Hon'ble Chairman, UGC Prof M. Jagadesh Kumar sharing his good wishes to all participants, attending the 7-day National Orientation Programme on Manuscriptology, Epigraphy and Palaeography in Sanskrit tradition of Bengal, organised by the Department of Sanskrit, University of Calcutta under RUSA 0.2 in association with NMM, IGNCA, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India

[Sanskrit Award and Book Launched by Padma Vibhushan Dr Karan Singh]

[International Symposium]

[Vidya Bharati Internship Program]

[ Opening New Avenues in Research: Linguistic Commonalities Between Sanskrit and Lithuanian ]

[ National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) ]

[ National Symposium --- Sanskrit and Indian Knowledge System ]

[ National Sanskrit Symposium on Trayī and the Atharvaveda ]

[ 7days Orientation Program for Students, Faculty and young scholars ]

|| सरस्वती श्रुतिमहतां महीयताम् ||
Sarasvatīśrutimahatāṃ mahīyatām. 35.VII, Abhijῆānaśakuntalam
Let Sarasvatī, the Goddess of liberal arts, be adored by all readers of the Veda

From the desk of the Head of the Department

Namaskāra!
I am very grateful to the University Authorities for showing their confidence in me and asking me to execute the responsibilities of the Head of the Sanskrit Department. I am trying my best to sustain and improve the legacy of teaching and learning in the department.My first meeting with the Departmental Committee was organized on 10th July 2023 and the second on 17th July 2023 to consider the strategy of our functioning to take the Department to an international standard. The meeting agenda covered a wide range of areas to foster growth along new frontiers in Sanskrit studies, for which we need multilateral cooperation across the globe. I believe that our Hon’ble Vice Chancellor and university administration are keen to see the academics grow. The Sanskrit Department has a glorious past and we are committed to reinvigorate its activities.

The teaching of MA Sanskrit program in the third semester for the academic session 2023-24 started with an orientation program for better collective understanding of the program of studies. Meeting with research scholars currently enrolled for Ph.D. in Sanskrit at this Department has been organized on 28th August to identify the issues of concern and challenges pertaining to the pursuit of doctoral research. The Department is committed to solving the problems, and suggestions are sought in this regard. So, the meeting of scholars was organized to ensure quality of research and restoring the practices, and processes of research in proper direction.

With our concerted effort, this centre of Sanskrit Studies is going to play a key role in research and application of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS). As we are aware the NEP-2020 has a special emphasis on Sanskrit language, and the revival of Sanskrit Studies. It is our obligation that we must contribute to the growth of knowledge during Amrit Kal and make the society and country prosperous. The idea of Vishva Guru is being talked about a lot but it will be realized with the contributions of the younger generation only.

We have designed our future programs in the following way:

Our esteemed colleagues and scholars are making valuable contributions to the field of Sanskrit academics. We, as the ‘Team Sanskrit Department’ look forward to your continued support.

Dear Students, scholars, and colleagues!

This is your Department and it is to serve you only. You have to take charge of it. Please own it like your family and home. This, of course, brings certain responsibilities. You have to work together as a connected network of the Department of Sanskrit. As the Śrīmadbhagavad Gītā says: परस्परंभावयन्तःश्रेयःपरमवाप्स्यथ।।3.11।। BG.  It is also said that the wealth on earth lies in three things, and they are: जलमन्नंसुभाषितम्।।On the occasion of the World Sanskrit Week I congratulate you. Let us move forward and take steps to enrich the tradition of Sanskrit learning. सर्वेभ्यःविश्व-संस्कृत-दिवसस्यहार्द्या: शुभकामना: ।।

History

Year of Establishment : 1907

A Brief History of the Department :

When the New Regulations were adopted under the Indian Universities Act of 1904 the University felt that there were several very important reasons for it to provide facilities for higher teaching of Sanskrit under its own auspices. First, the teaching of the Vedas had been sadly neglected so far and some arrangement for the revival of Vedic studies was very much necessary. Secondly, it was essential that the University should take the lead in teaching several branches of Sanskrit following the modern scientific methods which were not as a rule followed even in the college department of the Sanskrit College and other affiliated colleges not to speak of the tols and other centres of Sanskrit learning where old traditional lines were unflinchingly stuck to. Thirdly, an atmosphere for original research should be created in the province and this could best be done only by the University taking over higher instruction under its own care.
The Sanskrit Department started with a provision for the study of the Vedas for which little opportunity was available elsewhere. In 1907 the University appointed Acharyya Satyabrata Samasrami who had devoted a lifetime to Vedic studies to deliver lectures to advanced students on the Vedas, and along with him several other reputed scholars in Sanskrit for teaching in different branches of Sanskrit learning.

During the next few years stimulus was given to Sanskrit studies by the appointment as University Readers of many Professors of European Universities, who had become distinguished by their research in Indology, viz. Professor Richard Pischel of Berlin University, Professor Hermann Oldenberg of the University of Göttingen, Professor Hermann Jacobi of the University of Bonn, Professor Sylvain Levi of the College de France, and Professor Winternitz of Karl Ferdinands Universität, Prague. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the history of Sanskrit literature which this last scholar had started was finished after his death by two scholars of eminence of this University. European scholars who undertook the responsibilities of Readership at this University made a definite contribution to the growth of the modern Anglo-Indian method of Sanskrit studies with which we are familiar today. Apart from creating that atmosphere in which alone there might be higher pursuits of learning, they initiated our scholars to modern critical and historical methods to which Sanskritic scholars in this country had not been amenable before.

