02-06-2009, 07:45 AM
<b>Sanskrit institutes struggling </b>
Rajulapudi Srinivas
<i>Lack of faculty discouraging prospective students</i>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Students not opting for Sanskrit due to less employment opportunities
Vidya volunteers appointed for teaching Sanskrit leave jobs due to non-payment of salaries<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
NELLORE: The 126-year-old Government Sanskrit Elementary School, High School and Sri Veda Samskrutha Kalasala which produced some thousands of Telugu and Sanskrit pandits are struggling to survive.
The two schools and college are plagued with several problems including low number of students and staff and poor funds. About 600 students are studying in the three institutions accommodated in one campus and although it is called Sanskrit High School there is no staff for teaching the subject.
Two French nationals -- Ms. Blavitasky and Col. Alcot -- who started Divya Gnana Samajam in Nellore established the Sanskrit Residential School in Mulapet in 1882 with five classes.
In 1926, the school was upgraded as Veda Samskruta Kalasala-cum-Ayurveda Hospital and was affiliated to Madras University (SVU).
The aided college was later handed over to Andhra University and in 1958 the institution was attached to Sri Venkateswara University. The hospital was closed during 1970s and the strength of students which was about 500 in 1980 has come down gradually.
About 100 students are doing their degree in Telugu and Sanskrit now. In all, 170 children are enrolled in the oriental elementary school and 250 children are studying in the high school this year.
But, many students are not joining in the Sanskrit college after schooling and are opting for other courses due to less employment opportunities for Sanskrit pandits, says the college management.
Less staff
Of the 16 sanctioned teaching posts in the college only eight are filled and there is no non-teaching staff.
In high school there are no Sanskrit teachers and the students are preparing for the coming annual examinations on their own. Last year, two vidya volunteers were appointed for teaching Sanskrit, but they left the jobs allegedly due to non-payment of salaries. Speaking to The Hindu college principal Dr. Amruthavakkula Seshakumar said about 55 Sanskrit schools were set up in the State, but many of them were closed due to less strength.
Out of five Sanskrit colleges under Sri Venkateswara University, the institutions in Lepakshi, Proddutur and Vakadu have closed and only Nellore and Tirupati colleges are functioning.
Dr. Kandla Lakshmi Narayana, reader in Sanskrit in the college, said tere is a need to encourage classical language colleges to promote culture and tradition.
Rajulapudi Srinivas
<i>Lack of faculty discouraging prospective students</i>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Students not opting for Sanskrit due to less employment opportunities
Vidya volunteers appointed for teaching Sanskrit leave jobs due to non-payment of salaries<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
NELLORE: The 126-year-old Government Sanskrit Elementary School, High School and Sri Veda Samskrutha Kalasala which produced some thousands of Telugu and Sanskrit pandits are struggling to survive.
The two schools and college are plagued with several problems including low number of students and staff and poor funds. About 600 students are studying in the three institutions accommodated in one campus and although it is called Sanskrit High School there is no staff for teaching the subject.
Two French nationals -- Ms. Blavitasky and Col. Alcot -- who started Divya Gnana Samajam in Nellore established the Sanskrit Residential School in Mulapet in 1882 with five classes.
In 1926, the school was upgraded as Veda Samskruta Kalasala-cum-Ayurveda Hospital and was affiliated to Madras University (SVU).
The aided college was later handed over to Andhra University and in 1958 the institution was attached to Sri Venkateswara University. The hospital was closed during 1970s and the strength of students which was about 500 in 1980 has come down gradually.
About 100 students are doing their degree in Telugu and Sanskrit now. In all, 170 children are enrolled in the oriental elementary school and 250 children are studying in the high school this year.
But, many students are not joining in the Sanskrit college after schooling and are opting for other courses due to less employment opportunities for Sanskrit pandits, says the college management.
Less staff
Of the 16 sanctioned teaching posts in the college only eight are filled and there is no non-teaching staff.
In high school there are no Sanskrit teachers and the students are preparing for the coming annual examinations on their own. Last year, two vidya volunteers were appointed for teaching Sanskrit, but they left the jobs allegedly due to non-payment of salaries. Speaking to The Hindu college principal Dr. Amruthavakkula Seshakumar said about 55 Sanskrit schools were set up in the State, but many of them were closed due to less strength.
Out of five Sanskrit colleges under Sri Venkateswara University, the institutions in Lepakshi, Proddutur and Vakadu have closed and only Nellore and Tirupati colleges are functioning.
Dr. Kandla Lakshmi Narayana, reader in Sanskrit in the college, said tere is a need to encourage classical language colleges to promote culture and tradition.