A persistent colonial mindset is obstructing the incorporation of Sanskrit into mainstream education:Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar

The persistence of a colonial mindset is impeding the integration of Sanskrit into mainstream education, according to Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar. He highlighted that Sanskrit, beyond its religious and philosophical significance, encompasses a wide array of secular disciplines such as medicine, drama, music, and science. Dhankar urged for concerted efforts to bridge the gap between Sanskrit’s rich heritage and modern academic requirements through the development of innovative curricula and interdisciplinary research.

Addressing the third convocation of the National Sanskrit University (NSU), Dhankar emphasized the need to overcome the colonial biases that undermine Indian knowledge systems in contemporary academia. He described Sanskrit as a language of spirituality, offering intellectual rigor, spiritual tranquility, and profound self-awareness.

Dhankar underscored the pivotal role of institutions like NSU in revitalizing and disseminating Indian knowledge traditions. He advocated for equipping Sanskrit students with digital skills to preserve and decipher ancient manuscripts, emphasizing that Sanskrit encompasses not only religious and philosophical texts but also secular contributions in fields like medicine, drama, music, and science.

The event was attended by dignitaries including NSU chancellor N. Gopalaswami, vice-chancellor G.S.R. Krishnamurthi, and Santanu Bhattacharya, the director of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER-Tirupati). Graduates and outstanding students were honored with degrees and gold medals during the ceremony.