The Union HRD Minister calls for popularising the language and improving the standard of teaching it.

Describing Sanskrit as the “voice of India’s soul and wisdom,” Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday called for popularising the language and improving the standard of teaching it.

“Contemporary works have to be translated into Sanskrit; the valuable scientific and mathematical knowledge present in Sanskrit will have to be brought out and published. New modern literature has to be developed where contemporary society is reflected,” a statement released by the HRD Ministry quoted her as saying at the fifth convocation of the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, a deemed university.

Ms. Irani, who is the Chancellor of the Sansthan, delivered her address in Sanskrit, as she flagged the “great need for reorientation in Sanskrit research,” keeping in view the present needs of the country, emerging trends in science and technology, and global developments.

To make the language relevant in education and research, she called upon Sanskrit scholars to take the lead in identifying and popularising unpublished manuscripts and works. The Minister said there must be increased use of technology in the teaching of Sanskrit; courses had to be developed so that not just Sanskrit language but also the various shastras, kavyas and plays could be taught through MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course).