Love for the Sanskrit language drew students from as far as Thailand and Iran to Somanath
The spread of Sanskrit language is now even raising abroad through Somnath Sanskrit University. Students from all over the nation are coming to Somnath to learn Sanskrit containing students from Islamic countries such as Iran and Bangladesh. Thus efforts to reanimate the world's oldest language by Somnath Sanskrit University have received more strength.
Ahmedabad:
He liked Bollywood movies and Indian songs in his childhood. Growing up, he became attracted by the rich Indian culture. Ultimately it was his fascination with the ancient and classical language of the India that brought Farshad Salehzehi from Iran to the door of Somnath Sanskrit University in Saurashtra. 10 months into his bachelor's degree course, Farshad speaks fluent Hindi which he stresses on speaking, as he says mastering the Devanagari script to write the nearly 3,500-year-old language needs quite a bit of diligence.
"I could understand the Sanskrit taught by the professors at the university due to it is similar to the old Iranian language Avestan. But learning to write was tough because I was not a master of the Devanagari script. When my professors told they could permit me to write Sanskrit. In the English script, I knew that I didn't come far from home to take a shortcut. I persevered and months later I am doing very good ," says a happy Farshad. The 40-year-old says he plans to do his masters and even a doctorate in Sanskrit which will open a window to better understand at least 3 of his languages--Avestan, Greek and Latin.
For the 1st time since its foundation in 2005, SSSU has gathered four students from abroad to study Sanskrit. 2 students are coming from Bangladesh while Ubonsiri Sokri has come from Bangkok, Thailand to do her Masters in Sanskrit. Sokri says he is interested in learning Sanskrit due to it is a systematic language. "I am attentive in Sanskrit grammar. Though it is tough for me, I will work hard to learn this beautiful language," says Sokri, who likes the Gujarati cuisine of rotli shaak and the weather here. SSSU Vice Chancellor Lalit Patel told foreign students are improvingly applying for courses at the university. He said the courses even contained study of Sanskrit grammar, history, astrology, Veda Purana, Vastu Shastra and more.
"We give personal coaching to foreign students who show passion to learn the ancient language and culture of the India. They even learn Hindi the fastest," said Patel. Karthik Pandya told 2 students from Bangladesh are expected to join the course soon pending visa approval.
