Context:
Nalanda University in Bihar has formally included Śāstrārtha, an ancient Indian tradition of philosophical and scholarly debate, in its convocation programme. The initiative, called Śāstrārtha 2026, aims to revive India’s classical culture of reasoned dialogue and academic disputation.
- Śāstrārtha literally means a discussion or debate based on śāstra or authoritative knowledge texts.
- It was an important intellectual tradition in ancient India, especially in centres of learning such as Nalanda, Vikramashila, Takshashila and Kanchi.
- It involved structured debate on philosophy, religion, logic, metaphysics, ethics and social questions.
- Major Indian traditions such as Buddhism, Jainism, Nyaya, Vedanta, Mimamsa and Samkhya used debate to defend doctrines and refine ideas.
- Śāstrārtha was not merely argument; it emphasised reasoning, evidence, scriptural interpretation and intellectual discipline.
- It helped preserve India’s traditions of pluralism, critical inquiry and dialogic learning.
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Śāstrārtha Tradition and Nalanda’s Intellectual Revival