Bhutan’s PM Dasho Tshering Tobgay visits Nalanda University in Rajgir

Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, along with the First Lady on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) visited the campus of Nalanda University (NU) in Rajgir, Bihar.

In preparation for the visit, the University had organised a student-led competition to frame questions for the guest. From over 50 submissions, select questions were posed during the interactive session, reflecting Nalanda’s tradition of dialogue and intellectual exchange.

As per the press note issued by NU, Mr. Tobgay expressed delight in visiting Rajgir and Nalanda with his wife and delegation. Thanking the Government of India, the Government of Bihar and the Nalanda University for their warm welcome, he acknowledged the profound historical importance of Nalanda Mahavihara.

Recalling ancient universities such as Al-Azhar, Bologna, Oxford and Paris, he stressed that Nalanda predated them all, existing for nearly 2,000 years as the world’s foremost centre of higher learning. He described it as a vast city of scholarship and spirituality, producing great masters and shaping Buddhist traditions that continue to flourish in Bhutan.

The Prime Minister noted Nalanda University’s diverse faculty and student community as a continuation of its historic legacy, reaffirming Nalanda’s role as a hub of global unity and learning.

He proposed further collaborations in academic exchanges, scholarships and cultural partnerships, and invited Nalanda to participate in Bhutan’s upcoming Global Peace Prayer Festival.

Mr. Tobgay said, “Nalanda is not just a university of the past—it is a timeless beacon of peace, unity and spirituality that continues to inspire the world. As Bhutan’s only Vajrayana Buddhist kingdom, we deeply cherish Nalanda’s role in shaping our spiritual and cultural traditions. Our future collaborations with Nalanda will be an extension of this historic bond.”

The visit concluded with an interactive dialogue with students. Nalanda University reaffirmed its commitment to advancing peace, sustainability and cross-border partnerships in collaboration with Bhutan and the global community.

The NU Vice Chancellor Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, in his address, emphasised Nalanda University’s philosophy of oneness — with nature, in reconciling development with sustainability and as a pathway to peace and conflict-free coexistence.

Linking these ideals with global frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mr. Chaturvedi underlined the importance of balancing economic growth with ecological responsibility, resonating with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).

Mr. Chaturvedi said, “Nalanda stands as a living symbol of peace, knowledge and ecological consciousness. It is our privilege to host the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bhutan, whose philosophy of Gross National Happiness deeply resonates with Nalanda’s spirit of harmony and sustainability.”