riches (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Nalanda_to_move_from_ruins_to_riches/articleshow/3029197.cms)


Last week, representatives from host nation India and the East Asian countries had their third meeting in New York to decide the nuts and bolts of reviving the original globalist school "aimed at advancing the concept of an Asian community...and rediscovering old relationships."

Chaired by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, the mentor group decided on six faculties for what will largely be a post-graduate research university. They include a School of Buddhist studies, philosophy, and comparative religion; School of historical studies; School of International Relations and Peace; School of Business Management and Development; School of Languages and Literature; and, School of Ecology and Environmental Studies.

The mentor group also decided to select an eminent academician to be the Inaugural Rector an initial appointment period of five years to oversee the project, which is expected to start rolling in 2009 after the group meets again in New Delhi in August and gives its recommendation to the East Asian Summit in December. By then, countries are expected to write out the checks to revive one of the world's landmark learning centers.

The numbers are still fuzzy, but the founders are looking at an initial endowment of anywhere from $250 million to $ 1 billion, a modest start in an era when Harvard University's endowment stands at $35 billion

Japan may revive monastery
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Patna/Japan_may_revive_monastery/articleshow/3028961.cms

BHAGALPUR: After Nalanda, it could be Vikramshila's turn to be developed as a modern university. If the recent visit of the Japanese delegation to Vikramshila here is any indication, the erstwhile monastery could once again be swarming with students.

The visit by an 11-member Japanese delegation to the heritage site recently had given hopes to academicians here, that what was once a learning centre for Buddhists, could well become a university of the future. The delegation, too, had also expressed its willingness to invest in the dilapidated site.

Led by Harao Shimada, the VC of Chiba University of Commerce and economic adviser to former PM Junichiro Koizumi, the delegation had been on a seven-day trip to India to explore "congenial and feasible investment opportunities" at Vikramshila, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Shimada was accompanied by representatives of JP Morgan Asset Management, Fortis Investment, Yamazaki Associates and eight other Japanese companies. During the visit, Shimada clearly said, "We would wish to see Vikramshila flourish."

JP Morgan Asset Management president and director Keiichi Miki, FortisInvestment director Kazuhito Yoshihara and
Yamazaki Associates director Yosheo Yamazaki also showed keen interest in developing the economic climate around the ancient Buddhist seat of learning.

India Centre Foundation, an independent organisation co-ordinating with groups from both countries to build parallel diplomatic ties, impressed upon the Japanese delegation to visit the Vikramshila heritage. Social worker and the foundation member Vibhavkant Upadhyay and senior BJP leader Nishikant Dubey were the facilitators.

Talking to TOI, Dubey said the delegation would serve as opinion makers of the Japan government and its people, as it would explore the possibility of developing Vikramshila like that of Nalanda University.

However, Dubey was not verbose about the invest issues, as he remarked, "It is too early to expect big investments, but the delegation has given out positive vibes," Dubey said, adding that everything now depended on the team's reports and subsequent interest of Japanese companies.

Vikramshila University, founded in 8th century, had grown into an international centre for Buddhist learning. At the beginning of the 11th century during the reign of King Ramapala, the university had 160 teachers and 1,000 students living at the monastery.

I'm from Bihar, and I'm not sure I agree with the Nalanda revival project. I do agree that Bihar needs more investment in universities, but I don't see why it has to be done at Nalanda, which is a historic site. To be perfectly honest with you, though the current government in Bihar is better than Lalu Yadav's misrule, I don't totally trust them to execute a project like this. I don't want a fiasco similar to what Mayawati did to the Taj Mahal to happen in Bihar. Any efforts at Nalanda should focus on preservation of the ruins first and foremost, IMO.

I think it will be stupid to even consider that they will touch any of the old Nalanda structures for this project. It will be restored, and the new university will come up at a distance. Now this is what I read, and I think the Japanese and Koreans will play a large part in this, so lets hope the Japanese can do a better job than our politician planners.

http://chronicle.com/news/article/4548/indian-court-stays-land-acquisition-for-vedanta-u

Vedanta’s Orissa projects are on schedule: Agarwal (http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/vedantas-orissa-projects-are-on-schedule-agarwal_10042388.html)


Bhubaneswar, April 26 (IANS) NRI industrialist and chairman of Britain’s Vedanta Resources Anil Agarwal Saturday said all projects of the group in Orissa were on schedule. “All projects in Orissa are on schedule. We will work for the benefit of the state,” he told reporters after talks with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and senior state government officials here.

Speaking of the progress of Vedanta University, Agarwal said in the first phase, the foundation stone for a medical college and a 600-bed hospital will be laid soon in the university campus.

“We will work towards giving 25 percent seats to the students from Orissa who will be taken on merit basis,” he remarked.

http://chronicle.com/news/article/4548/indian-court-stays-land-acquisition-for-vedanta-u

Next hearing on Vedanta land acquisition Tuesday (http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20080623/31182.htm)

A division bench of the Orissa High Court Monday posted the next hearing of villagers' plea against land acquisition for the proposed Vedanta University in the state to Tuesday.

'The bench comprising acting Chief Justice I.M. Quddusi and Justice B.N. Mohapatra heard the arguments of both parties and posted the next hearing to Tuesday,' Subir Palit, one of the lawyers for petitioners, told IANS Monday.

'The court posted the hearing after we argued that we received the counter-affidavit filed by Vedanta only today, and we have not examined it yet,' Palit said.

The Anil Agarwal Foundation, promoted by NRI industrialist and chairman of Britain's Vedanta Resources Anil Agarwal, is setting up the multi-disciplinary Vedanta University near the Konark-Puri marine drive.

The university is proposed to come up in over 6,000 acres with a phased investment of Rs.150 billion ($3.5 billion). But the project faces considerable opposition from local residents.

Some people who have lost their lands have sought the intervention of the court describing the land acquisition for the project as illegal.

The high court had earlier stayed land acquisition until June 23.

The stay granted by the court will remain in force till the next hearing, Palit said.

