The International Institute of Pali Sanskrit and Comparative Philosophy affiliated to the Sanskrit University, will offer one year certificate and diploma courses in the Pali language from the next academic year for the first time.
The initiative has been taken by former Union Minister and Leader of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha M Mallikarjun Kharge.
Former Vice Chancellor of the Sanskrit University, Mallepuram G. Venkatesh, who is also the Director of the newly established Institute in Kalaburagi, told The Hindu on Monday that it was unfortunate that not much avenues were available for learning Pali or taking up research of the language in India and to fill this gap the institute has decided to open up opportunities for learning and taking up research in Pali language.
Prof. Venkatesh said that Pali, like Prakrit and Sanskrit, were the ancient languages of India and there was a need to preserve and develop all these languages and enable the scholars of all the three ancient languages to take up comparative studies and research activities. Except Bihar, no other state in the country has a full fledged research or learning centre for Pali.
Prof. Venkatesh said, “The study of this ancient language with important literature needs to be broadbased and the relation between Pali, Sanskrit and Prakrit needs to be studied and researched deeply.”
Prof. Venkatesh said that the Institute would function as a higher centre of learning of Pali and research. The comparative study of Buddhism and other religions would also be taken up at a later stage. The Institute would also offer the Post Graduate diploma courses in Pali language as an additional qualification to the Post Graduate students.
Later, speaking at the inauguration of the three-day workshop on Pali for prospective students at Siddarth Buddha Vihar in the outskirts of Kalaburagi, Prof. Venkatesh said the candidates, after passing PUC can take up certificate course and diploma course designed for the undergraduates.
Working President of the institute, Radhakrishna inaugurated the workshop. Sanskrit scholar G. Srinivasamurthy spoke on the occasion.
