Sanskrit studies at Cambridge University came to an end according to news media. Along with Sanskrit, it is believed Hindi also is ceased to be taught. It is learnt that existing two Sanskrit scholars will be accociated with Faculty of Oriental Studies. Thank god! At least they have got retained!! A non profit organization called 'Oxford Center for Hindu Studies' at Oxford is getting help in carrying out research from the closed Sanskrit department. OCHS also get some research scholars from Cambridge. Because of this Cambridge's gesture, such non profit organizations like OCHS may be in trouble. Hindujas also set up a Indic research center at Cambridge University by name 'Dharam Hinduja Institute of Indic Studies' For a couple of years, they are doing research in ancient sciences like 'Ayurveda' etc. and they have conducted an international conference on Ayurveda. Now, to whom they have to look at?
Cambridge has few hundreds of Sanskrit palm leaf manucscripts in its library. Since lack of funds is the cause to the closure of the dept., honestly Cambridge should get back these manuscripts to India where a National Manuscripts Misson is set up by the Indian Government for its preservation. The Oxford Uniiversity has a Sanskrit chair as old as Cambridge's and Edinburgh University also has a Sanskrit dept. We've to see some amount of reaction from these institutions.
I quote hear some interesting remarks on this issue from a forwarded mail-
"it is a natural closure for sanskrit in cambridge since sanskrit
studies in cambridge were started only courage the british scholars to
despirit indians in the colonial context which no more needs any
attention. there is no need to mourn it. is should be celebrated instead. Sanskrit survived three millineums
without cambridge and will survive three more.
Vice chancellor of cambridge! Thanks, advise the same to oxford.
this news could not have come on a more appropriat date on which same
paper announces that IITs are in third place ahead of all the british
Engineering universities."
1 comment:
It is a shame that none of our Indians care about this. We should protest and also try to find alternatives like mobilizing our own funds with matching grants from the Government of India. The Indian Parliament should pass a unanimous resolution urging the Cambridge to restore the Sanskrit Seat by offering funds. Namasmi, Bhavadeeya Pandu R.V. Kuchibhotla
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