Ancient Nalanda University Poem by Bijay Kant Dubey

How was it Nalanda University
I think,
The ancient Nalanda University,
Where was it housed,
How the buildings of it,
Who the acharyas teaching,
How their methods?

How the site of it,
Who built it,
How were the masons at work,
The architects and designers
And planners of it
And how the age,
The people,
How the gates of it
The door-keepers of it?

How the architecture of it,
How the planning and design
Of those times,
The plan of the building,
Building materials used in
Establishing the university?

Was it historical,
National or international,
Where did the students come from,
From which routes,
The students from which lands,
What brought them there,
What inspired them to be at?

What were the texts
They taught at,
Who were the scholars
Imparting knowledge,
How did they converse with
The foreign disciples
Speaking alien tongues
Coming from different nationalities?

But mark it,
In quest of knowledge
They coming from far
In quest of light,
Wisdom,
Religious quest,
Spiritual thirst.

Nalanda University
The Mahavihara
With its architectural buildings
Cloistered
And ornamental
Standing as a pedestal of glory
With stupas and viharas,
The meditation halls.

Was it a Buddhist university,
Was it a Hindu university,
Was it sectarian or secular
Or free from any prejudice,
Hypocritical precept and bias,
Did the people from
Irrespective of bars read there?