Prof. Shrinivasa Varakhedi , a distinguished scholar and academic leader, currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of Central Sanskrit University. A passionate advocate for the revival and modernization of Sanskrit education, he has played a pivotal role in shaping national policies and institutional strategies for Sanskrit development. In this conversation, he outlines the key reforms, challenges, and opportunities for integrating Sanskrit meaningfully into India's contemporary education landscape.
What key policy changes are required to strengthen Sanskrit education in India today?
There are several strategic steps that need to be taken. First, Sanskrit should be made available as an optional language from the primary to higher secondary level across all school boards, in alignment with the NEP 2020 and NCF’s R3 framework. Second, Sanskrit learning centers must be established in all premier institutions such as IITs, NITs, IIITs, IIMs, and national institutes, alongside departments in mainstream universities.
We also need to modernize the curriculum while preserving its traditional strengths—this includes integrating modern pedagogical tools and enforcing Simple Standard Sanskrit (SSS) as the medium of instruction. Additionally, Sanskrit must be included as a subject in national-level competitive exams like the UPSC and UGC-NET, with an updated, relevant syllabus. Importantly, students from Gurukulas, Pathashalas, and Veda Sanskrit Vidyalayas must receive equal opportunities for higher education. The growing interest in Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) further strengthens the ecosystem for Sanskrit education.
How can Sanskrit be integrated more effectively into the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020?
The NEP’s emphasis on multilingualism offers a natural space for Sanskrit to flourish. It can be offered as an optional language across all school levels under the three-language formula. Sanskrit universities should evolve into hubs for interdisciplinary education by incorporating subjects like AI, philosophy, linguistics, and environmental studies.
We also need to ensure academic mobility through the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), allowing students to seamlessly transfer credits between Sanskrit and non-Sanskrit institutions. Teacher training must be prioritized, and Sanskrit institutions should begin offering modern and vocational subjects to meet evolving educational and career needs. Additionally, developing a common vocabulary across Indian languages with Sanskrit as the interlingua would greatly aid linguistic integration.
Efforts to make Sanskrit more playful and engaging at the kindergarten level, and large-scale translation of key textbooks into Sanskrit under the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Yojana, are steps that can further mainstream the language.
As someone involved in shaping the Vision & Roadmap for Sanskrit development, what were the most critical reforms recommended?
One of the cornerstone ideas was the use of Simple Standard Sanskrit across all levels of education, under the mission "Sanskrit Through Sanskrit". We also proposed a digital Sanskrit knowledge repository to store texts, commentaries, tools, and resources for wider access.
Another key recommendation was to integrate Sanskrit into vocational education—linking it with Ayurveda, Yoga, Vastu, art forms, and other skill areas. Promoting a multidisciplinary approach in Sanskrit universities and colleges, alongside strong institutional capacity-building through faculty upskilling, digital infrastructure, and increased research funding, were also highlighted as essential reforms.
How can Sanskrit universities collaborate with mainstream institutions for a more holistic education system?
Collaboration is key. We can promote joint or dual degree programs such as Sanskrit with AI, philosophy, law, or psychology. Cross-institutional research on Indian Knowledge Systems can bring valuable insights, and student exchange programs or open elective courses can bridge disciplines and interests.
There’s also great potential in sharing faculty for short-term teaching across institutions. Additionally, mechanisms like Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can help integrate students from Gurukulas and homeschooling environments into the mainstream academic system.
What steps can be taken to make Sanskrit education financially sustainable and more attractive to students?
First, we need robust scholarship and fellowship schemes tailored for students pursuing Sanskrit studies. Second, we must open pathways to entrepreneurship in Sanskrit-based domains such as e-learning, content creation, heritage tourism, and translation services.
Forming institutional linkages with industries like Ayurveda, publishing, yoga, and digital heritage can also create viable career tracks. Highlighting success stories through media campaigns and ensuring seamless entry of Sanskrit students into top institutions like IITs and NITs through dedicated programs will make the field more aspirational.
How can regional language policies be aligned to support and promote Sanskrit learning?
Regional languages and Sanskrit have a symbiotic relationship. Sanskrit should be taught alongside regional languages in schools, which will enrich both. We can create regional language–Sanskrit dictionaries and comparative grammar tools to facilitate deeper understanding.
Encouraging regional universities to offer localized Sanskrit learning materials, organizing state-level cultural and language festivals, and conducting IKS activities in regional languages are all practical ways to integrate Sanskrit meaningfully into the regional education framework.
