10 Jan 2012|Noida | Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi
Indian heritage and culture can only be preserved through promotion of Sanskrit, opines Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Group during World Sanskrit Conference
15th World Sanskrit Conference concluded at Vigyan Bhavan on January 10, 2012 and
Prof. Radhavallabh Tripathi, Chairperson Organising Committee and Vice Chancellor Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, in his opening remarks threw some light on the academic and research activities being undertaken during the last few years to promote Sanskrit not only in the country but also globally.
Guest of Honour on the occasion, Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Ritnand Balved Education Foundation (RBEF), recalled his as well as his family bonds with Sanskrit language and felt that the rich Indian heritage, culture and conventional values for which India is known for, can only be preserved through the promotion of Sanskrit and adoption of good Sanskars by all as it is the combination of these two aspects which is very essential for development of the country and to bring harmony globally.
Emphasizing the need for promoting Sanskrit language right from the school education, Dr. Chauhan felt that this will immensely help in creating the necessary awareness among the students who are the leaders of tomorrow and have great responsibility on their shoulders.
Congratulating the Organisers of the Conference for promoting the Sanskrit language through research and encouraging the scholars and academicians to undertake more and more research activities, Dr. Chauhan touched upon some of the initiatives taken at Amity Educational Institutions in this regard.
Mrs. Sheila Dikshit, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, in her presiding address opined that music and drama can play a very important role for promotion of any language.
Congratulating Delhi Sanskrit Academy for organizing Sanskrit Drama Festival this year, she expressed sincere hope that this would become an annual feature for promotion of Sanskrit and urged all Sanskrit scholars to put in their best efforts to promote this language.
Highlighting the important role being played by academic institutions and universities, she remarked that time has come when we have to take this Sanskrit language out of the Universities, Classrooms and Academies and bring it to the common people and which can be possible only through various other initiatives like Drama and Music as these are the two very effective and powerful mediums.
Dr. Karan Singh, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, in his Valedictory Address recalled with pleasure his association with International Association of Sanskrit Studies (IASS) way back in 1972 when he was the Chief Guest at the 1st World Sanskrit Conference at that time.
Dr. Karan Singh highlighted various initiatives taken by Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansathan during the last few years to promote Sanskrit and in particular mentioned the launching of Daily Sanskrit News Bulletin which is aired twice daily on DD News and also observing Sharad Purnima as ‘Sanskrit Divas’.
Dr. Karan Singh mentioned that Sanskrit is one of the marvelous language and remarked that Sanskrit is more preferable than Greek and several other languages and it is more explicitly refined and covers all branches of human resources. According to Dr. Karan Singh, there are two aspects of Sanskrit – sheer beauty of language and its flow and Sanskrit is like an ocean which is so beautiful and due to its incredible rich and varied contents it covers all areas – philosophy, chemistry, music, spiritual practice etc. Dr. Karan Singh opined that every form of language is reflected in Sanskrit and it is a huge corps of literature.
Highlighting the need for encouraging and sustaining Sanskrit studies not only in India but around the world, Dr. Karan Singh expressed his serious concern for languishing of Sanskrit in many universities due to lack of financial resources and interest of students, and added that we need to have a special thrust.
Referring to Ramayan, Mahabharat and Geeta which are well known texts, Dr. Karan Singh remarked that the real glory of Sanskirt was to be found in ‘Upnishad’ and it was the higher water mark and contained all the wisdom we need to have.
Dr. Karan Singh urged the scholars that whatever they must be doing, they should not forget that they have a very foundation of our culture and wisdom.
Touching the subject of poverty which is pulling us down, particularly in India and Asia. Dr. Singh felt that we have to change our paradigm and we have to spread the welfare.
Several national and international scholars participating in the Conference were conferred with Degrees and awards.
The renowned Sanskrit Scholar Prof. R.K. Sharma, former VC, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi and Ex-President, International Association of Sanskrit Studies (IASS) were among the ten scholars felicitated on this occasion highlighted on the significance of Sanskrit language.
Dr. K.B. Subbbarayudu, Secretary of the Organising Committee delivered vote of thanks thanking all the participants and speakers.
Also present on this occasion were
Dr. Kiran Walia, Minister for Women & Child Development, Shri Ramakant Goswami, Minister for Labour & Industry, Govt of NCT of Delhi and Dr. Yoga Nand Shastri, Speaker of the Delhi Assembly amongst several dignitaries.
Earlier conference was inaugurated by the
Hon’ble Prime Minster of India on 5th of January 2012. The five day conference was attended by a large number of Sanskrit scholars/Acharyas and academicians from various Sanskrit Academies/Universities from all over the country and also attracted several participants from Thailand, UK, USA etc.