Vedanta ties up with DAV Public School, Puri (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=10&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=41253)

Vedanta University Project (VUP) has tied up with DAV Public School in Puri to provide high quality education to 500 children of land losing families and 200 children have already been selected for admission in the school.

Classes are scheduled to commence from July 1 and VUP will be supporting the DAV institution to set up a DAV Oriya medium school shortly in one of the peripheral villages.

VUP has also provided four 40-seater buses to DAV School, Puri for tansportation of children belonging to land losing families who have been selected for admission to the school.

While handing over the keys of the buses to the Principal of the school, Sanjeev Anand Zutshi, director of VUP said, "Provision of transport will encourage children of land losing families to come to the school regularly. This along with other facilities like mid-day snacks, free uniforms and study materials is expected to motivate the children to pursue their school education in right earnest."

"Quality school education will create enabling conditions for the children of the peripheral villages to attain excellence in the academic field for which Vedanta University will create abundant opportunities", Zutshi added.

double post

Found an old video of Anil Agarwal on Charlie Rose(AA interview begins at 40 mins)

DYILz490uic

Govt to enact laws for establishment of Vedanta University (http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=460244&sid=REG)

Bhubaneswar, Aug 04: Notwithstanding opposition from local people, Orissa cabinet today approved a proposal for enactment of legislation for establishment of Vedanta University near Puri at an investment of Rs 15,000 crore.

The cabinet's approval in this regard would be placed in the coming session of the Assembly as Vedanta University Bill-2008, sources said.

Describing the proposed private varsity to be developed by Vedanta Foundation subsequently known as Anil Agarwal Foundation, as an 'ambitious project', the cabinet approved the proposal, the first of its kind in the state.

The proposed multi-disciplinary university would be set up with a modern self contained township near Puri having core campus to cater to the needs of nearly one lakh students, 20,000 faculty members and matching number of non-teaching staff.

The varsity, which would offer academic programmes like basic science, humanities, performing arts, law, engineering, medicine, bio-science, business management and agriculture, would be self-financing.

"The state government will provide about 6,000 acres by way of acquisition and alienation," Chief Secretary Ajit Tripathy said.

The foundation had initially asked for 11,000 acres.

Replying to a query on the state's control over the private university, Tripathy said the state might exercise any control on the affairs of the proposed university in the interest of the students as and when required.

Besides, there would be multiple centres of excellence to drive cutting edge research in areas of bio-technology, nano-technology, agri-reserach, pharmaceutical research, rural economics, alternative energy, public policy, marine and aquatic studies, forestry and ornithology, said a senior official in the higher education department.

:cheers:

Daily nutrition meal scheme flagged off (http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=218021)

PURI, Aug. 11: Vedanta University project of Anil Agarwal Foundation has launched daily nutrition meal programme in DAV School here today in association with 'Krishnamrita.' The scheme was inaugurated by Mr Sanjeev Anand Zutshi, director Vedanta University project in presence of Mr Himansu Kumar Mohanty, regional director, DAV Institution, with the distribution of food to children in hot cases.
For regular supply of freshly cooked and nutritious meals to the children at DAV school Puri, an MOU has been signed between Anil Agarwal Foundation and Iskon Charity, Bangalore’s Krishnamrita. As per Krishnamrita’s report, the meal contains 450 kilo calorie and 12 gram protein supplement. As per this arrangement, daily nutrition meal will be provided under the Krishnamrita scheme to as many as 650 students of the DAV school.

I assume they are doing all this to appease the farmers and speed up land acquisition

Vedanta reveals its plans (http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=219046)

PURI, Aug 20: The Vedanta University project will, in its first phase, set up a 500 bed super specialty hospital and medical college, iterated Anil Agarwal Foundation sources today.
The hospital and medical college is a part of the first phase of Vedanta University Project that will include a core campus with colleges for humanities and sciences, and schools of engineering and business. The first academic session is expected to commence in 2010, said project sources.
Evidently aware of the fact that a Bill for the university is likely to be tabled in the monsoon session of the Assembly, the project authorities issued a release detailing their plan of action. It may be noted here that the project has evoked a great deal of controversy particularly relating to land involving 6000 acres of valuable property in the Puri-Konark region. Court and even police cases have cropped up.
Project sources said the super specialties that are planned in the Vedanta Hospital are cardiology, endocrinology and acute care. In the next phase, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecological facilities will be added.
The hospital is being designed in line with the highest standards set for the Vedanta University Project, and it will be a research cum teaching hospital besides providing highest quality patient care, claimed project sources.
An advisory committee, comprising distinguished medical professionals and academicians from India and abroad, will be formed to decide on the vision and scope of the medical centre consisting of hospital, teaching and research facilities.
Distinguished cardiologist Dr KP Misra and Dr Dipika Mohanty, former director Institute of Immunohaematology (ICMR) have already joined as advisors to guide setting up the hospital, medical college and medical research centres.
On behalf of the Vedanta University Project, Dr Mohanty is initiating a major research project on treatment of anaemia, iron deficiency in infants and children in Orissa as well as identification and treatment of sickle cell anaemia, which has a double incident rate in Orissa compared to other states.
:banana:

From their website---


Super-Specialty Hospital and Medical College work to start soon by Vedanta University Project, Puri

* Super specialty 500 bed hospital and medial college.
* To be upgraded to 1000 bed later.
* Super specialties in Cardiology, endocrinology and acute care.
* Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology to be added later.
* Advisory committee with experts from India and abroad being formed.
* Noted Oriya Cardiologist, Dr. K.P.Mishra of Apollo fame and Dr. Dipika Mohanty, former Director of Institute of Immuno-haematology (ICMR) already joined as advisors.
* Major research projects in interventional treatment of anaemia/iron deficiency and sickle cell anaemia being initiated.
* The first phase of proposed Vedanta University will also include colleges of Humanities and Sciences, Engineering and Business.
* Academic session scheduled to start in 2010.

