CBSE to make Sanskrit must in 10, 11, 12 classes

CBSE to make Sanskrit must in 10, 11, 12 classes
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, MARCH 30: Close on the heels of announcing under-graduate courses in Vedantic Astrology, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Murli Manohar Joshi today said the study of Sanskrit will be made compulsory in Classes X, XI and XII. The minister also gave the names of 24 universities which will offer astrology courses beginning this academic year.

The HRD Minister let the news of ``Sanskrit-being-made-compulsory'' be known at a press conference he was addressing to announce the forthcoming World Sanskrit Conference, beginning here from April 5.

``The CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) and the NCERT (National Council for Educational Research and Training) is preparing the syllabus so that Sanskrit can be made compulsory in Classes X, XI and XII, as per the Supreme Court directive on the matter,'' Joshi said.

In fact, Joshi said Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan governments have already introduced Sanskrit in their high-school courses. ``Unlike West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, were it is not being taught, Sanskrit studies is already flourishing in most of the other states, especially in Haryana, Himachal Pardesh and Rajasthan,'' Joshi said. He said the CBSE and NCERT are also coordinating with the various state governments on this matter.

Almost building a case for the re-introduction of Sanskrit in high-school syllabus, Joshi said that it has been now proved beyond doubt that it is not a rout-language and it is possible to learn to speak Sanskrit in 15-days.

Joshi, however, took the known BJP-line to explain his soft-corner for the language, ``Sanskrit to Bharat ka hi den hain (Sanskrit is India's gift to the world). So we decided to host an international conference on Sanskrit linking it with the study of modern sciences and computer.''

Calling it a language which has the most scientific structure, he said it is now being found that Sanskrit can be used best to development of computer software.

A large number of eminent Sanskirt scholars from over 17 countries will be participating in the Sanskrit conference to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vjapayee. Papers will be on contemporary topics and relation to Sanskrit as well as on contribution Sanskrit towards the development of the world civilization. Papers on issues connecting Vedantic knowledge to present-day economics, botany, marine studies, human rights, management, law and linguistics will also be presented.

Meanwhile, the HRD Minister denied the report that he was in favour of instituting taxes on public schools. ``We want to the public schools to reserve a certain percentage of their seats for the poor and underprivileged students. We're moving in that direction,'' he said.