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A Sad Story of Study in Sanskrit

by · March 26, 2011

Dear All: I am publishing this guest post by Dr Jyotsna Kamat with the express intention of soliciting your support for a young, hard-working, earnest Sanskrit scholar languishing in a small village in Karnataka.  Please read his story (originally published here) below and get in touch with me if you can help in any way. Regardless of whether you can personally help the young man or not, please do share widely with friends and well-wishers of Sanskrit (emphasis added).

*** Sad Story of Study in Sanskrit by Dr Jyotsna Kamat ***

Recently I was in Honavar, my late husband’s birth place, where I have built a community hall and free reading room and library.

While going through local newspapers, I read about Arvind Shanbhag, who was awarded PhD. degree for a detailed study of poet Billhana’s historical epic Vikramankadeva Charita, an 11th century classic in Sanskrit. Having written about Bilhana earlier, I was curious to know about the latest work on the epic. I wrote a letter to the young man (29) congratulating him on his efforts and adding a line that I would be happy to go through his dissertation for some time. If he could spare it for some. Arvind hails from Kodkani, a village one-and-a-half hour’s drive from Honavar.

Dr. Arvind responded immediately and came with the neatly bound volume of his Doctoral Thesis along with some of the articles he wrote in Kannada. Arvind narrated not only the hardships a university student has to undergo for research but laid bare the bleak future, that awaited serious students of language and literature in India.

Born to Chandrakant and Kusuma Shanbhag of Kodkani village of Mirjan taluk, in North Kanara district in 1982, Arvind completed school and college studies by winning scholarships. With three gold medals and 1st rank in M.A. in Sanskrit, he wanted to take up research further. Sanskrit is the mother language of twenty odd Indian languages. Many Indian Universities offer fellowships and Master’s degree in Sanskrit. Several Pontiffs of late, have started and encouraged simple and conversational courses in Sanskrit along with vocational courses in priesthood so that commoners could have easy access to this ancient language which was considered divine language (Deva bhasha) and a monopoly of Brahmin priests and the ecclesiastical class. I thought Sanskrit had good future after a lull of decades after India’s Independence. But I was wrong. Sad plight of Arvind depicted the real story of Sanskrit.

Arvind had no financial sources when he thought of pursuing research. His father Chandrakant is a cook in a small restaurant in nearby town and his mother Kusuma does some embroidery and stitching in her spare time to help their meager income. The fellowship Arvind was waiting for, came after a long time. He worked as part-time correspondent to local small newspapers and wrote articles. He could not get the classic he was working on, in all the parts. He had to go to Ujjain(in Madhya Pradesh) to get the III and final part of Vikramankadeva Charita and get is xeroxed.

I was shocked to learn that photo-copying charges are ten times more in Ujjain than in Bangalore, per page. Finally Arvind rented a room in Dharwad, started self-cooking and wrote down the thesis. He learnt typing and DTP (This is unusual in India where job-typing is easily available) as he could not afford typing fee. The 300 paged-thesis was finally ready with the financial help of some voluntary bodies and good Samaritans, whose names are gratefully acknowledged by Arvind in the introduction of the thesis.

Meanwhile Arvind was trying for a teaching job in school or college throughout the state. Corruption is rampant every where in India. A huge amount is expected as donation by the institutions, which advertise the post. The government is the only employer and pressure for employment is such that entrance examination for teachers’ jobs has become compulsory. Qualifying age is increased and job aspirants’ numbers are mind boggling. Arvind is ready to take any job, clerical, teaching or management.

Such is the fate of sincere-students of a “divine” and ancient language, which still has innumerable un-explored and un-researched works on prosody, grammar, botany, religion native medicine besides Kavyas (epics).

See Also: Romance of Billana and Champavati

*** End ***

P.S. Please do leave a comment here in case you are aware of any suitable employment opportunities for Arvind. I hope to speak to him sometime over the next few days and will be mentioning about these two posts to him: Public Service post on Positions, Vacancies in Indic Studies and Mathematics, History and worms eating manuscripts…

Picture of Sanskrit Scholar Arvind Shanbhag, courtesy Dr Kamat

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B Shantanu

Political Activist, Blogger, Advisor to start-ups, Seed investor. One time VC and ex-Diplomat. Failed mushroom farmer; ex Radio Jockey. Currently involved in Reclaiming India - One Step at a Time.

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36 Responses

  1. gopi says:
    March 26, 2011 at 3:35 pm

    Pl email details to me (and amount). will be a privillege / honour to help a scholar of Sanskrit.

  2. Sanjeev Sabhlok says:
    March 26, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    Dear Shantanu

    Fully support this work. It is for such endeavours that charitable donations from wealthy people are crucial. It would be good if those who have benefited from free practical education provided by taxpayers through IITs and become millionaires in consequence consider spending a bit of their money on supporting such efforts.

    Sadly, these multi-billionaires show no sign of serious engagement with society either at the political or cultural level. But the common man has virtually no capacity to support such work.

    I’m at a loss to think of a solution.

    Regards
    Sanjeev

  3. संदीप नारायण शेळके says:
    March 26, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    Namaste Shantanuji,

    This is what I’m afraid of. Let me try my bit at local level.
    I’m in no capacity to help this scholar but would definitely search support help for him and his further aspirations.

    Jai Bharat!