Puri, August 19, 2008: In the first phase of the Vedanta University project, a 500 bed super specialty hospital and medical college of international standard will be built. This will be expanded to 1000 bed Hospital in the next phase. The super specialties that are planned in the Vedanta Hospital are cardiology, endocrinology and acute care. In the next phase, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology will be added. This Hospital will answer a long standing need for providing comprehensive and specialized patient care and health services for the population of the region and will be a beacon of hope for the common man.

The Hospital is being designed in line with the highest standards set for the Vedanta University Project, and it will be a Research cum Teaching hospital besides providing highest quality patient care. The Hospital will benefit from the highly qualified faculty of the proposed medical college and will be managed by well trained professionals. An advisory committee, comprising distinguished medical professionals and academicians from India and abroad, will be formed to decide on the vision and scope of the medical center consisting of hospital, teaching and research facilities.

Vedanta University Project is pleased to announce that Dr. K. P. Misra, MD, FACC, FRCP, the distinguished Oriya Cardiologist and Director, medical education and Senior Cardiologist (retd) Apollo Hospital, Chennai, and Dr. Dipika Mohanty, MD, Ph.D. FRCP, Ex Director Institute of Immunohaematology (ICMR) and 2006 winner of the Biju Patnaik award for Excellence in Science and Technology, have joined as Advisors to guide setting up the hospital, medical college and medical research centers. On behalf of the Vedanta University Project, Dr Mohanty is initiating a major research project in the areas of interventional treatment of anaemia/iron deficiency in infants and children in Orissa as well as identification and treatment of sickle cell anaemia, which has a double incident rate in Orissa compared to other states where it is prevalent.

The Hospital and Medical College will form part of the first phase of Vedanta University Project that will include a core campus with colleges for Humanities & Sciences, and schools of Engineering and Business. The first academic session is planned to start in 2010.

The Vedanta University will be a world class multidisciplinary University of global scale that will promote greater learning, cutting-edge research and socio-economic development.
For further details contact:Mr. Kishore Chandra Das
Head, Communications
Anil Agarwal Foundation
Vedanta University Project, Puri
Email kishorechandradas@gmail.com
Mobile No. : 91-9437012258

I think its time to celebrate guys!:cheers1:

Expression of Interest
(http://vedanta.edu.in/news/?p=11)
As a part of vendor selection process for the Vedanta University Project, the
Foundation invites reputed contractors I suppliers I service providers with proven
track record and sound credentials in the following areas:

* PKGA 01 Construction of Institutional buildings and townships (Firms with an annual turnover of about 250 cr. need only apply)
* PKGA 03 Primary (132 KV) Electric sub-station, outgoing switch rooms, ring-mains, 33KV secondary sub-station with incoming HT switchgears and outgoing LT switchgears,
* PKGA 04 HVAC Systems
* PKGA 05 Interior works and Low end MEP
* PKGA 06 Site Grading and preparation work
* PKGA 07 Roads, drainage systems, pavements, culverts, bridges.
* PKGA 10 Afforestation , Horticulture - roughly 250 acres.
* PKGA 11 External electrification works such as street lighting, pathway lighting, traffic lighting.
* PKGA 15 Site facilities including offices, boundary wall, fencing etc.
* PKGA 16 Temporary power, water supply sanitation, lighting communication etc.
* PKGA 17 132 KV High tension line diversion ( approx 8 Kms.).
* PKGA 18 Landscape design roughly 250 acres.

Interested parties are required to submit their EOI mentioning the Package they are interested in along with their qualification details mentioning the package code, along with List of similar jobs and turnover during last three years. latest by 30 Sept, 2008.
:cheers:

Vedanta seeks vendors for Rs 15,000-cr varsity project (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Vedanta-seeks-vendors-for-Rs-15-000-cr-varsity-project/364170/)

NRI billionaire Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Group has started the process of inviting bids for construction of buildings and other infrastructure facilities for its ambitious Rs 15,000-crore Vedanta University project.

However, the academic session is expected to start only by 2010/2011 due to land acquisition delays.

The a multi-disciplinary university project of Anil Agarwal Foundation, which would be spread over 8,000 acres in Puri district of Orissa, was originally scheduled to start this year but has been postponed as issues related to land acquisition has delayed the construction work, Anil Agarwal Foundation's Commercial Head C Joseph said from Puri.

As part of its vendor selection process, the foundation has invited expression of interest (EoI) in a public advertisement across national dailies, from contractors, suppliers and service providers in areas like construction of institutional buildings and townships, power station and other facilities. Joseph said that the current invitation for EoIs is a follow-up of a previous one, as the task requires numerous contractors due to its large size.

The construction work is expected to start soon and the foundation has already mobilised the piling contractor and is in process of finalising other contractors, he added.

The Orissa government and Anil Agarwal Foundation had signed an memorandum of understanding in 2006 to set up a private university with a donation of $1 billion (Rs 4,500 crore) as endowment amount from Anil Agarwal.

Human chain in varsity protest (http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=226089)

BHUBANESWAR, Oct. 8: Protesting the establishment of Vedanta University at Puri, ‘Vedanta Viswa Vidyalaya Virodhi Sangharsa Samiti’, which is spearheading the campaign against the proposed University, will be forming a human chain from Nuanai to Balikhai chowk on Puri-Konark road tomorrow.
At least 10,000 farmers and their families likely to be affected by the project will participate in the dawn-to-dusk protest, said samiti president Mr Benudhar Pradhan. The chain will cover a stretch of three kilometres, he added.
“The auspicious Bijaya Dashami is the right day to strengthen our protest against the University project and to sensitise the people on the issue. Tomorrow’s activity will also make the government realise how firmly the people oppose the project”, said Mr Pradhan.
Maintaining that the protest will be carried out for 12 hours in the most peaceful and non-violent way, he informed that sensitisation programmes will be undertaken in each mouza from 16 October.
A number of organisations including ‘Puri Bhu-sampati Surakshya Parishad’, ‘Sri Jagannath Sevayat Sammilani’ and ‘Mathadhish Sangha’ are supporting tomorrow’s endeavour, he pointed out.

Dear Lord...:ohno:

Human chain in varsity protest (http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=226089)



Dear Lord...:ohno:

I guess some people don't want industries, don't want universities, don't want progress...It's a really peculiar situation playing out in various parts of the country.

