The seminar, co-sponsored by the government of Bihar and the Nalanda University, is titled ‘Civilizational Dialogue between India & ASEAN’. The seminar is synchronized with Nalanda University Governing Board meeting conducted at Patna on July 19. There is a long list of Indian and international scholars including most Nalanda University governing board members whose names appear as speakers. Interestingly, Prof. Amartya Sen has been identified as Indian scholar whereas Profs. Sugata Bose, Meghnad Desai and Tansen Sen have been identified as international scholars apparently based on their citizenship. Dr. Gopa Sabharwal’s name is conspicuous by absence. Does it imply that the ICCR does not treat her as scholar? 

The ICCR’s seminar is drawing participation from countries like Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Cambodia who were otherwise not represented in Nalanda University circuit. ICCR’s Patna workshop might be a good cultural gesture. It will provide likes of Amartya Sen, Meghnad Desai and Tansen Sen to speak about Nalanda University for the umpteenth time now. The world has already been hearing it for the last five years.  But building a university is a serious affair. It will not be achieved through such loquacious public relationship exercise. None of the eminent members in Nalanda University governing board has any experience of institution building. Barring N.K. Singh, MP, Rajya Sabha none of them is located in India either.

The government must decide whether the Nalanda University is a cultural-diplomatic symbolism or serious academic enterprise. Until now all indications suggest it has been treated as a cultural-diplomatic project. That was why it was handed over to the MEA which has not an iota of experience in running universities. Amartya Sen & his ilk, until now, has done little towards the University except giving flamboyant speeches in India and abroad. University cannot be established by lectures.