Patna was the world's oldest academic hangout. India must revive it

Part I: Patna 

Patna, once known as Pataliputra, offers an extraordinary tapestry of historical attractions spanning ancient ruins, colonial architecture, and sacred sites. The city is also known as being the capital of multiple ancient royal dynasties, including the Guptas, the Mauryas, the Haryankas; as well as a fundamental trading hub for all the Magadhan kingdoms. But, few people know that Pataliputra was also an ancient academic hub.

Below I provide the circumstantial evidence:-

1. Strategic Location and Political Significance: Pataliputra, founded around 490 BCE by King Ajatashatru and later established as the capital by his son Udayin, was strategically located at the confluence of the Ganga, the Son, and the Gandak rivers. This position made it a natural centre for trade, defence, and governance, attracting rulers and their courts from the Brihadratha, Haryanka, Shishunaga, Nanda, Maurya, and Gupta dynasties. The presence of a powerful royal court would have drawn academicians—philosophers, jurists, historians, and administrators—to advise kings, draft policies, and participate in councils, such as the Third Buddhist Council under Ashoka (c. 250 BCE).

2.Cultural and Dharmic Crossroads: Pataliputra was a melting pot of religious traditions, including Buddhism, Jainism, and Vedic Hinduism. The city hosted significant events like the Third Buddhist Council and a Jain council under Sthulabhadra during Chandragupta Maurya’s reign. This religious diversity fostered an environment where theologians, monks, and philosophers from different sects gathered to debate doctrines, write texts, and exchange ideas. The presence of figures like Megasthenes (Greek ambassador, c. 300 BCE) and Faxian (Chinese pilgrim, early 5th century CE) further highlights its role as a cultural crossroads, inviting foreign scholars and local experts alike.

3. Infrastructure for Learning and Debate: Archaeological evidence from Kumhrar, near Pataliputra, reveals the Eighty Pillared Hall, excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India (1912–1915), believed to be a conference hall from Ashoka’s time (3rd century BCE) for the Buddhist council. This suggests a dedicated space for intellectual gatherings. Additionally, the discovery of Arogya Vihar, a hospital-cum-monastery from the Gupta period (4th–5th century CE), indicates institutional support for medical and monastic learning, likely attracting physicians, architects, and religious scholars to collaborate and teach.

4. Economic Prosperity and Patronage: Pataliputra’s wealth, derived from its control over trade routes and agricultural surplus in the Gangetic plain, enabled royal and noble patronage of the arts and sciences. Megasthenes’ Indica describes a well-administered city with a timber palace and moats, while Faxian noted its prosperity. This economic strength likely funded academicians in fields like architecture, sculpture, public health, and commerce, drawing experts to the city to serve the court or contribute to urban development projects.

5. Proximity to Intellectual Centres: The city’s location near Rajagriha (the earlier Magadhan capital, today's Rajgir) and the emerging Nalanda university (founded c. 427 CE) created a network of learning. Scholars from Rajgir, with its historical councils, and the Nalanda university, with its multidisciplinary curriculum, could easily travel to Pataliputra. In fact, Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze, in their book "An Uncertain Glory" speculate, in a section on India's higher education, that the Nalanda university's proximity to Pataliputra was one of the reasons for its academic diversity and excellence. This, no doubt, made Pataliputra too a natural gathering point for academicians seeking dialogue and collaboration.

6. Historical Accounts of Intellectual Activity: Ancient texts and travelers’ accounts underscore Pataliputra’s intellectual vibrancy. Kautilya, author of the Arthashastra, is traditionally associated with the Mauryan court here, suggesting a hub for political and economic thought. The presence of scholars like Sthulabhadra (Jain ascetic) and the hosting of councils indicate that Pataliputra was a place where diverse academicians convened to systematize knowledge, such as Jain scriptures, and engage in interdisciplinary discourse.

7. Urban Development and Architectural Innovation: The city’s layout, as described by Megasthenes (a parallelogram with a 36 km circumference, fortified with palisades and a moat), and its architectural feats (e.g., the wooden palace) required expertise in engineering, urban planning, and construction. This would have attracted architects, artisans, and scholars of material sciences to gather, share techniques, and contribute to the city’s grandeur.

Therefore, there is little doubt that Pataliputra served as a gathering place for ancient Indian academicians across disciplines, due to its strategic location, political importance, Dharmic diversity, and infrastructure supporting learning. Its economic prosperity and proximity to other intellectual centers like, Rajgir and Varanasi, further enhanced its appeal, drawing scholars in mathematics, astronomy, ecology, architecture, medicine, law, economics, philosophy, etc. The historical accounts of councils, royal patronage, and urban development reinforce its role as a prominent hub for academicians from across the subcontinent to converge, debate, and contribute to the intellectual heritage of ancient India.

