ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Govt to celebrate 1999-2000 as 'Year of Sanskrit'

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government has decided to celebrate 1999-2000 as the 'Year of Sanskrit' in the country.

A recommendation in this regard had been made by the Central Sanskrit Board, an advisory body set up for the development and propagation of the language.

The 'Year of Sanskrit' will be launched at a funcion by Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi on March 18 (start of Yugabda year 5101).

The focus of the year-long celebrations will not only be on the popularisation of Sanskrit among the general public but also on chalking out such programmes which would lead to long-term and permanent development of the language.

The creation of awareness among students and scholars of Sanskrit regarding its rich heritage is also to be given importance.

A number of activities are also on the anvil. Sanskrit academies are to be set up during the course of the year in states where they do not exist.

Efforts will be made to prepare and publish children's literature in Sanskrit. It has been planned to organise Sanskrit conversation camps and seminars in schools and colleges. The publication of material on science and Sanskrit and science and economics has also been planned. Essay competitions, debates and quizzes on Sanskrit are to be arranged at the district, block and village level.

State governments, Sanskrit universities, academies and institutions, including schools, have been requested to arrange the inaugural function. The states have also been requested to constitute state-level committees to oversee the celebrations.

A 14-member committee had earlier been constituted under the chairmanship of Justice Ranganath Mishra to work out the modalities and finalise the programmes for celebrations. The committee held two meetings in January and February. Its recommendations constitute the thrust of the 'Year of Sanskrit' celebrations.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report