Nalanda University is not just India’s pride – it is a symbol of the world’s ancient knowledge tradition.
Founded around 450 CE by Gupta Emperor Kumaragupta I, Nalanda was the world’s first residential university, where thousands of students and hundreds of teachers lived and studied together.
But one question still sparks debate among historians – Who burned Nalanda University ? Was it the result of the conflict between Buddhists and Brahmins, or did Bakhtiyar Khilji, the Afghan general, destroy this great center of learning ?
Historians’ View : No Solid Evidence Against Khilji According to Dr. Lakshmikant Sinha, a noted historian of Nalanda, there is no historical evidence to prove that Bakhtiyar Khilji burned Nalanda University.
He explains that in 1197 CE, Khilji attacked Odantapuri modern – day Bihar Sharifin search of hidden treasures. However, in the historical text “Tabaqat – i-Nasiri”, written by Minhajuddin Abu Usman, there is no mention of Khilji attacking or setting fire to Nalanda.
Historians believe that Khilji only captured Odantapuri Fort and returned to Delhi with the loot.
Therefore, there is no direct proof that Khilji was responsible for burning Nalanda.
Nalanda Old Image
Instead, some scholars argue that Nalanda’s decline began due to political instability and the ideological conflict between Buddhists and Brahmins, which had already weakened the institution.
The Buddhist – Brahmin Conflict : Roots of Nalanda’s Destruction
Several historians believe that between the 8th and 9th centuries, tensions grew between the Buddhist and Brahmin communities. It is said that followers of Adi Shankaracharya destroyed Buddhist monasteries and established Shiva lingams at their sites.
According to Dr. Sinha, this religious and philosophical clash could have led to the destruction of Nalanda University.
He suggests that many Buddhist monasteries were burned, and monks were killed during this period.
From this perspective, Nalanda’s fall was not the result of a foreign invasion, but rather of religious intolerance and internal conflict between two Indian traditions.
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Khilji’s Role : Legends and Popular Beliefs
Some Muslim historians and archaeologists, however, believe that Bakhtiyar Khilji was responsible for burning Nalanda. After the 1920 excavations led by archaeologist Hiranand Shastri, this theory gained popularity – that Khilji had burned the libraries of Nalanda.
According to one famous legend, Khilji once fell seriously ill. A Buddhist monk offered him a sacred book for healing. The book’s pages had medicinal substances on them, and as Khilji read it, he began to recover. When he realized that his cure came from a Buddhist text, he became furious and burned the entire library in anger.
Although this story has no confirmed historical proof, it has become a powerful symbol of how ignorance and ego can destroy centers of knowledge. Nalanda’s burning thus stands as a tragedy – when the flame of wisdom was engulfed by the darkness of intolerance.
Rebirth of Nalanda : The Flame of Knowledge Rises Again
In 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Nalanda University campus, calling it a symbol of India’s glorious heritage. Today, Nalanda has once again become a global center of higher education.
Nalanda University Image
Modern Nalanda offers courses in Environmental Studies, Buddhist Philosophy, Historical Studies, Technology, and Management. Students from 17 countries are currently studying here, carrying forward the same spirit of global learning that once made ancient Nalanda the pride of Asia.
The ruins of old Nalanda still remind us that – Fire can burn books, but it can never destroy knowledge. True wisdom rises again from the ashes of time.”
Nalanda’s Burning Was Not Just a Tragedy – It Was a Lesson
Even today, there is no single confirmed proof about who actually burned Nalanda University.
Some link it to Bakhtiyar Khilji’s invasion, while others see it as a result of the Buddhist – Brahmin conflict.
Whatever the truth may be, one message remains eternal –
Knowledge cannot be protected by weapons, but by wisdom and understanding.
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