I guess some people don't want industries, don't want universities, don't want progress...It's a really peculiar situation playing out in various parts of the country.

Well i consider them to be teething troubles...sooner or later they are gonna push us all over the edge and force the centre to pass legislation in this regard...India is paying through the nose for these senseless protests though...i wonder who has a more detrimental effect on the economy, the terrorists or our uneducated farmers...an interesting thought...

The crazy thing is, they continue to have lots of children even if they cant provide them a dignified life and now prevent the government from doing so as well:ohno:

I dont question their loyalty to the country though....if only they knew the economic implications of these projects.

Well i consider them to be teething troubles...sooner or later they are gonna push us all over the edge and force the centre to pass legislation in this regard...India is paying through the nose for these senseless protests though...i wonder who has a more detrimental effect on the economy, the terrorists or our uneducated farmers...an interesting thought...

The crazy thing is, they continue to have lots of children even if they cant provide them a dignified life and now prevent the government from doing so as well:ohno:

The problem is about the well educated leaders like Medha Patkar or Mamata Bannerjee. Most ultra left of right wing activists or leaders are well educated (and often are not poor). Let's call them the LEADERS.

Now say there is a village with lots of poor, uneducated folks. Let's call them the MASSES.

Now how should the LEADERS help the MASSES? They could help build schools, organize teaching the children and the illiterates, open medical centres, train nurses and even encourage doctors to go to villages. The can even spread the message of family planning. Basically they should work for the upliftment of the poor. Of course some may that this is the job of the government.

Instead what do these LEADERS do? They impose their ultra left or ultra right ideology on the masses. For them the poorer and the less educated are the easiest targets. They incite them and using them as shields indulge in violence. All this to achieve petty political goals or trying to create in real life whatever anarchy they may have read in some ideology inspired books.

The problem is about the well educated leaders like Medha Patkar or Mamata Bannerjee. Most ultra left of right wing activists or leaders are well educated (and often are not poor). Let's call them the LEADERS.

Now say there is a village with lots of poor, uneducated folks. Let's call them the MASSES.

Now how should the LEADERS help the MASSES? They could help build schools, organize teaching the children and the illiterates, open medical centres, train nurses and even encourage doctors to go to villages. The can even spread the message of family planning. Basically they should work for the upliftment of the poor. Of course some may that this is the job of the government.

Instead what do these LEADERS do? They impose their ultra left or ultra right ideology on the masses. For them the poorer and the less educated are the easiest targets. They incite them and using them as shields indulge in violence. All this to achieve petty political goals or trying to create in real life whatever anarchy they may have read in some ideology inspired books.

Well first of all, there is nothing that can be done about the ones that do it for political gain.

And secondly,I read recently that Medha Patkar wanted an agrarian economy in Bengal...so i think she needs an economy 101 just as much as the farmers...

Anyway, these are the exceptions...as long as they have the law on their side, they dont need Medha Patkars...they lose nothing by protesting...even the ones that are ready to give up their land protest...worst case scenario is, their compensation package gets bigger....so you can see how there is no reason not to protest...this is crucial.And even the delays are very expensive.

A lot of them have had their land handed down through generations and are emotionally attached to them..and its also the only means of livelihood that theyre aware of...both for themselves and their children.And like i said, im sure they harbor a deep love for their nation and would gladly sacrifice a little for the future of India.But they simply cant see the big picture.

I think a strategic thing that India could do(only with respect to land acquisition) that would spell the death knell for these protests and delays is to impose a heavy fine on the party that the court rules against..So it would force them to protest only after thorough research on the economic implications of the project...there would be no more protests for the sake of protests.And it would also force the party seeking the land to not demand excessive land or under compensate the land owners.Of course the fine would be a *% of x* rather than an *x* itself because of the economic disparity between the two parties.

But im waiting for India to pass a law that makes only fighting for compensation legal without delaying land acquisition.This would keep both parties honest as well.But that would make them lose a lot of votes.

Well first of all, there is nothing that can be done about the ones that do it for political gain.

And secondly,I read recently that Medha Patkar wanted an agrarian economy in Bengal...so i think she needs an economy 101 just as much as the farmers...



Maybe Vedanta University can give her (and her elite activists who want every one else to live in caves) some free classes.

:lol:

Maybe Vedanta University can give her (and her elite activists who want every one else to live in caves) some free classes.

:lol:

:lol: seriously, lets not dignify their stance by labeling it...this is not just a difference of opinion...they are very clearly wrong.

Did you read about farmers opposing Indias biggest SEZ (http://www.ibnlive.com/news/farmers-vote-against-rilpromoted-maha-mumbai-sez/75173-3.html) recently?

We certainly cant expect any policy changes until after the elections.

MY GOD...look why they opposed it

The SEZ ran into rough weather after the local residents started opposing the project over fears that it would lead to increased pollution.


I didnt feel this kind of anger over the Nano or Vedanta incident...but to oppose a 25000 acre SEZ over fears of pollution?

Ive had enough of this nonsense....we have a nation to build.

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn150/2paise/inkid.jpghttp://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn150/2paise/inkid2.jpg

Lets give these kids the opportunity to be whatever they want to be...some of them will certainly blow our minds.

The problem is about the well educated leaders like Medha Patkar or Mamata Bannerjee. Most ultra left of right wing activists or leaders are well educated (and often are not poor). Let's call them the LEADERS.

Now say there is a village with lots of poor, uneducated folks. Let's call them the MASSES.

Now how should the LEADERS help the MASSES? They could help build schools, organize teaching the children and the illiterates, open medical centres, train nurses and even encourage doctors to go to villages. The can even spread the message of family planning. Basically they should work for the upliftment of the poor. Of course some may that this is the job of the government.

Instead what do these LEADERS do? They impose their ultra left or ultra right ideology on the masses. For them the poorer and the less educated are the easiest targets. They incite them and using them as shields indulge in violence. All this to achieve petty political goals or trying to create in real life whatever anarchy they may have read in some ideology inspired books.
There is a couplet from Thirukkural which roughly translates into: "words said to an unintelligent audience is akin to water used to irrigate weeds".