Part II: Lindau

Lindau is a small town in southern Germany. In 1951, Count Lennart Bernadotte, a Swedish royal, at the behest of a few German scientists, used his ties to the Nobel committees to bring Nobel laureates to Lindau. The meeting was envisioned as a peace-building and educational initiative in post-War Europe. The subsequent meetings since then have grown in size and scope. The last couple of decades have seen dozens of Nobel laureates and hundreds of young scientists gather in this town annually, not in the form of an academic conference, but as an informal interactive gathering. It's officially called the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. The event provides a relaxed environment focused on scientific exchange and networking, often featuring talks, discussions, and informal activities in a retreat-like atmosphere. 

There are other similar gatherings:-

The Nobel Conference, which takes place at the Gustavus Adolphus College in USA, is an annual event since 1963, gathering Nobel laureates, leading researchers, and the public to explore major scientific and ethical themes. It is also the only U.S. conference authorized to use the Nobel name.

The HOPE Meetings with Nobel Laureates, organized by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), focuses on Asia-Pacific doctoral students and young researchers meeting Nobel laureates in a retreat-style event for discussions, networking, and lectures. The meeting places strong emphasis on mentorship and international scientific exchange.

The Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF) is a prestigious, fully-funded annual gathering in Germany that brings together the world’s top minds in mathematics and computer science with 200 exceptional young researchers from around the globe. According to Microsoft Copilot, it can be described as "the Lindau Meetings’ sibling—but focused on algorithmic brilliance and mathematical elegance rather than the natural sciences". This gathering brings together winners of the Fields Medal, the Abel Prize, the ACM Turing Award, the ACM Prize in Computing, the IMU Abacus Medal, and the Nevanlinna Prize. 

Part III: Why Patna should be India's Lindau 

Patna has a distinguished modern academic history. The city is home to some of the oldest modern colleges in India:-

Patna College, established in 1839, is one of the oldest colleges in eastern India. It's well-known for humanities and social sciences education. 

Bihar National College (B.N. College), established in 1883, was originally a school and was later upgraded. It is strong in arts and sciences education. 

NIT Patna, founded in 1886, as the Pleaders Survey Training School, is one of the earliest technical education institutes in India. It was upgraded to Bihar College of Engineering in 1924 and began offering graduate-level engineering education. It was enacted as a National Institute of Technology in 2004 and as an Institute of National Importance in 2007, by the Government of India.

Prince of Wales Medical College (now known as Patna Medical College), established in 1925, is a historic medical education and service institution.

Patna Science College, founded in 1927, was originally a faculty of the then-nascent Patna University. For decades, the college has been considered as a premier science institution in Bihar and eastern India. Many of its graduates have gone on to become scientists, civil service officers, and educators. The college represents the post-colonial push for scientific education and research in Bihar. 

Patna Law College, established in 1909, is one of the oldest law colleges in India.

Patna Women’s College, established 1940, is the first women’s college in undivided Bihar. It is known for liberal arts and social work education.

Magadh Mahila College, established in 1946, is a pioneer in women’s education in Bihar. 

College of Arts and Crafts Patna, established in 1939, is a hub for traditional and modern visual arts, and has nurtured many regional artistes.

Additionally, Patna is the only city to have both an IIT (IIT Patna) and an NIT (NIT Patna). 

In addition to being an old academic hub, Patna is a city waiting to be visited and explored. From late autumn to early spring, when temperatures range from 10°C to 25°C, the city is perfect for sightseeing, walking tours, and outdoor activities. Sites like Golghar, Patna Museum, Takht Sri Patna Sahib, and Kumhrar ruins -- sites that collectively have millenniums of history -- can be best enjoyed during this season. Additionally, this season also includes festivals Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, offering vibrant cultural experiences unique to Bihar.

Part IV: Who can make it happen 

1. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) gives the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards every year. Named after Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (1894–1955), a pioneering chemical scientist and the founding Director-General of CSIR, the award honours outstanding Indian scientists under the age of 45 for research conducted primarily in India. The award covers the fundamental sciences, the medical sciences, and the engineering disciplines. The award is considered the highest multi-disciplinary science award in India, and is compared to the US National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award.

2. Infosys Science Foundation: The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF), a not-for-profit trust established and funded by Infosys, gives the Infosys Prize every year. Initially, the award was given to mid-career researchers; but from 2024, the award is given to early-career scientists under 40. The award covers the fundamental sciences, the engineering disciplines, and social sciences and the humanity disciplines. The award seeks to elevate the prestige of science and research in India and inspire young Indians to pursue research careers. 

These two institutions can not only bring together their respective awardee scientists, but also organise such a gathering. In other words, these two institutions are well-capable of establishing, not one, but two Lindau-s in India.

Conclusion: It's time for a Bharatiya Vigyan Samavesh at Pataliputra 

India's Lindau-like gathering will not be just an annual, ahistorical retreat of senior and junior scientists. The proposed Bharatiya Vigyan Samavesh at Pataliputra will be a yearly homage to India's milleniums-old science research legacy. If that sounds too much, then here's a simpler reason: Just revive a centuries-long academic practice..... after an 800-year break.