The Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Study is envisaged as
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A self-contained site of scholarly pursuits in an environment of intellectual fellowship
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A source of academic enrichment for the university community
Specialization in knowledge and work will have to continue, but it seems more essential than ever that a synthetic view of human life and man's adventure through the ages should be encouraged. This view will have to take into consideration the past and the present, and include in its scope all countries and peoples. In this way perhaps we might develop, in addition to our own national backgrounds and cultures, an appreciation of others and a capacity to understand and cooperate with the peoples of other countries….We might become, in Plato's words, `spectators of all time and all being', drawing sustenance from the rich treasures that humanity has accumulated, adding to them, and applying them in building for the future.
Jawaharlal Nehru: The Discovery of India