Entrepreneurs are in the business of making a positive contribution and making it fast. They do not have all the time in the world to convince the detractors.

Perhaps Vedanta can go across the border to northern Andhra, and still educate students from Orissa. I guess Andhra would be more receptive to a big university than Orissa?!

Perhaps Vedanta can go across the border to northern Andhra, and still educate students from Orissa. I guess Andhra would be more receptive to a big university than Orissa?!

Lets hope this is just a minor hiccup...it has been delayed by more than a year...i wonder what the rise in construction costs are...maybe theyll recover it through real estate.

Nalanda mentor group hold meeting in Bodh Gaya (http://www.newspostonline.com/national/nalanda-mentor-group-holds-review-meeting-in-bodh-gaya-2009022435402)

Feb 24, 2009

New Delhi, Feb.24 (ANI): The Nalanda Mentor Group (NMG) met in Bodh Gaya on February 19 and 20, 2009.

To date, four meetings of the NMG have been held: July 2007 in Singapore; December 2007 in Tokyo; May 2008 in New York, and August 2008 in New Delhi.

The NMG has examined and recommended the framework and structure of international cooperation and partnership governing the establishment of Nalanda University (NU) that would facilitate continued international support and engagement and help initiate funding arrangements.

It has also made recommendations on the choice of an appropriate academician as the Inaugural Rector to be appointed for NU.

A team of experts will work with the Inaugural Rector and advise on academic and administrative aspects of NU. There would be an International Board of Trustees and also an Executive Council.

At last weeks meeting, members of NMG met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and had extensive interaction with local government, during which discussions were held on development of infrastructure and the proposed master plan of the region.

They emphasized the importance of ensuring effective coordination among all the concerned authorities so that a comprehensive development of the region takes place as NU starts operating.

The NMG also visited the proposed NU site.

The NMG also decided to add the School of Information Sciences and Technology to the already proposed schools that would form part of the forthcoming university.

The NMG discussed and favoured the idea of having affiliations with academic institutions of distinction in other countries such as Chulalongkorn University of Thailand and The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.

The Report of the NMG will be presented to the Fifth EAS Summit.

It was also clarified that reference to the NU in the EAS Chairs Statement should enable Government of India to initiate suitable steps for the drafting of an international agreement by member countries of EAS, identifying the roles and responsibilities, including funding mechanism, on the establishment of NU.

The Government of India would then undertake the internal process of passing a Bill through Parliament to recognize the international status of NU.

An agreement between Government of India, the Government of Bihar and NU will also be signed which would clarify roles in administration of NU, including the grant of appropriate privileges for the efficient functioning of the University.

The NMG expressed hopes that the proposed NU will be established at the proposed site in Nalanda in the near future following strict time frame for various activities, including legal and administrative procedures.


Nalanda International University needs more groundwork (http://bihartimes.com/Newsbihar/2009/Feb/Newsbihar24Feb4.html)

Feb 24, 2009

(Bihar Times) It is incomprehensible going by the present plan for NIU as to how it is going to evolve in a benchmark university for the world, not to say redeem the glory of its original self of ancient time. Visionaries associated with this idea have not even undertaken the necessary groundwork for providing a flourishing ground for such a university. It seems that in pursuit of hyped up idea, the very basics prerequisite for such a university has been given a go by. It is not that the people associated with the project are not in a position to help deliver these prerequisite, it is only that they have not applied their minds to it or have not even thought on these lines.

A pertinent question which should have crossed the mind of the mentor group should have been whether they have provided for the necessary backdrop for the university. In the given ambience prevailing in Nalanda, would it be possible to attract the best of 'Knowledge Givers' and 'Knowledge Seekers' from world over? I'm sure even the intellectuals currently residing in Delhi would not be willing to move over to Nalanda to impart education in such a university, let alone people willing to come from other countries. No doubt we would require world quality infrastructure and amenities spread over a much larger area (at least over 100 sq KM) to make Nalanda into a world class university. Size and scale must reflect the grandeur of the Old Nalanda University in all the respect. Also, it would be pertinent to ask if there can ever be a university of the kind of Original Nalanda University unless such a university is supported by the cutting edge applied research capability in its various sphere of operation. If intention is just to revive the name and not the spirit of university then one cannot have much to say. Otherwise, there is an urgent need to rethink the whole Nalanda University strategy to make up for the missing links in its idea.

At this stage, however, mentor group must move quickly to create the necessary applied research infrastructure. The same can be achieved by setting up a research complex comprising of institutes from leading research agencies of India. Given that government wants to start Nalanda International University from year 2009 itself, a host of activity should have already been on to set up a research complex in Nalanda. It would be quite far fetched at this stage even to think of inviting likes of NASA to help set up such cutting edge research institutes but it would not have been that difficult to get ISRO to set up a research center at Nalanda in collaboration with other participating country's Space Research Agencies. Similarly, mentor group should have gone ahead and asked other Indian Research Agencies like TIFR, CSIR, CDAC, CDoT, ICMR, ICAR, NCAER, NEERI and likes to set up an institute each in the said research complex pending invitation from them to their counterparts from other collaborative countries for participation in such institutes. This could have helped make this complex a hub of international collaborative research centers feeding onto Nalanda International University. The cause would have been further helped had the central government also chipped in with the institutes like National Institute of Biotechnology, National Institute of Nanotechnology as also the Institute of Translational Research and UNESCO Regional Center on Biotechnology in the near vicinity of NIU. These various institutes in turn could have been made into an international collaborative research institutes with participation of institutes from other countries.

