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Published:
February 27, 2011 00:00 IST | Updated: February 27, 2011 04:04 IST
Disseminating
Sanskrit education for more than 55 years
R.
Keerthana
Memorable: Justice
R.S. Ramanathan releasing the souvenir ‘Jnanadhara' and advocate P.B. Ramanujam
receiving the first copy.
Sanskrit, which is the
store-house of scriptures and language of prayers in Hinduism, has influenced
most Indian languages. But when it comes to learning the language, there are
only few institutions in Chennai that offer the course. Mambalam Samskrita Vidyalaya
fills this gap. It has been offering Sanskrit education for about 55 years and
still counting. The classes are offered free of cost.
Mambalam Samskrita
Vidyalaya was established by Kulapati Sri U.Ve. Rajagopalachariar. What started
small in 1955 has been disseminating Sanskrit education, keeping the interest
in one of the oldest languages alive. The school has been cultivating the
literary knowledge among its students.
Classes are held regularly
in the evening on all working days between 6.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Students, from
school children to retired persons, are coached for the examinations conducted
by Chittoor Samskrita Bhasha Pracharini Sabha.
There are 60 students
currently with the institution at six levels.
“They come purely for the
love of the language,” says O.R. Devanathan, son of the late Rajagopalachariar
and honorary principal of the school. Talking about job prospects after doing
the course, he says, “Teaching and curators at Museum are most sought after.”
People also do literary works.
“Many students, who have
passed from this Institution, are in esteemed positions in various fields,”
says Mr. Devanathan. He cites - “Dr. K. Srinivasan, Head of Sanskrit
Department, Sri RKM Vivekananda College, Dr. V. Abhiramasundaram, Lecturer,
Dept., of Sanskrit, Sri RKM Vivekananda College, Dr. L Kumaraswamy , Head of
Sanskrit Department, D.G. Vaishnav College, Dr. M.V. Anantapadmanabhachariar,
and R. Sivaraman, leading advocate, to name a few.”
“U.Ve. Rajagopalachariar
started the institutions inspired by the Mambalam Hindi Vidyalaya instituted by
Dr. R. Venkatakrishnan. Mambalam Samskrita Vidyalaya can be called as the
offshoot of Hindi Vidyalaya,” says Mr. Devanathan, who is also a lecturer at
Dept. of Sanskrit, Presidency College. Mr. Rajagopalachariar, fondly called as
‘Periya master' by his students, ensured that the classes are held free of
cost.
The institution has been
conducting inter-school, inter-collegiate sloka recitation competitions,
lecturers on various topics related to Sanskrit at various occasions. “For the
Golden Jubilee celebration, year-long celebrations which included competitions
and seminar by various eminent scholars, the response to which was
overwhelming,” he adds.
The Vidyalaya has its own
history of staging various dramas such as ‘Parvati Parinayam', ‘Bali
Niyamanam', ‘Pancharaatram', ‘Sri Vedanta Desika Vijayam' by Anantha
Padmanabhan, and ‘Kalidasa Vilasam'.
The Samskrita Vaagvardhini
Sabha formed for the benefit of the students to increase their power of speech
in Sanskrit has been meeting every Saturday.
Anniversary celebration
The 55th anniversary
celebration was held on February 5 at Ahobila Mutt Oriental Higher Secondary
School. Justice R.S. Ramanathan was the chief guest and released the souvenir
‘Jnanadhara', a compilation of lectures, articles from eminent scholars.
Advocate P.B. Ramanujam received the first copy.
Teachers who served the
Vidyalaya were honoured by the Judge. The chief guest spoke in praise of the
Vedas and Sanskrit language and lauded the service of the Vidyalaya. Advocate
P.B. Ramanujam said that Sanskrit language is not only used for spiritual
benefits but also for monetary benefits. Earlier, inter-school and
inter-collegiate sloka reciting competition and an inter-collegiate quiz
competition were conducted and prizes were distributed during the occasion.
Mambalam Samskrita
Vidyalaya functions in the premises of Ahobila Mutt Oriental Higher Secondary
School at 116, K.R. Koil Street, West Mambalam. Contact 2489 0311/ 98843 64620
/ 99624 22480.
R. Keerthana
© The Hindu
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