The fate of Nalanda University, the world’s first residential university, is often told as a dramatic tale of destruction by invader Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji, but the reality is more nuanced and layered. Here’s a deep dive into why Nalanda was burnt—exploring historical evidence, scholarly debates, and local legends to uncover the full story:
🏛 1. Who Was Bakhtiyar Khilji & What Happened?
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Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji was a Turkic military leader who conquered parts of Bihar and Bengal in the late 12th century under the Delhi Sultanate. His troops invaded the region around 1193 CE
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Traditional accounts say his forces decimated Buddhist and Hindu sites like Vikramashila, Odantapuri, and Nalanda, massacring monks and torching libraries whose flames supposedly burned for months
🔥 2. What Does Archaeology Tell Us?
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Excavations at Nalanda revealed thick layers of ash, confirming at least one major fire
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However, archaeological layers show multiple destruction events over centuries—not just a single 1193 attack
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Tibetans recorded that scholars fled monasteries during a wave of systematic destruction across Magadha between 1193 and 1205
🕰 3. Evidence from Historical Records
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Minhaj-i-Siraj (Tabaqat-i-Nasiri) describes Khilji’s raid on a Buddhist monastery near Bihar, but does not explicitly name Nalanda
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Tibetan sources like Dharmasvamin (1234 CE) report seeing ruins and meeting a small remnant community of monks at Nalanda, indicating the university loosely continued for decades
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Primary sources do not definitively link Khilji to an act of burning Nalanda’s library specifically
🌱 4. The Gradual Decline of Nalanda
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Nalanda had already suffered three major earlier attacks:
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Hunas (~5th century)
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Attack by Gauda kings/Pala conflicts (~7th century)
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Withdrawal of royal patronage when focus shifted to universities like Vikramashila and Odantapuri
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By the 12th century, it had faded to a shadow of its former glory .
🧵 5. Alternative Theories
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Some narratives (e.g., Ram Puniyani) argue the fire may have originated from an internal ritual by Brahmin ascetics retaliating during sectarian conflicts—later mythologized as Khilji’s act
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Others assert Odantapuri—not Nalanda—was the key casualty of Khilji’s raid, while Nalanda was secondarily damaged .
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Given the lack of clear primary source evidence, some historians classify the Khilji narrative as legend rather than verified fact
🗓 6. What Really Happened?
Here’s a balanced summary:
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Multiple destructions occurred, including one by Khilji’s forces around 1193 CE.
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The massive fire, civil conflict, and elite decline in Buddhism led to the irreversible collapse of the institution.
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Nalanda persisted in diminishing form until at least the early 13th century, supported by patronage from local rulers
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The dramatic story of library flames burning for three months survives in legend and later accounts—but lacks primary documentary confirmation
📜 7. Why the Story Matters Today
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Nalanda symbolizes the depth of India’s intellectual past and the joy of interdisciplinary learning
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Simplistic narratives (e.g., “it was destroyed because Muslims hate knowledge”) risk promoting communal divisiveness .
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Understanding the complex collapse—involving religious, political, and economic factors—offers a more truthful legacy and aids modern medical, academic, and cultural restoration efforts.
✅ Final Takeaway
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Nalanda was destroyed in stages due to invasions (including Khilji), sectarian conflict, and declining patronage.
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True-to-reality history acknowledges multiple causes and the university’s continued diminished existence past 1200 CE.
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There’s no definitive primary source proving Khilji specifically burned the library at Nalanda.
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The university’s collapse was tragic yet gradual, and still offers lessons about cultural resilience and scholarly heritage.