Without providing for necessary grounding we seem to be chasing a chimera called Nalanda International University. Development of such a center in knowledge excellence cannot happen in confines of 1000 acres as planned by Nalanda Universities mentor group so far. Such a center would require a full fledged self sustaining city country as is the case with Singapore. Since this will be a far fetched idea at this initial stage, at least, a critical mass must be provided for evolution of such a university. State government can expedite evolution of such a research complex by earmarking an area of around 3000 acres in near vicinity of Nalanda International University and allocating the same to all the premier research institutes in their specific spheres to set up their campuses in the complex with an accompanying plan to develop those campuses into a center of collaborative research with institutes/agencies from various participating countries in Nalanda University Project. Dr Kalam, the designated 'Visitor' of NIU, shall be requested to take up the task of roping in the various institutes forthwith. Government of Bihar and Indian Government can also think of setting up an autonomous administrative body for the said research complex with participation of various research agencies head.

Restoring proposed Nalanda University anywhere near to its original self requires some out of the box thinking. Just saying that Nalanda International University would be a benchmark world university is not going to suffice. Vision must translate into demonstrable action.


Amartya Sen visits Nalanda (http://www.***************/news2009/feb/022009/amartya_sen_in_nalanda.html)

Feb 20, 2009

Nobel laureate and economist Amartya Sen who was earlier appointed as the chairman of the Nalanda Mentor Group to revive the Nalanda International University (NIU) near Rajgir, visited the proposed site of the university on Friday with a team of a dozen or so experts to get a better understanding of the ambitious plan.

75-year old Sen spent several hours at the ancient ruins of the Nalanda University and chatted with the officials to find out the local history of the place and other key issues that could affect the opening of the NIU.

The Mentor Group is expected to submit its report to the Central government by the end of March after which the state government would take necessary measures to move forward in the plan.

Sources said Sen and his team were more than satisfied with the choice of the location that is surrounded by natural beauty and a hill that only adds to the charm of the 485-acre land.

As reported before, the idea of the revival of the NIU was first proposed by the former President of India and prominent scientist A. P. J. Abdul Kalam during his visit to Bihar in 2006.


Nalanda University project has implications in globalised world (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/409977/1/.html)

Feb 19, 2009

SINGAPORE: The Nalanda University in India's Bihar state is part of a larger Asian renaissance, says Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo. And its emphasis on the free exchange of ideas has implications on today's globalised world.

Some paintings by Singapore artist Tan Swie Hian are inspired by India's Nalanda University, a centre of intellectual open-mindedness in the ancient world.

Its modern-day revival is driven by the desire to bring back that spirit of enlightenment.

The Nalanda University of the fifth century was, for many years, the seat of Buddhist learning, attracting scholars from all over Asia.

And in a nod to this ancient heritage, the Nalanda of the 21st century hopes to be a centre for inter-faith dialogue, and a bridge between South and East Asia.

The secular varsity will have six faculties, offering post-graduate studies in philosophy, tourism and Asian history.

Singapore's foreign minister - who is a member of a multi-national steering group behind the project, called the Nalanda Mentor Group - said it is part of a larger Asian renaissance. But it will take some years to bear fruit.

Mr Yeo said: "There'll be many practical problems, because Nalanda will be established in the state of Bihar, which is one of the more backward states in India. Infrastructure is woeful. But the plans are there, it will take time, the important thing is support from the highest levels in India."

The steering group's first meeting was in Singapore two years ago. Since then, discussions have been held in Tokyo, New York and New Delhi.

The final meeting will take place in Bihar, India, on Thursday, and a proposal will be presented at the East Asian Summit in Thailand at the end of the month.

The university was initially set to admit its first students this year, but Mr Yeo said that would not be likely now because of administrative issues.


ASI seeks world heritage status for Nalanda ruins (http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/508561/National/1/20/1)

Feb 22, 2009

New Del, Feb 22 The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has moved the UNESCO seeking world heritage status for the ruins of Nalanda, the ancient Buddhist centre of learning.
"The ASI recommendation for the purpose was sent on January 9 this year,"a top ASI official told PTI.

According to the request, Nalanda has been"successfully kept away from the process of industrialisation to retain its originality."

"The ancient site is a symbol of old lively traditions and thoughts, besides art, creativity and universal values,"he said.

Nalanda is an only place where a unique confluence of Gupta period art, medieval cuisine art and bronze and stone art can be found.

(I can't believe it doesnt already have world heritage status!)

Recession a hurdle for reviving Nalanda: Amartya Sen (http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200903011211.htm)

:(

Perkins + Will bring first class learning facility to remote Indian town

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=11835

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/2127/118353vedanta3big.jpg

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/2894/118352vedanta2big.jpg

Looks nice. btw that's the medical facility at the Vedanta university. Perkins and Will's brings in a lot of experience in designing university buildings. They designed the new architecture+urban planning building at my uni and it looks absolutely spectacular from both inside and outside. I had one of my classes there last sem and I absolutely loved visiting it.


Perkins + Will bring first class learning facility to remote Indian town


Working together with the Anil Agarwal Foundation, Perkins+Will have developed the master plan for the Medical Precinct of a new teaching hospital in the extremely remote section of Puri, Orissa, India.

Vedanta University Teaching Hospital is part of a very ambitious plan to develop this rural area into a global center of education and healthcare that would be on par with Harvard, Stanford and Oxford. The 500-bed world-class facility, set to open in 2011, would serve as a regional hub for critical medical specialties such as cardiology and diabetes and focus research on prevalent public health issues in the surrounding area. With the heart of the project geared toward giving back to the community, Perkins+Will architects have carefully incorporated the area’s cultural values by working with local materials and artisans to capture India’s modern art trends within the building plans.

Additionally, some of the hospital’s sustainable features will include daylighting, atriums, storm water management and water conservation through site run-off and an onsite sewage treatment plant, use of local materials, landscaping with local plants and green roof.

another render:
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9914/118351vedanta1big.jpg

Love these projects. I cannot wait till the resurrection of Nalanda begins. I actually had no clue about Vedanta. I know Puri-Konark area is of great importance but I didn't know it was a centre for scholars. Corporate social responsibility is a good motivator for this kind of project.

well things have been happening, but are going unreported on our forum.


Orissa Assembly adopts Vedanta University Bill (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/orissa-assembly-adopts-vedanta-university-bill/365425/)

After long debate spanning over three days, the Orissa Legislative Assembly today passed the Vedanta University Bill, 2009. There was clause by clause discussion on the bill before it was passed in the house.

