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New Delhi: In an extremely significant cultural step, Pakistan for the first time since the partition will introduce the language of Sanskrit in universities in Pakistan. Two major institutes in the country will begin to offer courses in the one of the world’s oldest classical languages.
Two major institutions in Punjab province of Pakistan, the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and the University of the Punjab will launch short courses in Sanskrit. The initial programmes are three-month language courses aimed at introducing students to the basics of Sanskrit, with the possibility of being expanded into longer and more advanced offerings in the future.
At LUMS, the initiative began as a weekend workshop but was later formalised into a four-credit academic course following strong interest from students and faculty. The course combines foundational Sanskrit grammar with introductory readings from classical texts.
While current enrolment numbers are modest in both the universities, the introduction of the course in itself is a major step in the cultural and social context of Pakistan. Most students enrolled are reportedly Muslim Pakistanis, and their interest is seen as one that is intellectual, devoid of any ideological stain.
Educators have clarified that these are introductory courses and that true proficiency in Sanskrit would require years of sustained study. For now, the focus is on teaching the basics of grammar, sentence structure and vocabulary, alongside simple readings to familiarise students with the language’s classical form.
University officials related to the move have said that the move is solely related to academic inclinations. A key argument touted by the educators refers to the idea of a shared South Asian heritage.
Sanskrit, although now most closely associated with Hindu religious and philosophical traditions, can be attributed as a major force shaping the intellectual and cultural development of the whole subcontinent. An education in Sanskrit, the scholars argue, would enable students to better understand the region’s ancient past in its original form.
Another major motivation is reportedly the presence of vast but under-studied Sanskrit manuscript collections in Pakistan. Punjab University, for example, holds a vast repository of Sanskrit texts but these remain inaccessible and under-utilised due to lack of experts related to the expertise in the language.
With the introduction of Sanskrit in universities, a new legion of scholars to utilise this reserve of knowledge can be materialised. Additionally, both universities have indicated that they intend to expand the curriculum in the future. Reportedly plans also include the additions of major classical texts such as the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita to be studied.
