Sanskrit can be a good foreign currency earner, says professor
At a time when the Sanskrit language is under threat and Mahendra Sanskrit University (MSU), the only Sanskrit university of Nepal is going through hard times, the MSU teachers organised a workshop on Wednesday to discuss the situation
Speaking at the function, jointly organised by the Professors’ Association, Employees’ Association of Mahendra Sanskrit University and the Free Student family, former speaker Taranath Ranabhat said that Sanskrit is the base of our language, literature and culture.
He further said, “I am sorry to say that the government has curtailed professors’ allowances of around Rs 5 crore for months, in order to maintain the adverse national economy. In addition, the government is also going to hold election that will cost around Rs 5 billion.” Khagendra Bhattarai, president of the Professors' Association, Nepal expressed his disagreement with the circumstances that government and common people ‘narrowed the sphere of Sanskrit education’.
He opined, “Since foreigners are interested in Buddhist philosophy, we can earn foreign currency by starting Sanskrit classes in the subject.” D P Bhandari, former president of the Professors' Association said, “We need to maintain a balance between the original and post-modern cultures to make our education effective and practical.”