 A comprehensive syllabus was drawn up in 1917 for conducting M.A. studies in Sanskrit in nine groups. The first four papers were compulsory for each group. But the remaining four papers were to be studied in one of the nine groups, e.g., Literature, the Vedas, Smṛti and Mīmānsā, Vedānta, and Sāṃkhya-Yoga. Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika, Indian Philosophy, Prakrit, Epigraphy and Iconography. This arrangement continued till 1940 in which year the department was further developed by the addition of five new groups, e.g. Vaishnavism, Hindu Laws, Jainism, Śaivism, and Mixed.

The department at first, consisted only of lecturers. It was in 1926 that Asutosh Professorship of Sanskrit was created and the first incumbent of the Chair was Bhagabat Kumar Goswami Shastri, M.A., Ph. D. who was followed in 1934 by Prabhat Kumar Chakraborty MA PhD. After the premature and much-lamented death of the latter, Pandit Vidhushekhar Shastri was appointed to the chair and continued till 1942. After the retirement of Pandit Vidushekhar Shastri, Satkari Mukherjee was appointed in the chair and continued till 31st May 1955. There is a long list of legendary successors of this Chair. Later The Chair Professorship in Veda by the name of Pandit Gopinath Kaviraj was created. Now it is open for the teachers of all specializations.

There was a galaxy of erudite scholars who gratified the department with their scholarship and memorable teaching through the years. To mention a few are M.M. Sitaram Shastri, M.M. Phanibhushan Tarkavagish, M.M Chinnaswami Shastri, M.M. Ananta Krishna Shastri, M. M. Shrijiva Nyayatirtha, M.M. P.N. Pattabhiram Shastri, Pandit Gopinath Shastri, Pandit Bhutanath Saptatirtha and so on.  

One of the important features of the department was its Manuscript section, though presently it functions separately. The manuscript collection is large and is growing every day. The section includes a collection of Tibetan Xylographs a good collection of Buddhist Agamas, presented to the University by the Government of China. The department set up a Publication Committee under whose auspices the publication of a number of books and texts under the title of “The Asutosh Series” had been undertaken.

Mission and Aspiration

Sanskrit Education has always been the cornerstone of the bond between India and the world.  While learning and growing next to each other on a world platform, students may get the opportunity to come across their ideals and may even dream to work with them for building a better world. Working together, for Sanskrit, the nations can create a safer, healthier, and more prosperous world that accommodates everyone.

Department of Sanskrit (henceforth DoS) at the University of Calcutta are ready to write scripts for a new chapter in India's Sanskrit odyssey. It will soar high, elevating the dreams and ambitions of every young Indian in general and of Bengal particularly. This momentous achievement is going to be a testament to the relentless dedication of our students, faculty members, and the Sanskrit fraternity. I salute their spirit and ingenuity in advance!

Discussions are going on at the DoS to initiate the futuristic Sanskrit Studies, through which our students, research scholars, and faculties would get access to the global opportunities that Sanskrit offers.  Our transformative new brand reflects an ambition to make DoS, University of Calcutta a world class centre serving the students for Learning and Research from around the globe, and that would represent a new India proudly on the global stage. The DoS is not only bold, confident, and vibrant, but also warm and deeply rooted in its rich history and traditions that make भारतीय ज्ञान परंपरा a global benchmark for standards in service.

It is realized that the DoS needs a clear break from its past to create a future. The new approach captures the essence of a bold new India, marking a milestone in the transformation of the national Indian institution into a national, Indian and global inspiration. The DoS shares the C.U. logo which signifies limitless possibilities, progressiveness, and a bold outlook for the future. Under the new strategy, the DoS relegates the iconic Logo to the background.

Our vision is to make the DoS at CU world-class in terms of disseminating knowledge, maintaining safety, using technology, and rendering service to the nation and society. This journey requires an enormous amount of work. During the last month, we have put together a strong team. We are focusing on upgrading all human resource aspects available.

Charting the Future of Sanskrit Global Strategic Partnership

I express my pleasure in sharing my thoughts on Sanskrit and Culture, equity and inclusivity in the global context. In an engrossing interaction with a renowned academician, we exchanged views on utilizing the Sanskrit Studies for the development of the individual as well as of the society to realize the Indian idea: “वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्”.We would give importance to the start-up programs in the DoS for promoting Sanskrit studies and would seek great participation in it from other areas of studies. The following principles will be instrumental:

DoS must be committed to a free, open, inclusive, and rule-based Dialogue with respect for sovereignty and academic integrity. The DoS firmly supports the new outlook to achieve New Directions in Sanskrit and Indic Studies on the global platform and its implementation in the Department. There is great synergy between Sanskrit Studies and Indian Diplomacy, and the Initiative proposed by DoS.

Culture will always complement Sanskrit Studies and DoS-led mechanisms will showcase the Indian Culture at its origin.