Nalanda’s literal translation would be “give lotus”, which loosely means “offer goodness”. About 1500 years back this was the place that became center of knowledge. It offered space for about 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers, and spread across many kms. I have come here in 1999, and this time too I could feel what this place could have been many centuries ago. Meticulously constructed dormitories with living space, bed, rack for study material, common ground water well and toilet, all these for set of 30 students each that consisted a unit, ventilation, kitchen so on. The library (know as treasure of truth) held huge collection of study material. Those were exciting times, of fervent discussions, sharing and knowing. Exalted thoughts and ideas that had started to grow independent of brahminical stranglehold and obnoxious structure. When you walk through these dormitories you could still feel so much care and compassion that went into building this great center of ancient knowledge. If you put this in context of world history, as barbarians roamed around the world, then we realize the significance of Nalanda. 
Even though structures may be destroyed and forgotten but collective conscience survives, that is what you see in subtleties and sensibilities that exist in certain societies. I see that it in zen, in haikus, in art (mandala or flower art of Thais are only few examples of exalted subtlety)…in peaceful people, in people who pursue knowledge to share, in contemplation and meditation, in worldviews that reflects universality of human spirit. That it couldn’t much percolate into Indian society is another instance of mediocre elites (Brahminical puss that gangrened Indian society), of course one does see shades of Buddhism in pan Indian thought stream (also kerala murals and temples). Collective conscience of destruction too survives, it does in violent people and their ugly worldview. If Taliban is surviving conscience of marauding muslim invaders then sucking colonizers do trace its conscience through marauding market. The context changes but collective conscience does survive. Attack on 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan is another instance on attack on goodness, on society that seeks knowledge, therefore understanding, therefore compassion. When the marauders burned the library of Nalanda it ember for many months, what a colossal loss to humanity.
Britain gets some lesson on propriety
Britain’s arrogance at one point was such that they gave space to scum of earth in the name of freedom of expression and democracy. That these scoundrels caused much misery to people around the world was none of their concern. They even provided interviews of people who had nothing but vicious things to say (even BBC, which in recent times has become quite mediocre). What goes does come back, and sure does. Abu Hamza episode gave them a good lesson. Small grace for us people across the world. 
