07-21-2007, 12:09 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Amartya Sen and Nalanda
It is headed by Amartya Sen, known for his communist slant. His Argumentative Indian wholly ignores the rich tradition of debate that existed in Hindu philosophical schools of thought and instead, concentrates on the Buddhist tradition of argumentation. The latter pales in comparison in terms of breadth, scope, modes, style, and techniques of debate. Senâs essays and speeches condemning Indian nuclear tests, and his support of the Chinese Cultural Revolution also blunt his credentials in heading a project of this magnitude.
The Nalanda university did not offer only Buddhist subjects. It taught all Darshanas (Hindu systems of Philosophy), phoentics, grammar, nyaya/rhetoric, and fine arts apart from the list that Sudha Ramachandran mentions. Kumarila Bhatta is a good example to illustrate how Nalanda worked. A powerful exponent of Vedanta, he enrolled at Nalanda, when he was about 80 years old, to learn Buddhism inside out so he could defeat Buddhists in argument and establish the supremacy of Vedanta. His life illustrates the spirit of the University where learning was imparted regardless of age or the studentâs previous educational/philosophical background.
If the sole aim of this revival project is boosting Indiaâs esteem or scoring any sort of political goal, it is the antithesis of everything that Nalanda stood originally for. The various dynasties that patronized Nalanda had encouragement and promotion of learning as their goal. They selected the best men to accomplish that. The revival project must proceed in the same spirit. If Nalanda needs to reclaim its rightful status as the worldâs foremost center of learning, it should offer every conceivable branch of learning taught by the most eminent people in their fields. A Nobel Laureate in todayâs world does not exactly define eminence if that is the reason Sen has been selectedâapart from being a person born in India. At the least, an academic should be shorn of political leanings. Sen does not qualify on this count either.
http://www.sandeepweb.com/2007/07/08/rec...ng-nalanda<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It is headed by Amartya Sen, known for his communist slant. His Argumentative Indian wholly ignores the rich tradition of debate that existed in Hindu philosophical schools of thought and instead, concentrates on the Buddhist tradition of argumentation. The latter pales in comparison in terms of breadth, scope, modes, style, and techniques of debate. Senâs essays and speeches condemning Indian nuclear tests, and his support of the Chinese Cultural Revolution also blunt his credentials in heading a project of this magnitude.
The Nalanda university did not offer only Buddhist subjects. It taught all Darshanas (Hindu systems of Philosophy), phoentics, grammar, nyaya/rhetoric, and fine arts apart from the list that Sudha Ramachandran mentions. Kumarila Bhatta is a good example to illustrate how Nalanda worked. A powerful exponent of Vedanta, he enrolled at Nalanda, when he was about 80 years old, to learn Buddhism inside out so he could defeat Buddhists in argument and establish the supremacy of Vedanta. His life illustrates the spirit of the University where learning was imparted regardless of age or the studentâs previous educational/philosophical background.
If the sole aim of this revival project is boosting Indiaâs esteem or scoring any sort of political goal, it is the antithesis of everything that Nalanda stood originally for. The various dynasties that patronized Nalanda had encouragement and promotion of learning as their goal. They selected the best men to accomplish that. The revival project must proceed in the same spirit. If Nalanda needs to reclaim its rightful status as the worldâs foremost center of learning, it should offer every conceivable branch of learning taught by the most eminent people in their fields. A Nobel Laureate in todayâs world does not exactly define eminence if that is the reason Sen has been selectedâapart from being a person born in India. At the least, an academic should be shorn of political leanings. Sen does not qualify on this count either.
http://www.sandeepweb.com/2007/07/08/rec...ng-nalanda<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->