Department  of  Sanskrit

University School of Languages,

Gujarat University, Navarangpura, Ahmedabad – 380009.

Phone : +91-79-2630 2382

                                 Director & Head      :           Prof . Vasantkumar M . Bhatt                                    

Introduction

Brief History

"The Department of Sanskrit " was established as one of the Post - Graduate Departments in the"University School of  Languages", in June - 1964. Dr. E.A.Solomon  ( Reader and Head ) and Dr. T.S. Nandi were the faculty members at the begining of the department. In subsequent years UGC had sanctioned some posts of Readers and Lecturers in Sanskrit . Here is a table showing the past & present faculty members : -

[ * All three Professors have received a " Certificate of  Honour "given by the President of  India for their researches in the field of Sanskrit Studies.
Dr. E.A. Solomon had received a " PADMA - SHREE" award from the Government of India. Dr.  T.S. Nandi was selected  by the UGC as a " Professor  Emeritus ." ]

The Department  has been offering  five shastras since 1964 , viz. 1. Vedant ,
2. Vyakaran , 3. Alankar , 4. Sankhya - Yoga and  5. Purana Shastra.This is a special and a unique feature of the department among  the universities of  the Gujarat State. The department has been running  M.Phil. programme since 1981. During these four decades, i.e. the period of 1964 - 2004 , the department has provided  research  guidance to the  Ph.D.  students. As a result of this activity about 75 candidats have got  Ph.D.  degrees from  the department. Each  of the faculty had, besides teaching , numerous publications to their credit.

The department had organised many conferences and seminars during 1964 - 2004, but some academic events are noteworthy, such as  -

1.      32nd session of the ALL INDIA ORIENTAL CONFERENCE ,( 6 - 8 Nov. 1985 ) was organised by the department on the university campus.

2.      International seminar on Acharya Hemachandracharya's literature (19 - 20  January 1989 ) was organised by  Prof. T.S. Nandi in the Assembly Hall of the School.

3.      Traditional Vedic Sammelan ( under auspices supervision of the Rashtriya Veda Vidya Pratisthan  ,Ujjain) was co-ordinated by Dr. V.M.Bhatt & Dr.K.C.Chokshi , at the Veda - Mandir,Ahmedabad. on 8-10 January 1998.

4.      Seminar on PANINI'S GRAMMAR was organised (18-19 January 1996 ) at the School.

5.      The  department has  co-ordinated eight different Refresher Courses in Sanskrit for the lecturers of affiliated colleges.

6.      The Canadian World Education Foundation, CANADA, has awarded the  " RAMAKRISHNA SANSKRIT AWARD - 2001 to  Prof. V.M. Bhatt in recognition of his distinguished and outstanding contribution to Sanskrit Research and Teaching , in India.

Present Senario

The department has six sanctioned posts, viz. 1 Professor , 2 Readers  and
3 Lecturers. But  one post of a Reader and one post of a Lecturer is vacant.Thereare four faculty members in the department at present. Ten students reading for the Ph.D. degree under the guidance of Prof. V. M. Bhatt & Dr. K. C. Choksi.

Students are very much interested in offering the classical language like Sanskrit as their special subject. Every year there are 200-250 applicants for new admi8ssion in M.A. course. Good numbers of students are getting jobs in high schools and in under graduates colleges. Sanskrit is being taught as a compulsory subject in most of the Universities of the Gujarat state.

Infrasturcture & Facilities

The department of Sanskrit is an intergal part of the "University School of Languages" (USLg). It has no separate building. We have a common clerical staff and a Director, who looks after all the necessary teaching aids.

Highlights

The Department of Sanskrit has concentrated on some remarkable objectives; e.g.

·        The language teaching through grammar.

·        Teaching of various "Shastrs", e.g. 1) Vyakaran (Grammar),  2) Alankar (Poetics),  & 3) Dharma & Puran shastra.

(Gujarat University is the only university in the state, where student can get the
facility of learning a world renowned grammar, viz. PANINI'S ASHTADHYAYI).

·        Appreciation of Classical Sanskrit Literature and good acquaintance with Vedic Grammar and studies.

·        Teaching of Kautilya Arthshastra & some Rock Inscription.

·        Research work in general, and critical text editing of unpublished Sanskrit manuscripts in particular.

(Department has collected more than 300 copies of rare manuscripts for higher research works. In the neighbouring area of the university, there is an institution namely the "L.D.Institute of Indology" where 75000 manuscripts are preserved).

·        We have also designed our syllabus to meet with the requirement of NET/GSLET exams. (4 students of this department have cleared NET exams & 8 students have cleared GSLET exams).

Courses Offered

Course 1

                                                      (  Four Papers  in Part – 1 )  and

                                                      (  Four  Papers in Part – 2 )

COURSE TYPE                         :     Grant in Aid

STUDENT INTAKE                     :     75  (  + 25 with Special Permission.)

ELIGIBILITY                               :     B.A. Passed with Sanskrit as a special subject

                                                       from any recognised university .

                                                                                 OR

                                                      B.A. Passed with atleast 50% in any subject from

                                                      any recognised university

 SUBJECT OFFERED                :     Sanskrit

(A)    Main Sanskrit (Three papers ) with one

                                                      Subsidiary Language paper ,  viz .  Hindi, Gujarati,

                                                      Pali- Prakrit, Urdu-Persion, English & Linguistics.

