Jammu, Aug 14: Shri Kailakh Jyotish avim Vedic Sansthan Trust, Jammu today urged the Bharatiya Janata Party( BJP) to include its demand for establishment of a Sanskrit University in Jammu & Kashmir, and introduction of Sanskrit and Dogri language studies from the first grade in all schools of the Union Territory in the party manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections.
A delegation of the Trust, led by its President Mahant Rohit Shastri, this evening presented a memorandum in this regard to the BJP Manifesto Committee, represented by senior leaders and members of the panel, Devender Singh Rana and Y V Sharma, a press release said.
“India is the carrier of ancient knowledge traditions, and Jammu and Kashmir has made a significant contribution to Sanskrit in this regard. Hence, it is necessary to preserve and expand this knowledge tradition.
Currently, there is a great need for a Sanskrit University in Jammu and Kashmir, which will help preserve and develop the cultural heritage, values, and knowledge tradition,” the memorandum read.
The memorandum highlighted that Jammu and Kashmir has been a sacred land of cultural heritage, where scholars like Acharya Abhinava Gupta, Mahakavi Kalhana, Mahakavi Bilhana, and many other ancient Sanskrit intellectuals have emerged, who not only contributed to the cultural heritage of Jammu of Kashmir but also advanced the cultural heritage of India.
However, it is unfortunate that today there is no institution in the state to remember these great poets and scholars, to preserve their cultural legacy, and to expand it, the memorandum stated.
Referring to the glorious cultural heritage, the memorandum stated that currently there are a total of 17 Sanskrit universities in India, 14 at the state level and three central Sanskrit universities, but not a single Sanskrit university in Jammu and Kashmir despite the fact that this part of the country has been the land of scholars of Devvani (the language of gods) Sanskrit.
This issue has been presented to both the state and central governments several times by Sanskrit enthusiasts in Jammu and Kashmir, but no discussion has taken place on the matter so far, the delegation lamented.
Senior BJP leader and member of the J&K Manifesto Committee Devender Singh Rana assured the delegation that this issue would be taken up with at the apex level in the party.