Vasudev Devnani Honours 56 Scholars at Rajasthan State Sanskrit Scholars Felicitation Ceremony in Udaipur

Jaipur/Udaipur, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani honoured 56 distinguished scholars during the State-Level Sanskrit Scholars Felicitation Ceremony held at Sukhadia Rangmanch Auditorium, Udaipur, on Thursday. The event was organised by the Department of Sanskrit Education, Government of Rajasthan, in association with the Municipal Corporation, Udaipur. Rajasthan’s Education Minister Madan Dilawar was also present, along with the spiritual presence of Saint Gulabdas from Makardev Ashram, Jhadol. A congratulatory message from Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma was read out by Ram Mohan Sharma, Deputy Inspector, Divisional Office of Sanskrit Education.

Dignitaries in attendance included Udaipur City MLA Tarachand Jain, Udaipur Rural MLA Phoolsingh Meena, and Divisional Commissioner Praja Kevlarmani.

Honouring Excellence in Sanskrit

A total of 56 awards were conferred across four categories. The Sanskrit Sadhana Shikhar Samman was presented to Kailash Chandra Mundra of Chittorgarh, along with a cash prize of ₹1 lakh. Other honours included Sanskrit Sadhana Samman (2 recipients), Sanskrit Vidwat Samman (7 recipients), Sanskrit Yuva Pratibha Award, Ministerial Service Honour, and awards for academic achievements across various levels.

Launch of Ved School Logo & Publications

The ceremony also witnessed the unveiling of the logo for the proposed Government Model Ved School in Udaipur, and the release of the annual departmental magazine Shravani. Publications launched included Bal Vatika books and the Sanskrit Education Department’s SSCIT Panchang.

Sanskrit – The Soul and Science of India

Addressing the gathering as Chief Guest, Devnani described Sanskrit as the mother of all world languages, embodying the essence of sages’ wisdom and the voice of the Vedas.

“Sanskrit is not just a language; it is the soul of India, the river of knowledge, and the carrier of Sanatani consciousness,” he said, stressing its pivotal role in preserving culture and traditions.

He highlighted that Rajasthan was the first state in India to establish a Directorate of Sanskrit, strengthening preservation and promotion efforts. According to him, Sanskrit is not limited to scriptures but is also the language of science, artificial intelligence, and space research—recognised as the most precise language for computer science.

Devnani urged universities to start short-term courses in astrology and ritual studies, pointing out the shortage of trained practitioners. He added that Sanskrit offers vast career opportunities and hoped the honoured scholars would inspire others to serve the language.

Sanskrit Holds Infinite Knowledge

Education Minister Madan Dilawar emphasised the limitless wisdom embedded in Sanskrit, citing the example of Mahabharata’s Sanjay narrating real-time events through mantra-based techniques. He called for embracing Swadeshi in daily life to strengthen the nation, discouraging the use of foreign goods, and highlighting India’s self-reliance in defence and technology. He also noted that the Education Department has planted 5 crore saplings under the Hariyali Rajasthan campaign and appealed for a ban on polythene use.

Sanskrit Brings Discipline to Life

Saint Gulabdas stressed that Sanskrit is key to understanding India’s glorious culture and carries profound life lessons and secrets of nature as revealed in the Vedas, Puranas, and Upanishads. He noted that learning Sanskrit instills discipline in life.

Teachers as Catalysts of Change

Prof. Y.S. Ramesh, Director of the Central Sanskrit University, Jaipur, said that the New Education Policy has initiated positive changes, but its success depends on teachers’ involvement. He praised Rajasthan as the first state to implement a new pattern in Sanskrit education and to prepare Bal Vatika books for the subject.