The long cherished dream of a multitude of Samskrit scholars, teachers and well wishers from Kanataka has come true with the current Government establishing the Karnataka Samskrit University. It is a welcoming sign from the state Government when the Union government has given Kannada a classical language status which Sanskrit has been enjoying for a long time. In fact, the symbiotic relationship between Sanskrit and Kannada goes to an antiquity of several centuries. The ancient and medieval literature of Kamataka is replete with poets and scholars who had established supremacy in both the languages. Now the globalization has opened up new vistas for the study of Samskrit in multifarious ways. A number of NRIs and western scholars are evincing keen interest in Samskrit language and literature, and roughly around 100 universities in America have introduced Hinduism as one of the core subjects at undergraduate levels. The study of Samskrit language and literature become an integral component for such students. The movement of Samskrita Bharathi in popularizing Samskrit as a spoken language has attracted global attention. Currently there are 15 Samskrit colleges, 235 traditional Patashalas and 19 Vedic Patashalas working under the guidance of primary and secondary board of Education in Karnataka. Around twenty to twenty five thousand students are learning Samskrit. Hundreds of private Samskrit study centers are working related to Samskrit language, and literature with financial assistance from both central and state governments. The Samskri University established by our State would promote the furtherance of Sastric studies with an active help from the students and scholars of these Patashalas, Samskrit Colleges and Study centers in preserving and promoting Shastric, scientific and philosophical traditions.
Samskrit Universities in the 21st Century: Possibilities:
(1) Samskrit Universities can institute and confer degrees, diploma and other academic distinctions in newer areas such as Indology, Indic Studies, Multi Disciplinary Studies apart from general ones to students, distinguished scholars..
(2) Samskrit Universities must co-operate with other Samskrit Universities, Universities both national and international or Higher academic institutions with a view to promoting higher studies, inter and multi disciplinary studies in Samskrit.
(3) Samskrit Universities can institute and award fellowships, including traveling fellowships to scholars of national and international eminence.
(4) Samskrit Universities should affiliate research bodies for the purpose of promoting advanced research and grant affiliation to such research institutes, support them by way of research staff, funding for carrying out basic and advanced academic activities leading to worthy publications and volumes.
(5) Samskrit Universities should make the maximum usage of modem technological and educational tools for developing and imparting new courses in this new technological format (online, CDs, DVD, audio tapes). Opportunities: Owing to the impact of globalization the world has shrunk into a `Global Village'. The opportunities are plenty and Samskrit Universities should utilize it and strive hard towards excellence and become model universities in the coming decade. For this to happen:
(a) There should be a band of committed and dedicated scholars in the university and such scholars should be selected on the basis of merit of a high standard.
(b) Samskrit Universities should facilitate the transfer of renowned scholars from one university to another university on deputation and also with other universities for expansion of knowledge base.
(c) Samskrit University should allow some renowned institutes in Fine Arts for developing their centers with- in the campus for promoting such co-curricular activities. For instance The Bangalore University has leased out its land for the construction of The Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts (IGNCA). The IGNCA conducts various programs related to fine arts at State and National levels.
(d) Samskrit Universities can enter into MOUs with some Multi National Agencies which have common interest for promotion of their objectives on twin profit sharing methods. For instance, WIPRO, INFOSYS, Smt. Sudha N. Murthy Foundation could be asked for such academic co-ventures.
(e) Samskrit chairs could be established exclusively for Specific Studies with complete funding from interested NRIs, foreign funding agencies, partial funding from States and Central Government for a period of two-three years. Such chairs have been established in Universities in the USA, UK and Europe called `India Studies'. In the Karnataka context, chairs in the name of Prof. S. Radhakrishnan, Prof. M. Hiriyanna, Mahamahopadhyaya Kunigal Ramashastry and the like could be established. The Scholars who are known nationally and internationally would be appointed for these reputed chairs.
(f) Karnataka Samskrit University is planning to establish Special Centers of Study for protecting and developing Shastric leamii pertaining to Karnataka State. Such special centers could be established by other University for focusing regional needs.