The admissions to the university will be on merit basis. Though there is no reservation in admission and recruitment for the Orissa students, the university authorities will set up knowledge centres in different regions of the state for development of higher education in these areas.

Similarly, there will be concession in the fee structure for the weaker section, scheduled caste, scheduled tribe students of the state. The governing body of the university will comprise of 16 members. They will include two MLAs, one lady from SC or ST community and two nominated members of the government who includes the higher education secretary and an eminent educationist of the state.

If the university authorities choose to close down the institution, they will have to give notice for it three years in advance. In that case, the land acquired for the university from the local people, government and the Lord Jagannath temple will revert back to the original title holders. The land will be transferred to them at the price at which the land was acquired. It may be noted, the project will require 6000 acres of land.

The multi-disciplinary university based on a self finance model will have a student in take of one lakh and 20,000 faculty when fully operational. The Centres of Excellence for research and instruction proposed under the university will include bio-technology, nano-technology, health sciences, pharmaceutical research, crop genetics, alternative energy sources, rural economics, public policy, marine studies, engineering and design research.

Besides, the Anil Agarwal Foundation will set up a medical college with a state of art hospital. Earlier the Bill was strongly opposed by the opposition legislators led by Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan who questioned the rationale of the state government in handing over a huge chunk of land to an organisation which has no prior experience in setting up an educational institution. They also criticized the government for handling over the Jagannath Temple land to the Vedanta group at throw away prices.

Pitroda may be first chancellor of Vedanta varsity (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/pitroda-may-be-first-chancellorvedanta-varsity/365443/)

The proposed Vedanta University is likely to get chairman of the Knowledge Commission Sam Pitroda as its first Chancellor, Orissa’s Higher Education minister Debi Prasad Mishra said on Thursday.

While replying a debate on the controversial Vedanta University Bill-2009 in assembly, Mishra said the varsity authorities were in consultation with Pitroda to assume office of the Chancellor of the proposed world-class institution to be set up in Puri district.

Mishra gave this information while some members from the opposition Congress and BJP raised doubts on establishment of the Vedanta university which would be given at least 6,000 acre of valuable land.

Besides Pitroda, the varsity authorities also informed the state government, Mishra said that they had already contacted at least three nobel laureates to join as faculty of the proposed world-class university. The developers of the varsity would invest about Rs 15,000 crore.

There's no denying the fact that there is opposition to the university as well, from many quarters. However, the media has been very quiet and no real investigation has been done to assuage all the parties involved.

Some issues I can think of -
The land bank given is huge, does it need it?
Does the land contain minerals that the company plans to mine?

ASEAN summit calls for networked Nalanda varsity

http://www.domain-b.com/economy/trade/20091026_east_asia_summit.html

The Association of South East Asian Nations and its dialogue partners concluded the 15th summit in Cha-am Hua Hin in Thailand with a joint press statement on the revival of Nalanda University as a non-state, non-profit, secular and self-governing international institution with a continental focus.

Finally some news!

Vedanta -

Vedanta University Project in Orissa gets Environment Clearance (http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=17895)

Bhubaneswar: The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) has granted the Environment and CRZ Clearance to Anil Agarwal Foundation for the project recently. With this, Anil Agarwal Foundation has fulfilled another major legal requirement for establishing the university. This approval is likely to facilitate the project to move further.

It may noted here that, Anil Agarwal Foundation, a philanthropic organization established by Mr. Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc, is setting up this multi-disciplinary, world-class university near Puri. This not-for-profit University, being built on a global scale, has been envisaged as one-of-its-kind institution for higher education. Having provision for quality higher education and cutting-edge research facility in 95 academic disciplines for 1,00,000 students, this mega university will put Orissa and India distinctively on world education map. The project envisages construction of 2,73, 68, 959 sq. meters spread out over 6, 892 acres in Puri. This complex will have the university (academic block) on 1,500 acres, R&D Centre and Research Park on 1,200 acres, Olympic Class, Athletic Complex on 300 acres, Water Treatment Plant STP on 100 acres, green belt and open spaces on 1,092 acres, township for faculty and staff on 2,100 acres, Sports Complex on 100 acres and Exhibition Centre on 100 acres of land. The State Government is in the final stages of transferring about 4,000 acres of land, acquired by it for the project.

Anil Agarwal Foundation is taking all efforts to establish the project as per the legal provisions of the land. The project has made it clear that it will abide by the law to set up the University. In this line, Anil Agarwal Foundation had submitted all the required reports and documents like the questionnaire, EIA, EMP and additional clarifications to get the Environmental Clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. After thoroughly appraising the documents and its application and realizing the importance of the project in regards to the socio-economic and educational development of the State, the Ministry has granted the clearance on 16th April, 2010. While the project is facing opposition from different fields, the Environment Clearance is expected to accelerate the process of its establishment.




Vedanta University gets eco-clearance (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Vedanta-University-gets-eco-clearance/608499/)

Bhubaneswar: Vedanta University, which is slated to come up along Orissa’s Puri-Konark highway, is one step closer to reality. The Union ministry of environment and forests last week granted an environmental and coastal regulatory zone clearance to Anil Agarwal Foundation which is promoting the ambitious project. The Anil Agarwal Foundation is a philanthropic organisation established by the chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc of the same name.

The environment clearance which was accorded late last week, would facilitate the not-for-profit project to move further, said a foundation spokesman. With this, Anil Agarwal Foundation has fulfilled another major legal requirement for establishing the university, the spokesman added.

The multi-disciplinary, world-class university has been envisaged as a one-of-its-kind institution for higher education. The varsity for quality higher education will have cutting-edge research facilities in 95 academic streams, with a maximum student enrolment of 1 lakh. The foundation claims that the Vedanta University is modeled on the lines of Stanford University in US.

The project is spread out over 6,892 acres. The entire complex will have the university’s academic block on 1,500 acres, R&D centre and research park on 1,200 acres, green belt and open spaces on 1,092 acres and a township for faculty and staff on 2,100 acres, among others. The Orissa government is in the final stages of transferring about 4,000 acres to the foundation.

