Smriti Irani Led HRD Ministry to Boost Sanskrit Language in Schools

NEW DELHI: When we heard about Sanskrit week celebrations for this year, it in itself was a surprise. But the way it has shaped up has been really profound. Though Sanskrit week is being celebrated by HRD ministry for long but never before with so much pomp and thought. NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) has been roped in by the ministry to organize a 3- day national seminar on ‘Challenges in Sanskrit Teaching and Learning’ from August 7^th as part of the Sanskrit week.

When enquired, the ministry officials said the seminar is routine in nature. Though the sources in the CBSE have said, “A meeting was held on June 5^th under school secretary and attended by heads of CBSE, NCERT, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. There, it was decided that special measures would be taken to encourage study of Sanskrit. Also, it was decided that each Kendriya Vidyalaya will have Sanskrit prayer in the morning.”

The upcoming seminar would be attended by eminent Sanskrit scholars, teachers and teacher educators from across the country. It will focus on issues like Sanskrit curriculum, textbooks and syllabus; curricular activities and supplementary reading material in Sanskrit; use of computer and audio- visual material in teaching and learning of Sanskrit and the development of E- content in Sanskrit.

Radha Vallabh Tripathi, the former VC of the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, will be addressing this seminar. The scholars and teachers of the classical language will be reflecting over issues impacting the teaching and learning of Sanskrit. They will also be deliberating over how this can be made more effective so that the language can become more popular among schoolchildren and in society at large.