UGC seeks suggestions on Sanskrit from 18 Universities

Nodal higher education body University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought suggestions from universities regarding the development and spread of Sanskrit from school upto the higher education.

Already UGC informed universities that there is a need to encourage the study of Sanskrit at first and second degree levels in subjects like ancient Indian history, modern Indian languages, Indology and Indian philosophy etc.

Commission's Vice Chairman H Devaraj has recently written letter to Vice Chancellors of eighteen universities.

In his letter he said the New Education Policy, 1986 underlined the importance of Sanskrit and recommended the bridging of gap between existing formal educational process and rich Indian culture to ensure the younger generation does not remain ignorant about it. The government has already constituted a committee to prepare for a roadmap for widespread propagation and promotion of Sanskrit for ensuring its development in the ensuing 10 years.

The letter said that in view of the "unique contribution of Sanskrit in terms of cultural unity" the National Education Policy, 1968 recommended that for development of Indian languages, special arrangements on a more liberal scale should be made for its teaching at school and university levels.

The Human Resource Development (HRD) has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami to assess and review the present schemes for development of Sanskrit and Veda Vidya.