Bakhtiyar Khilji invaded the Mahavihara in Nalanda, a Buddhist monastery, and unleashed a brutal massacre. He didn't just attack a king's fort or loot treasures; he obliterated a university, spreading knowledge. You need to understand Nalanda, man. Back in the 5th century, it was among the oldest universities in the world, located in Bihar. Nalanda, from the Sanskrit words na alam daara, means an unstoppable flow of knowledge. Mahavira and Singh found insights at Nalanda, addressing Chinese issues. Founded by Gupta dynasty ruler Kumaragupta in the 5th century, Nalanda housed around 10,000 students and 1,510 teachers in 2017, making it a beacon of education.

People from Sri Lanka and India studied here, diving into mathematics and the original teachings of the Upanishads. It was a prestigious institution, boasting notable figures like Harshvardhan, Dharmapal, Nagar, and Padmasambhav. Mathematician Aryabhata’s university thrived as a knowledge hub for 500 years, but it vanished into obscurity in the 21st century. The story of Nalanda’s downfall is both fascinating and devastating.

Three major attacks devastated Nalanda. The first, under Mihirkul in 52260, saw police infiltrate with Basic Central Patients. During the Gupta Empire, they invested in innovation but only restored Skand Gupta’s subscription instead of expanding Nalanda. The second attack occurred at a toll booth. History books mention Bengal’s Gauridas Rajvansh attacking Nalanda. After this, Buddhist King Harshavardhan rebuilt it. The third, deadliest assault was by Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193 AD.

Bakhtiyar Khilji, falling ill and desperate, ignored advice to seek treatment from Nalanda's principal, Rahul Shribhadra, due to his bias against Muslims. Eeven Rahul Srijbhadra and Bakhtiyar Khilji must meet him. He tells them to avoid any medicine. Only Rahul Srijbhadra wanted to challenge, and Hindus aimed to belittle him. Despite this, Rahul assured recovery through reading the Quran. Miraculously, Khilji recovered, sparking his envy and insecurity. How could these infidels surpass Muslim doctors? His jealousy drove him to annihilate Nalanda.

Rahul, Sheel, and Bhadra thrived in Nalanda among thousands of Buddhist monks, creating waves of knowledge. The world’s largest library, Dharmaganj, was here, with three colossal buildings—Ratnagar, Ratnodadhi, and Ratnaranjak—holding around 9 million books. Khilji’s army, like ravenous wolves, descended upon Nalanda, setting the library ablaze. Contemporary historian Siraj wrote that it burned for three months, an inferno of irreplaceable knowledge. Khilji’s assault obliterated Nalanda and the entire country, leaving nothing but ruins.

With time, sandstone structures were buried beneath the earth. Khilji also demolished two more universities in Bihar—Vikramshila and Odantapuri—inflicting damage not just on India but the entire world. This wasn't just a jealous act; it was a cataclysmic loss of millennia of heritage. In India, the mere word "book" is revered, and this event shames us profoundly. While we can’t resurrect the lost treasure of Nalanda, we can rebuild these educational hubs.

In 2006, President APJ Abdul Kalam initiated Nalanda’s revival, pushing the Indian Parliament to establish the university anew. Renowned scholar Amartya Sen became the chairman of its governing body. Admissions began in 2018, a long journey to reclaim past glory. With government efforts, we hope India will once again lead the world in education.

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