Drawing inspiration from Oxford and Cambridge -- the English universities that came into being about the time Nalanda University was witnessing the end of its glorious days -- the new university hopes to transform Nalanda into a university town.
"If you go to Oxford or Cambridge, you will see the entire city is a university. The city survives because of the university. We are looking at something similar," says Dr Madan Mohan Jha.
The state government hopes for ancillary activities like enhanced air and road traffic that will economically boost the area -- 200 villages close by will also be developed -- after the university is established.
Since any new university can either be set up by a law enacted by the state legislature or by Parliament, the Bihar cabinet cleared the Nalanda Bill last month. It was passed by the state legislature on March 26.
Image: The founders of the new university hope it will transform Nalanda into a university town like Oxford and Cambridge.
Also see: A day in the life of a school in Bihar
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