The ancient Vedic universities in India were once a thriving force and the epicentre of global learning, drawing scholars and students from all over the world. These Vedic institutions used to be the symbols of Indian intellectual and cultural wealth. Now buried in the sands of time their stories are a silent testament to a glorious past.
Among these forgotten universities is the Pushpagiri University in Odisha which is said to be established by the respected Emperor Ashoka himself. The university is spread across three hills of Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri and Udayagiri. This university attracted students from across the world, offering a curriculum that was diverse among several disciplines.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Vikramshila University was another centre of learning wherein, 100 teachers taught over 1000 students. It had a one-teacher, one-student policy. It was not only an educational, but also a spiritual institution with several temples across the campus. Telhara university also in UP was a notable and respected competition to Nalanda University, ruins of which were uncovered in recent excavations revealing many historic facts such as the travel accounts of Chinese scholars Hiuen Tsang and I Tsing.
In Andhra Pradesh, the Nagarjunakonda University stood as a beacon of knowledge with its multi-story library and housing manuscripts on science, medicine and philosophy.
These forgotten Vedic universities are not just ruins, they are a reminder of India’s once thriving educational system, rich educational heritage and the hub of profound knowledge. These stories serve as a reminder of how India led the world in building the educational infrastructure. From one of the oldest universities in the world, the "Nalanda University" to India's largest university, the "Delhi University", India has proved that you do not need fancy technology to bring quality education to the forefront.
However, as a true patriot and an experienced student of the Indian education system, I strongly believe that the current education system needs a revisit in accordance with the knowledge our 1000-year-old universities brought to the fore-front.
We have the potential to overcome these challenges and lead the world in knowledge like our ancestors did. By learning from our past, we can rebuild and restore the spirit of scholarship that once defined our nation’s greatness. I think this is why it is so important to cherish our lost and forgotten history. They tell stories of our great achievements as a nation- not just about our rich culture but also about the educational wealth we had.
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