Nalanda -

With 7 depts, Nalanda varsity takes shape (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/With-7-depts--Nalanda-varsity-takes-shape/605532)



The long-awaited Nalanda University is finally nearer than ever. With the Nalanda University Bill vetted by the Law Ministry and expected to be tabled in Parliament this session, the countdown has begun for the revival of what was once considered the greatest university in the world.



The varsity will have seven schools, former president A P J Abdul Kalam as its honorary Visiting Rector and tie-ups with international varsities, while Dr Gopa Sabharwal will be the inaugural Rector. Mindful of its historic legacy, the new university will adopt the seal of the ancient Buddhist varsity as its emblem.



Sources said the legislation, to be piloted by the Ministry of External Affairs, will be placed before the Cabinet for approval soon.



The MEA is learnt to have committed that visa procedures would be relaxed for foreign faculty and students associated with the varsity. Admissions will be totally quota free.

http://www.indiablooms.com/NewsDetailsPage/newsDetails161210n.php

New Delhi, Dec 16 (IBNS) China on Thursday contributed US$ 1 million for the Nalanda University in Bihar.


Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest here on Thursday.

“China welcomed India's efforts to revive the Nalanda University. Both sides appreciated the work of the Nalanda Mentor Group and the progress made so far. India welcomed China's contribution of US$ 1 million for the Nalanda University,” said a joint communiqué issued by Singh and Jiabao.

India and China reaffirmed their support for the multilateral cooperation mechanisms in Asia and their positive view on each other’s participation in the cross-regional, regional and sub-regional cooperation processes in Asia.

“The two sides agreed to broaden cooperation within the framework of the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Asia-Europe Meeting, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Russia-India-China trilateral cooperation mechanism and the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC),” said the statement.

Jiabao is on a state visit to India from December 15-17 at the invitation of Singh.

Here is Vedanta's website if anyone is interested -

http://www.vedanta.edu.in/

New Nalanda debut by 2013

Source (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110222/jsp/nation/story_13617750.jsp)
The revived Nalanda University plans to start its first session at a new campus by 2013.

The tentative timetable was announced here today after a meeting of the Nalanda Mentor Group, the Amartya Sen-headed panel tasked with the revival plan, for the first time since the university’s act came into force.

Sen said he was delighted the ancient university could be revived in his lifetime. “Excellence and fairness in educating people in courses which are intellectually challenging and practically useful would be the guiding principles of the university,” the Nobel laureate said.

Vice-chancellor Gopa Sabharwal said in the first stage, the courses would include Buddhist studies, philosophy and comparative religion, historical studies and international relations and peace studies.

Some of the other programmes that could be offered in the initial phase include business management in relation to public policy and development studies, language and literature, ecology and environment studies and information technology.

The vice-chancellor said infrastructure work had started at the 446-acre plot that the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar had given for the campus, which is around 10km from the site of the ancient varsity.

Sabharwal said they were getting “fantastic” support and co-operation from the Bihar government for the project. An international competition has been announced to select an architect to design the new campus.

Sen’s group is working on a plan to ensure that villagers around the site benefit from the new varsity. The efforts follow recent protests by some 200 villagers who had objected to the land acquisition. Officials said the problem has since been sorted out.

Sabharwal recalled that villagers supported the ancient varsity by giving donations and food to the students — most of them Buddhist monks.

Now, the plan being prepared by Sen and his team will propose ways to develop the area by, for instance, sending the students to teach in schools and helping set up cottage industries.

Sen himself dwelt on the theme, saying the university would not only generate skills and technical knowledge in Bihar but also throw up employment opportunities while the state got a “world-class university in the process”.

Today’s meeting of the mentor group was attended by Singapore foreign minister George Yeo.

Nalanda’s revival is being carried out under an international initiative spearheaded by the East Asia Summit, a bloc of which India is a member along with China, Singapore and 13 other nations. India is contributing over Rs 1,000 crore.

Sen expressed confidence that the university would be “recognised for its achievements 20 years down the line”.

Some more renders and info related to the Medical district at the university are now on Perkins+Will's website (http://www.perkinswill.com/work/vedanta-university-medical-precinct-master-plan.html):

Vedanta University Medical Precinct Master Plan

http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/759/vedantampmain14.jpg

Vedanta University is a new university to be built in India, near Puri in the state of Orissa, on the Bay of Bengal. We have reviewed the space program and provided master planning of 62 acres of the medical precinct, schematic design of the hospital and outpatient clinic and will provide support to local consultants during subsequent design and construction phases. The master plan accommodates all future hospital phases; clinic expansion; schools for medical, dental, nursing and pharmacy; central plant functions along with linkages to other campus areas and adjacent housing.

The medical precinct is located at the far eastern edge of campus, bisected into north and south zones by the east/west thrust of the central organizing canal that traverses the entire campus linking the precinct to the rest of the university to the west. Bordering the precinct to the east is the outer loop road and beyond that, a great lagoon. Essentially carved to create fill for the rest of the campus, the lagoon fulfills the need for stormwater retention. It is surrounded with tree-lined promenades, shops, restaurants and other outdoor amenities including a multi-religious chapel floating in the center and also provides reflected views back into the campus.

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/2120/vedantabestmain1.jpg


Radial geometries generated by the University Master Plan (prepared by Ayers Sainte Grosse) place service roads diagonally on the northwest and southwest sides of the medical precinct and an inner loop road completes the western perimeter. These diagonals meet the outer loop road at two critical intersections at the north and south tips of the site, the northern Kolkata Gate and the southern Konark Gate. These two circular roundabouts provide a sense of wayfinding and placemaking in the circulation/arrival sequence to the university. Academic uses planned just to the west of the medical precinct include student housing to the northwest and engineering to the southwest.

In addition to the central canal, two view and pedestrian corridors traverse across the medical precinct from west to east connecting the university to the lagoon.


http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/5135/vedantaapproachmain2.jpg