A vast corpus of knowledge lies hidden in Sanskrit, a language many consider dead. Now, the faculty at Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute, a non-profit educational institution, is going to excavate it, and make it available for the institute's members.
Surgery, nuclear physics, chemistry, aeronautics. These are not terms one would normally associate with Sanskrit, a language that’s often referred to as dead, or written off as irrelevant in modern times. At best, it might be acknowledged as the original language of great epics and a storehouse of philosophy and poetry.
The faculty at Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute (KSRI), therefore, have their work cut out for them. A non-profit educational institution, it is dedicated to excavating the vast data that lies hidden in ancient Sanskrit writings and manuscripts.
The institute’s library is meticulously organised and stocked with over 60,000 books and journals (many of which are in English and foreign languages) that cover every sphere of knowledge — from law to medicine.
“From simple formulae used to find cube roots in mathematics to measuring the diameter of the earth, many are not aware that Sanskrit writings have this information,” says Dr. K.S. Balasubramanian, deputy director of the Institute.
In the room next to the library, Dr. T.V. Vasudeva, professor of Sanskrit, proudly gives a tour of the shelves containing Sanskrit manuscripts that are as old as 500 years, dealing with subjects as varied as architecture and history. They are carefully preserved, and details about the condition of the text, the contents and the origin are noted in a master register.
When KSRI received affiliation to the University of Madras in 1983, it began to offer M.Phil and Ph.D degrees. Unfortunately, a dearth of funding means that faculty members of the Institute did not benefit from the Sixth Pay Commission.
Heavily reliant on donations from private organisations and individuals, it has now announced a life membership scheme that would enable it to build a much-needed corpus fund.
“An individual who pays a minimum of Rs. 2,000 will receive our publications for lifetime”, says Dr. Balasubramanian.
“Our aim is to get around 2,000 subscribers and the interest accruing from the corpus fund will be used to publishing quality books in the future, both in Sanskrit and English,” he says
For details on supporting the Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute or becoming a life member, call 044-24985320 or email ksrinst@gmail.com.
Keywords: Sanskrit, traditional languages
This is a good cause. Everyone should support. I know about the good work done by this
Institution, as my Ex-employer ( I retired from Sundaram Finance Ltd. ) was a donar to this
Institution.
Thanks to Hindu for publishing this info. I will make the effort to join as a life member and will persuade my friends to do the same.
In a way KSRI is better off not being funded by the govenrment. It will eventually lead to medelling and politics.
Driving for private/corporate donations is the best way to maintain the freedom of the institute.
I thank THE HINDU on the excellent story on Kuppuswamy Sastri Research Inst., Chenna. As a member for over twentyfive years, I am benefitted a lot. It is an irony that though many officials at Cental Govt, in the Ministry of Culture, and Education, are in the rank of
senior Secretary-level none understood the need of this renowned KSRI for recommending funds. In contrast, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Inst., Poona, is benefited a lot by the good offices of even the politicians of Maharashtra. Even now, good hearted philonthrophists can comforward to donate funds for KEEPING OUR TRADITION alive.
THE HINDU deserves all praise for this copy. Being a life-member I benefited a lot. I am sorry though there are members from Tamil Nadu in the ministry no culture none came forward to help this Institute, in comparison to the funds that Bhandarkar Oriental Research Inst., Poona receives annually. What a contrast. Even now it is not too latd if educationists come out to speak on behalf of this Institute.I will go a step further if philonthropists, there are many in Tamil Nadu, to come forward to donate a sizeable money to this Institute.
Very good intiative. Best wishes.
Good Work. Hope they will come out with fantastic results and make their findings public.
Thank you for the effort to save Sanskrit. I will be subscribing for
publications from this institute - Venkat
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