PATNA, March 31 -- President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said that the independent and critical thinking based on compassion which the Nalanda spirit epitomised remains more relevant today than ever before, at a time when the world is faced with complex challenges.

"The idea of Nalanda linking knowledge to the well-being of the society and humanity at large is still relevant. I am confident that the Nalanda University will emerge as a leading institution in Asia and the world and make a mark due to its inherent values," she added.

She said that adopting good ideas from all sources was not just an ideal, but a living tradition, as Nalanda never saw knowledge separately and welcomed diverse ideologies and encouraged debate and dialogue. "Na...