Growing popularity of Sanskrit education

In history, generational schools have been recognized for teaching Sanskrit and Vedic scriptures by keeping students in courtyard, but now there are schools in Pokhara that teach Sanskrit subjects from the campus.

According to history, around the 18th-19th century, in the northern part of Kaski, in present-day Annapurna Rural Municipality, in Paundur, students were kept for generations, according to Gurushishya tradition, Sanskrit and related Vedas and Chandi etc. were taught. From that time, Kaski became like a center of education due to the studies that took place in the surrounding areas of Vindhyavasini along with Paundur.

Scholars say that the educational development of Pokhara started from generational schools in Paundur because the guru of the Paudel tribe taught his disciples in their . At that time, students from different parts of the country used to come to Pokhara to study because the scholars of Vindhyavasini and nearby Parajuli and Regmi types taught them according to the gurushishya tradition. From that time, it is assumed that those who did not get education were called Kashi or Kaski. Recently, in the name of modern education, the attraction towards Sanskrit education is decreasing, but in Pokhara, the attraction towards it does not seem to decrease.

Students from different parts of the country come to Vinduvasini Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Bhimkalipatan Bagar to study Sanskrit. This university, established in 2050 by the activism of Sanskrit lovers, became a separate campus of Nepal Sanskrit University (then Mahendra Sanskrit University) in 2053. Similarly, Sanskrit secondary school, Chisakhola Vidyashram, Narayansthan, Charitable Association Dhungesanghu, Radhakrishna Gurukul Vidyashram Lameahal, Vindhyavasini, Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave and other places are teaching Sanskrit subjects up to school level.

In Vinduvasini Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, four years of Shastri level teaching has been taking place in the subjects of Astrology, Literature and Sanskrit Grammar. Dr. Jagannath Regmi, principal of the university, says that there are about 100 students studying in the university, including professors. Students of different castes are studying in the university.

He informed that in view of the need for research in Sanskrit education, the university has given priority to research activities.

 Dr. Regmi said that a research journal has been launched through the research management committee emphasizing the research work in the university. Preparations have been made for teaching at the Acharya (postgraduate) level in the university. The first official language school in Pokhara was formally opened in 1958 during the time of Dev Shamsher. At that time, the school, which was running in Vindhyavasini temple area, was later shifted to Bhimkali Patan. Which is now a Sanskrit secondary school.

Sanskrit schools in various parts of the country have been closed down due to lack of students, but the attraction of students and parents is increasing year by year in Pokhara's Sanskrit Secondary School. The principal of the school, Govind Sigdel, informed that more than 200 students are currently studying in the school. Mentioning that residential facilities have been provided to undergraduate students from class 5 and above, he said that currently around 20 to 30 students have taken residential facilities.

Not only Brahmins but women and Dalit community students are studying in the school. Aiming at quality, the school has started teaching through English medium up to class five. Those who study in Sanskrit Mavi above class 6 should read only Sanskrit of 200 marks out of total 800 marks. Experts in this field say that the interest of students and parents towards Sanskrit education has not yet increased due to the failure to inform the general public that it is the same as other ordinary schools.

The school is teaching classes up to class 11 and 12. In the past, Sanskrit was said to be read only by the Brahmin community, but in recent times, the interest of all castes has increased towards it. About 50 percent of the school belongs to the Brahmin community, while 50 percent belongs to the Dalit and tribal communities, informed Principal Sigdel. It seems that the need and importance of Sanskrit education is increasing in recent times when there is a drought of morality and virtue in the society.

 Narayan Subedi, Head of District Education Coordinating Unit Kaski, said that the standard of teaching and learning in Gurukul and Vidyashram in the district is good.