Rajgir, May 17: Nalanda University, located in Bihar’s Nalanda district, commenced its two-day event ‘Shastrarth 2026’ on Sunday, coinciding with its third convocation ceremony. This initiative aims to restore the rich intellectual traditions of the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara into contemporary academic life.
For the first time, the university has formally integrated the ancient tradition of Shastrarth into its academic calendar. This effort seeks to revive the vibrant spirit of the guru-shishya (teacher-student) relationship, fostering meaningful intellectual dialogue, logical reasoning, and research-oriented discussions to deepen knowledge and achieve academic excellence.
During this event, students publicly defended their research theses, showcasing a rich tradition of serious academic discourse and logical dialogue. Various subject-specific Shastrarth sessions are currently ongoing.
The primary goal of the program is to rejuvenate the tradition of reasoning, evidence, dialogue, and the quest for truth inherent in Indian philosophical thought, aligning it with modern academic methodologies.
The inauguration began with a student choir performance, followed by an address from Vice-Chancellor Professor Sachin Chaturvedi. A panel discussion on “The Tradition of Shastrarth: History, Practice, and Contemporary Relevance” featured distinguished scholars and thinkers connected to various dimensions of Indian knowledge traditions.
Professor Sachin Chaturvedi emphasized, “At Nalanda, we want students not just to submit research papers but to understand, express, and present their ideas within broader contexts. Education cannot solely rely on artificial intelligence; it develops through intellectual struggle and self-reflection.”
He noted that ancient Indian knowledge traditions never separated ethics from governance or knowledge from public life. The quest for dharma, artha, and policy is an attempt to re-understand this holistic civilizational perspective.
Over the two-day event, 23 subject-specific Shastrarth sessions will cover topics including Buddhist studies, Hindu studies, archaeology, ecology, international relations, sustainable development, literature, and philosophy.
These sessions, based on traditional structures of debate, encourage students and alumni to engage in disciplined reasoning, critical dialogue, and collaborative thinking. They are founded on fundamental principles such as evidence, reasoning, and virtue.
The university will also present two honors during the convocation Shastrarth: the ‘Nalanda Shastrarth Award’ for teachers fostering curiosity and dialogue, and the ‘Nalanda Shastrarth Prize’ for students demonstrating outstanding intellectual discourse and ideological openness. The formal convocation ceremony will take place on May 19, where graduates will receive their degrees in the spirit of the ancient Nalanda tradition.
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