A Dress for Nalanda University Convocation

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Image source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buddhist_monks_%28Laos-2009%29.jpg

While Nalanda University is regarded as the first university in the world, ancient universities were destroyed by invaders and time. When the British arrived in India some two centuries ago the concept of a university was reintroduced in India. With that came many western customs including western gowns and formal dresses worn at convocations for award of degrees. While this is appropriate for universities developed on the western concept, it is most inappropriate if it is done at the recently revived Nalanda University. The appropriate dress is the same one as must have been worn at the original Nalalnda University on formal occasions and that is the formal Buddhist Monk dress. This author intends to convey this link to the concerned authorities in the hope that the needful will be done.

The Convocation Hall? Image Source: http://pediaa.com/what-is-the-historical-importance-of-ajanta-caves/


The university may have to hire period dress designers to research, design and make the initial dresses. The available sources are the Tibetan monasteries in Sikkim or Dharamshala where His excellency the Dalai Lama would most likely gladly assist provided he is given some time for it.

Image source: http://factmag-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/GyutoMonksTibet130613.jpg

For a detailed note on the recreation of Nalanda University by the author including some other critical suggestions, please see,

https://ashokmalhotra.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/recreating-the-worlds-first-university-nalanda/

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