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About the AIHC & Archaeology Department
The Department of Ancient History Culture and Archaeology, one of the premier centers for teaching and research. The thrust areas of the Department are Ancient Indian History, Culture, Historiography, Cultural and Political History of South and South East Asia, Paleography and Epigraphy, Numismatics, Ancient Indian Architecture and Archaeology. In Post-Graduation, one full paper is based on practical Archaeology and another paper covers important excavated sites of India. In this point of view, the department conducts field Survey (Exploration) and participate in Excavations for the better understanding of archaeology from time to time. From which students could enhance their knowledge through practical archaeology. As we know, this Department is a part of renowned Nava Nalanda Mahavihar (Deemed University) and being situated in the land of Lord Buddha, Department is mostly focusing on the Teachings and Moral values of ‘Lord Buddha’. That’s why in Post-graduation, one paper is based on History of Buddhism and in B.A. (Subsidiary Paper), and two papers cover the different aspects of Buddhism. The Department is one of the largest departments of the University. There are 40 seats in Post-Graduation level and 40 seats in B.A. (Hons.) Pali as a subsidiary programme. Total seats in PhD programme is 6 but at present, 2 students enrolled for the PhD programme. The department has very strong doctoral programme which covers all aspects of Ancient History Culture and Archaeology in all over the country as well as abroad. The Mahavihar takes examination through semester system. The Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed University) is touching new heights under the leadership of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Baidyanath Labh. Dr. C.B Mishra is the current head of Department of Ancient History Culture and Archaeology. The department has two Ad-hoc teachers. We are pleased to inform you that more than 75 percent students got selected in various government services. The future plan of the department is to run Nalanda School of Art.
About University
Nalanda and the ruins of the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara are almost synonymous. The name Nalanda conjures up a picture of ancient Mahavihara, which was a great seat of Buddhist education for nearly 700 years between the 5th to 12th centuries AD.
The contribution of the Nalada Mahavihara, Nalanda in the development of Buddhist education is widely recognized. Many great Acaryas of Nalanda had helped is dissemination of Knowledge and Buddhist culture through out the world.
His Excellency, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first president of the Republic of India had initiated the idea and declared that the ancient seat of Buddhist learning at Nalanda would be revived and thus had emanated the vision of establishing the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara. On November 20, 1951, the foundation stone of the first building was laid with the following engraving :
“Let the rays of the sun of Nalanda rise from the summit of this rock in order to brighten the vernacular (lokabhasa in pali) after the passing away of its nights of darkness (period of its obscurity).”
At the insistence of Ven. Bhikshu Jagdish Kashyap and with this goal in mind, the Government of Bihar established a research institute called “Magadh Institute of Post-Graduate Studies and Research in Pali and Allied Languages and Buddhist Learning” at Nalanda in 1951. It later came to be known as Nava Nalanda Mahavihara.
Bhikshu Jagdish Kashyap became the Founder-Director of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, and continued in that capacity until February 1955. One of his major accomplishments was the complete publication, in 41 volumes, of a critical edition of the entire PaliTipitaka in Devanagari script. It was very popular and quickly went out of print.
The inspiration behind the establishment of this institute was to develop a centre of Higher Studies in Pali and Buddhism along the lines of ancient Nalanda Mahavihara. From the beginning, the Institute functioned as a residential institution, with a limited number of Indian and foreign students.
On November 13, 2006, the University Grant Commission accorded the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda the status of a Deemed to be University.
The present campus of the Mahavihara is some 100 kms from the metropolis of Patna, situated on the southern bank of the historical lake Indrapuskarani. Close to the northern bank lie the ruins of the ancient University of Nalanda.