Sanskrit to get makeover in Delhi University

To change the perception of Sanskrit as just an ancient language, Delhi University's Sanskrit department will introduce courses like Indian scientific heritage, theatre, self-management and dramatics under the new four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP).

"We want to change the perception among the people about Sanskrit. We want to create a wider horizon among students and make the subject relevant in the modern world," Mithilesh Chaturvedi, head of the Sanskrit department at Delhi University, told IANS.

The courses will be part of Discipline 1, compulsory subjects that a student undertaking honours in Sanskrit would study under FYUP.

Students undertaking Sanskrit honours will also learn climatology, ayurveda, ecology, archaeology and yoga.

"Under the new four-year programme we have introduced Indian epigraphy, palaeography and chronology that is directly related to modern archaeology," said P.K. Panda, head of the Sanskrit department at Ramjas College.

"Vedic mathematics would help students appearing for competitive exams with the several shortcut methods that would be taught," said Satyamurti, Sanskrit professor in Delhi University.

Delhi University has received approximately 13,000 OMR (optical mark registration) forms for Sanskrit for this academic year.

The university introduced the four-year undergraduate programme this academic session. Under the new programme, students will be required to study 11 foundation courses in the first two years with the main subjects under Discipline 1, 2 and the applied courses.