Sanskrit teaches us to be humble and honest. Make it compulsory subject in school education—Janki Ballav Patnaik
The well maintained, huge and eco-friendly campus of Rashtriya Sanskrit University in Tirupati, Andra Pradesh witnessed a sea of Sanskrit well-wishers on the occasion of its 14th Convocation held on October 18. Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, a University established under UGC Act and centre of excellence for traditional Shastras, is the only Sanskrit University in the country, which has maximum number of students and research scholars numbering nearly 1500.
A Sanskrit University with seven hostels (five for boys and two for girls), with a highly integrated academic building, a rich library of nearly one lakh titles, state-of-the-art infrastructure and with an atmosphere of mutual co-existence and fellow feeling has certainly emerged as a coveted destination of Sanskrit learning and moral teaching not only for the learners of India but also abroad.
Shri Janaki Ballav Patnaik, Governor of Assam and Chancellor of the Rashtriya Sanskrit University, in his presidential speech urged the Government to make Sanskrit a compulsory subject in school education. He said, “I would appeal to the planners that school education, which is the foundation of higher education of science and technology or humanities, should contain a minimum knowledge of Sanskrit, which teaches us to be a civilised and cultured human being. Therefore, Sanskrit should be a compulsory subject in school education particularly in our secondary schools. Sanskrit teaches us to be humble, truthful and respectful to our parents and teachers.”
Vice Chancellor of Rashtriya Sanskrit University Prof. Harekrishna Satapathy, in his welcome speech said the students from almost all the states of the country and foreign countries like Myanmar and Japan are studying there.
On the occasion of the convocation Rashtriya Sanskrit University also conferred awards to renowned scholar and academicians including Sadguru Kandukuri Shivananda Murthy who is the author of more than 500 books including Commentary on Katopanishad and Secret of Yoga, Prof. Shivaji Upadhyaya who is known for writing Sanskrit-English Subhasitam, Prof Raiva Srihari who is Chief Editor in the prestigious Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, Dr Jitamitra Prasad Sing Deo who is a field guide to MPhil and PhD scholars on archaeology, history, culture, spirituality and yoga, Dr Achyut Samant of Odisha and Dr Chirravuri Sri Ram Sharma who is a relentless researcher.
While 17 Students received Gold medals for their achievements, 52 students received certificates for completing PhD Vidyavaridhi, 48 students for M Phil Sanskrit, 160 students for Acharya (Semester) MA, 100 students for Shastri (BA), 2 students for MA Sabdabhoda, 5 students for BA, 31 students for Shiksha Acharya (MEd), 150 students for Shiksha Shastri (BEd).
