Bengal govt to set up Sanskrit University

: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced the setting up of a Sanskrit University in the State.

Addressing journalists at the State Secretariat at Nabanna building in Howrah, Ms Banerjee said that an expert committee under Indologist Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri is being set up to inform the government on how the University will take shape. The expert committee will submit its report to the government in two months.

Though Ms Banerjee’s government has set up several universities, the announcement of setting up a Sanskrit University is considered significant.

The Trinamool Congress government is accused by the BJP and others in the Opposition of indulging in minority appeasement on the grounds that it had initiated honorarium for Imams and Muezzins.By constructing a Sanskrit University, the State government is trying to counter this allegation.

Sanskrit is taught in different universities but there is no separate university dedicated to the learning of this ancient language. n the early 19th century, Sanskrit College was set up in the city to teach Sanskrit to both British officials as well as Indians.

Upgrading the existing Sanskrit College to a University could be one of the provisions which the State government could consider.