Scientific study of Sanskrit literature imperative

Speakers at a seminar on 'Current challenges of Sanskrit at higher education' stressed the need for scientific study of Sanskrit literature.

At the two-day seminar organized by the Research Management Unit of Bindhabasini Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Pokhara on Monday, the speakers viewed that although there is science in Sanskrit literature, the society was not made aware of it.

Inaugurating the seminar, former Chancellor of Nepal Academy, Dr Jagman Gurung, said only scientific learning of Sanskrit literature helps understand the value of Sanskrit. He also said the activists of Sanskrit literature should change themselves collectively and spread the significance of Sanskrit.

On the occasion, Associate Professor Guru Prasad Subedi argued that the government failed to provide adequate investment in Sanskrit education, so it could not be managed well and people attracted towards it. Once our community and the world are inculcated the universal significance of Sanskrit literature, its relevance would grow more, he added.

Similarly, another Associate Professor Shanti Krishna Adhikari, said 17 departments at Sanskrit University need to prepare at least two erudite human resources every year in order to save classic aspects of culture. He urged the university to invest more on education.

Chief of Bindhyabasini Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Dr Jagannath Regmi, also argued that adequate attention from the State side is necessary to make Sanskrit education more salient.

Other speakers said original teaching and learning methods could be developed for Sanskrit education. They asserted that Sanskrit University was facing problems because of socio political changes in the country. The social system reflecting Nepali originality should be restored.

They also argued that morality was eroding fast in society for lack of Sanskrit education. The national education policy had badly impacted Sanskrit education, they asserted.