India and Nepal agree to promote Sanskrit research and education

The Indian and Nepalese Sanskrit scholars have agreed to work jointly to promote research and education of the Sanskrit language. This was decided at the end of the three-day Nepal-India International Sanskrit Conclave organised in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu.

The Niti Anusandhan Pratisthan, Nepal, organised the three-day conclave in collaboration with the Central Sanskrit University, Delhi, and India Foundation, Delhi. Over 120 Sanskrit scholars, professors, and government officials from both neighbouring countries participated in the conference.

The prime objective of the international conference was to strengthen the Nepal-Indian relations and promote Sanskrit education in Nepal and India. 

Initiative to Promote collaboration to promote Sanskrit 

• At the end of the 3-day Nepal-India International Sanskrit Conclave, a five-point resolution was adopted, which outlined steps to be taken to promote research and education in the Sanskrit language.
• Every year, an International Sanskrit Conference is proposed to be organised. To conduct research and publish Sanskrit scriptures, especially of Nepal, the resolution has proposed setting up a study centre. According to a report, Nepal’s Department of Archaeology holds around five lakh unpublished Sanskrit manuscripts.
• Maharshi Sandipani Veda Vidya Pratisthan, Ujjain, will help the Niti Anusandhan Pratisthan of Nepal to provide support for the development of gurukuls in Nepal. 
• The Niti Anusandhan Pratisthan Nepal has been designated as the head office of the Nepal-India Sanskrit Study Centre. The proposed centre will conduct joint research and study Sanskrit manuscripts found in Nepal. It will also arrange the publication of Sanskrit scriptures from both Nepal and India. 
• According to the resolution, India will conduct a training programme for Sanskrit students of Nepal to enhance their subject-learning skills. 
• The Central Sanskrit University, Delhi, will provide necessary books to the libraries of Gurukuls in Nepal and provide Sanskrit educational institutions in Nepal.
• The conclave agreed to promote the preservation of Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit languages and the religion, culture, philosophy, history and archaeology of Nepal and India. 

Sanskrit Language 

• Sanskrit is an ancient language of India . It was given the status of classical language by the government of India in 2005. It is one of the 22 languages mentioned in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• Sanskrit is considered a divine language in Indian tradition which was first used in vedas.
• Panini concised the grammar of Sanskrit and wrote the master book of grammar named Ashtadhyayi. The modern Sanskrit language is based on Panini’s Ashtadhyayi.
• Sanskrit is considered to be part of the Indo–Aryan family of languages, which includes Greek, Latin, and other languages.
• Sanskrit has been the source of the development of later languages and literature in India. Pali and Prakrit languages were the first to develop from Sanskrit. The Buddhist ideas were expressed mainly in Pali language while the Jain ideas were expressed mainly in the Prakrit language. Most of the Buddhist literature is written in Pali and that of the Jain in Prakrit. 
• Ramayana, Mahabharata, and all the great epics of India were composed in Sanskrit. Other important poets of Sanskrit languages are Kalidasa, Ashvaghosa, Bharavi, Bhatti, Kumardasa and Magha, etc.

Mattur, the only Sanskrit-speaking village in India

Mattur village, situated in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka, is the only known village in India where people still communicate in Sanskrit. The village is located on the banks of the Tunga River and is rich with areca nut trees.