OR

                                                      Entire Sanskrit  (Four Papers ).

SPECIALIZATION                      :     Who they are going to opt for Sanskrit as a Main

                                                                       OR

                                                      Entire subject, they may select any one

                                                       “SHASTRA” as his /her Specialization out of three

                                                      Shastras , mentioned bellow  :-

                                                      (a)     Paniniyan  Grammar

                                                (b)      Darshana Shastra

                                                (c)      Dharma & Purana Shastra.                                                                                 

DURATION                                :     M.A. :Two Years

                                                      i.e.  M.A. Part – I – first year 

                                                             M.A.  Part – II – second year

COURSE COMMENCEMENT       :     June

                                                      [ Normaly Academic Years starts from 15^th June,

                                                      but admission process begins after the B.A.

                                                      results of this university are declered.]

ADIMISSION  PROCESS           :     By  Merit only

(1)     Merit lists are supposed to be prepared by the Department according to the markes obtained by the Student in his / her B.A. exams.( rules are laid-down by the university)

(2)     Reservation quota will be maintained as per the government rules.

FEES                                       :     In the 1^st Term :- (M.A. –I )

                                                            Rs. 840 (For Boys ) & Rs. 240 (For Girls )

                                                            In the 2^nd Term :- (M.A. –I )

                                                            Rs.740  (for Boys ) & Rs. 140 (for Girls )

                                                       In the 1^st Term :- (M.A. –II )

                                                            Rs. 740  (For Boys ) & Rs. 140 (For Girls )

                                                            In the 2^nd Term :- (M.A. –II )

                                                            Rs.740  (for Boys ) & Rs. 140 (for Girls )

                                                            There are two terms in each academic year.

                                                            Various types of scholaships are available for

                                                            S.C./ S.T./ SEBC Students .

COURES OFFERED AT             :     The University School of languages Building.

                                                      It is also known as the (Bhasa Sahitya Bhavan)

FUTURE CAREER                     :     (a)  Student can be a High School teacher but the

OPPORTUNITY                                     degree of B.Ed. necessary.

(b)     Student with 55% marks at the M.A. exam can be a lecturer at any under – graduate college (but he / she is supposed to pass the Net / Slet Exam).

(c)     Clerical job in any Government / Non –Govt. organization after GPSC & UPSC Exam.

COURES 2:

NAME OF THE COURSE           :     M.PHIL.

                                                      (Three Papers & One Dissertation )

COURSE TYPE                         :     Grant in Aid .

INTAKE                                     :     12 Student .

ELIGIBILITY                               :     M.A. Passed with minimum 55% marks with

                                                      Sanskrit as a main / entire subject .

SUBJECT OFFERED                 :     SANSKRIT

     (a)  Three papers written examination after one year

     (b)  After passing the written exam student is

           suppose to write a dissertation on the given

           subject, within one and haff year.

SPECIALIZATION                      :     Student may select any one ‘Shastra’ as his /  her special shastra out of two 1) ‘Sanskrit Grammar’ or 2) ‘Darshana Shastra’ .There will be one  paper for this shastra specilization out of three Complasory Papers mantioned above.

DURATION                                :     One year (Attendance Complsory )

                                                                  &

                                                      One and half year for dissertation (at home).

COURSE COMMENCEMENT      :     June

                                                      (normaly it starts only after the M.A. results are declare of this University.)

ADMISSION  PROCESS            :     By Merit  only .

                                                      Reservation quota is maintained as per the

                                                      Government rules.

FEES                                       :     (a) In the 1^st Term

                                                            Rs.1,370 (for Boys ) & Rs.370 (for Girls )

(b)     In the 2^nd Term

                                                            Rs.1170 / (for Boys) & Rs.170 (for Girls )

COURSE OFFERED AT             :     The University School of Languages building which is also known as “Bhasha – Sahitya Bhavan”.

Future Career                     :     Lecturership at the Undergraduate College

opportunity

Faculty

Name                                       :           Dr. Vasantkumar M. Bhatt

Qualification                            :           M.A., DIL, Ph.D.

Designation                             :           Director & Professor & HoD

Areas of Specialization            :          Sanskrit, Paniniyan Grammar, Sanskrit Grammar

Contact No.                              :           26302382 (O) 26406508 (R )

Name                                       :           Dr. K. C. Chokshi

Qualification                            :           M.A., PGDIP, Ph.D.

Designation                             :           Reader

Areas of Specialization            :          Sanskrit, Grammar, Purana-shastra

Contact No.                              :           26302382 (O) 27640876 (R )

Name                                       :           Dr. (Mrs.) S. Y. Shastri

Qualification                            :           M.A.(Grammar), M.A.(Vedant), DIL, Ph.D.

Designation                             :           Sr. Lecturer

Areas of Specialization            :          Sanskrit Grammar, Vedant, Dharmasashtra

Contact No.                              :           26302382 (O) 26751779 (R )

Name                                       :           Mrs. Hetal M. Pandya

Qualification                            :           M.A.

Designation                             :           Lecturer

Areas of Specialization            :          Sanskrit Grammar

Contact No.                              :           26302382 (O) 26925081 (R )