Scholar suggests Sanskrit for IT pros

Sanskrit and IT "" in the same breath? If India has to continue to stay ahead of China in the IT software space, our techies must learn Sanskrit, says a Sanskrit scholar.

"Sanskrit is a rich storehouse of technical knowledge. You have works on aeronautics, submarine technology, atomic energy and a number of other technical and technological fields. Our ancient seers like Bharadwaja, Kannada and Bodhayana have produced excellent works. This hidden knowledge needs to be explored and put to better advantages," says H V Nagaraja Rao.

Rao, who was invited to Israel to conduct a month-long workshop on Sanskrit at the Institute of Advanced Studies in the Hebrew University in July 2005, says that several universities abroad are evincing interest in teaching and research in Sanskrit.

"Besides, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Sanskrit was being taught from 1970 in the Sanskrit Department at Tel Aviv, making it the second university in Israel to teach the language. Apart from Germany, the UK, the USA, where it is already being taught in schools and universities, many other countries and even China are showing interest in this ancient language," says Rao in support of his argument.

A Chinese student is making advanced study in Sanskrit under the guidance of Rao in Mysore.

"Sanskrit is not a language of priests and purohits. It is a language required to be learnt by scientists and professionals. It is needed for the common man also. Learning of Sanskrit will improve command over grammar and even command over Kannada," he says.

Supporting the views of the scholar, former MLA A Ramadas says Sanskrit is required for the fast-growing service industry, including IT, ITeS and BT.

"Sanskrit is a must for those working in software technology and the think tank people," he says.

To popularise Sanskrit, the "Samskritha Bharathi" has launched a which began on February 24 will go on till May 2007. It has proposed 108 Sanskrit conversation camps across the state during the year.

Sanskrit conversation camps began in Mysore on April 12.