Patna,(BiharTimes): Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen on Saturday denied media reports that he had threatened to resign from the post of Chancellor of Nalanda University.

The news in this regard was first published in the Indian Express.

Prof Sen, who is in Patna to attend Nalanda University’s Governing Board meeting on Sunday, said Nalanda University should be granted international university status.

However, he regretted that a section in the government is trying to treat it as a central university. It would be injustice to “our Asian colleagues as nine countries are part of the project and it would not only be a betrayal to Asian countries but also to the Indian parliament.”

Speaking at the release of the book, “Archaeology and Art of Ganga, Gandak and Kosi Basin” in honour of Piyushendu Gupta, a noted medical practitioner and art historian, the Nobel Laureate said there is no truth in reports about his resignation from the post of Chancellor of Nalanda University.

He reiterated that the glory of Nalanda University would not be confined to India.

Earlier, Dr Piyushendu Gupta was conferred with the Itihas Ratna award of the Asiatic Society Bihar. Prof Sen presented the award to Dr Gupta, who is the father of noted economist and member-secretary, ADRI, Shaibal Gupta.

The book has been edited by Patna-based historian Dr O P Jaiswal and Dr Bijoy Kumar Choudhary, director of KP Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna.

Addressing the gathering Lord Meghnad Desai, who is also a member of the Governing Board of Nalanda University, said a lot of writings of Piyushendu Gupta have been reproduced in the book and it has a critical inquiry into the history of Bihar.