Academicians speak up for Sanskrit

[Guest guest]

With Cambridge University closing down its Sanskrit department, there

are academicians who have raised doubts over the popularity of the

language.

 

Cambridge may be shutting shop for undergrad students of Sanskrit, yet

Dr John Smith, reader in Sanskrit at Cambridge, may be wrong in his

fears that Sanskrit might soon face a shortage of teachers. With the

language reporting growth at all levels in India and abroad, one is

tempted to allay the academician's fears.

 

Delhi-based Vice Chancellor of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Dr

Kutumba Shastry, reports the subject's futuristic worth: "The amazing

wisdom bank encrypted in Sanskrit can't be neglected in humanity's

race for progress. It is no wonder that studies are being conducted to

decode ancient yet concurrent logs in Sanskrit in the field of medicine,

anatomy, agriculture, literature, linguistics and philosophy among

others." Going by a steady increase in enrolments for higher studies

and research projects alongside a record attendance at informal study

centres that promote colloquial Sanskrit, the VC is only too happy.

 

Dr PK Pandey, director UP Sanskrit Sansthanam, cites a new trend in

the form of scientific research papers by local scholars. "Dr Navlata's

national award winning book Jal Vigyan which connects Vedic gems on

agriculture with real life, is just one of such scientific studies underway

in the fields of meteorology, agriculture, sound energy, electricity and

magnetism," he informs. So it is not without reason that foreign

academicians are interested, to say nothing of US-based Maharishi

University of Management that links management with Vedic sciences!

 

Not one to be surprised by increased international interest in Sanskrit,

Dr Urmila Srivastava heading the Sanskrit department at Arya Kanya

Degree College, Allahabad and visiting Professor at University of

Nairobi, shares: "I was overwhelmed by the local students' enthusiasm

for Vedic spirituality." While Dr Anand Srivastava, heading Allahabad's

CMP College's department of Sanskrit, applauds the "changed

approach towards Sanskrit texts as supporting practical life skills from

the earlier take on them as mythical tales."

 

Closer home, Dr Om Prakash Pandey teaching Sanskrit at LU, speaks

from his experience as visiting professor Sorbonne University, France.

While noting an avid interest of European scholars in Sanskrit, Pandey

rues the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' complete lack of initiative to

promote the language or even Indian culture in any substantial

way. "Exchange programmes for scholars will strengthen bonds

between scholars of Sanskrit. Indian embassies should help foreign

scholars get visas."

 

Dr Vijay Karan, who takes informal Sanskrit learning classes and

teaches the language at Vidyant College, sums up Sanskrit's

relevance: "Sanskrit, sanskriti and sanskar go hand in hand. Sanskrit

will flourish as long as it addresses mankind's current needs."

 

So Doc Smith, don't worry, Sanskrit still has plenty of takers.

 

anisha.sharma (AT) timesgroup (DOT) com

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/263126.cms