Ignoring the political turmoil between the two neighboring countries, Nalanda University in Bihar granted admission to two Pakistani students, said an official.
The university has offered admission to 83 students: Here is what Nalanda's officer in charge has to say:
- "The university has offered admission to 83 students, including two from Pakistan this year," said Nalanda's officer in charge Saurabh Chaudhury
- He said, of the 83 students from 13 countries, 80 have already taken an admission, and among the other three, two from Pakistan and one from Mayanmar were awaited
- Chaudhary said, "We have offered admission to two students from Pakistan, both have also informed us about their willingness to join the university, but they are yet to report to us."
- Eighty students from Bhutan, Vietnam, Brazil, Laos, Peru, China, South Korea, South Africa, Nigeria, Mayanmar and Japan have got enrolled in Nalanda in 2016
The students from Pakistan "informed us about the delay in visa clearance that has prevented them from reporting here," said Chaudhary.
Nalanda University Director's point of view:
- Nalanda University's Director (Communications) Smita Polite said the two students from Pakistan will study in the School of Environment and Ecology
- Over 6,000 applications from students of 50 countries had been received, she said.
The new university complex of Nalanda is coming up in Rajgir, about 12 km from where the ancient university stood till the 12th century.
This new batch of students was admitted in August and the university also started new departments, the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions.
The university had started its first academic session in a makeshift campus in September 2014.
It is expected that the building of the fully residential complex is going to be completed by 2020. The university would eventually have seven schools for post-graduate and doctoral students, offering courses in science, philosophy and spirituality, and social sciences.
The university is an initiative of Indian government and 18 East Asian Countries.