  4. Kaffir says:
    March 26, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    Atanu highlighted a similar story of a scholar who wasn’t able to find funds to present a paper in the US, and his fund-raising campaign was a success. If funds will help, maybe a similar fund-raising campaign could be initiated? I’ll be happy to contribute to it. But, I don’t have any leads regarding jobs in India. 🙁

  5. ranganaathan says:
    March 26, 2011 at 9:07 pm

    My pranaams on the feet of Shri.Arvind, I will talk to all ppl. in my circle of influence for this mahanth, for survival. We should also try the sanskrit colleges anywhere in Bharath for this person. will mail you possibilities, Koti Pranaam to you Shantanuji for highlighting the plight of Sanskrit. Arise Bharath… Our Roots have to be strong for a stronger stem n branch…Public n Nation..Jai Hind… Vande Mataram

  6. Bharat Sharma says:
    March 27, 2011 at 12:28 am

    I would be happy to offer a stipend / scholarship of up to Rs. 15k per month with no strings until he gets an appropriate position / job.

    I run a manufacturing business based out of Delhi and any position that I will offer will not be utilizing the gentleman’s time / effort in his research.

  7. Gopi says:
    March 27, 2011 at 11:24 am

    My nephew, an MBA student in USA, last year asked abt writing a paper on applying teachings from / philosophical discussions in our ancient texts to issues of modern life (eg, management practices). How about using our support money to help him engage in such research? He can do from home or if a kindly businessperson can provide desk etc at their premises, can do from there (will impose some disciplines in terms of time, working hours as also facilitate an exchange of ideas with managers, workers, etc).

  8. B Shantanu says:
    March 27, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    Dear Friends,
    Thank you for your very generous offers of help and support to this young man.
    I will be speaking to him on Mon/Tuesday and shall update all of you after my call.
    Thanks once again,

  9. Ragha says:
    March 27, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    http://www.indologie.phil-fak.uni-koeln.de/5871.html?&L=1

    This is the site of the University of Cologne in Germany, which has an institute for Indology and Tamil studies. They undertake research in Sanskrit. This may be useful.

    Warm regards,
    Ragha

  10. Parvathy says:
    March 27, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    Please send their address. I shall try to send his mother some money. The boy will get a good job. I am sure about that. Our group members will get him a good job-no doubt.

  11. Vikas Kamat says:
    March 28, 2011 at 4:53 am

    I am very heartened to see people come together to help Aravind.

    To be honest with y’all — my mother Jyotsna Kamat *tried to create a job* for Aravind hoping to use his assistance in building of Kamat’s Potpourri, but I felt that such efforts will take him out from the world of academic or educational opportunities.

    More Notes:
    http://www.kamat.com/vikas/blog.php?BlogID=1483

    -Vikas Kamat

  12. smriti says:
    March 28, 2011 at 9:57 am

    Kindly provide the details on how to go about in providing assistance to this scholar.

  13. smriti says:
    March 28, 2011 at 10:04 am

    Shantanu ji, there is also the Shivdasani Scholarship provided by OCHS (Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies).

    http://ochs.org.uk/sdf-form

    Also, please provide some details on how we can assist this fine scholar. It will be a privilege to be of some assistance.

    smriti

  14. Subramanya says:
    March 28, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    Dear Jyothsna Kamath
    There was an article in one of the old Sanskrit Magazines “Sambhashana Sandesha’ of Samskrita Bharathi(Aksharam, Girinagar, Bangalore-85), by Cha mu krishna shasthri, that there is great scope for Sanskrit scholars. Ask Mr Arvind to contact him for the various opportunites available for such scholars as Mr Shasthri has wide knowledge and experience. He is instrumental in arranging World Sanskrit Book fair in Bangalore in Jan 2011 which was a great success.
    Ask Mr Arvind not to panic and not to join a small job. He can get a suitable job certainly and Samskrit Bharrathi may help him.
    Further He can join Samskrit Bharathi to join as volunteer. They will take care of him and utilize the knowledge of this young scholar.
    These are my just suggestions.

  15. v.c.krishnan says:
    March 28, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    Dear Shantanu,
    Please let me know whether we can take up the suggestions of Shri Gopi, Shri Bharat Sharma and Shri Subramanya and I can aslo pitch in with a computer and a desk to take this ahead.
    Please talk to him and revert. We can definetely take it up.
    Regards,
    vck

  16. dhananjay says:
    March 28, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    Dear Shantanudada,

    I came across this advert from Cambridge for a fellowship. I think it would be of immense help to Shri.Arvind the date of application is 13th April so he may have to move fast if interested. Please let me know if I can be of any further help.
    http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/ACI973/w-h-d-rouse-research-fellowship/

    regards,
    Dhananjay

  17. Malavika says:
    March 28, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    I have no job leads, but I am willing to help financially. Hopefully the funds raised will help the young scholar till he lands a good position.

  18. B Shantanu says:
    March 28, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    IMPORTANT/ PL READ:

    Dear All: I have been overwhelmed by the support that has been extended to this young man via the blog and the facebook page and several private emails.
    I spoke to him this afternoon and have taken his phone number and email id.

    I need someone to help coordinate the various suggestions, offers of financial help and assistance.

    Is there anyone amongst you who could volunteer for this? Preferably someone who can speak Kannada or Konkani.

    Please email me at Jai.Dharma AT gmail.com if you can help.

    Pl also email me if you wish to get in touch with him directly. I will be happy to share his details with you. I am not doing it on the blog to maintain his privacy. I will separately email all of you who have expressed their support here or in emails to me or on the fb page. Thanks.

  19. Sharma says:
    March 29, 2011 at 12:27 am

    If a computer literate person can help Shri Aravind by setting up a web site to teach sanskrit, I think it would be helpful.

  20. B Shantanu says:
    March 29, 2011 at 2:07 am

    Dear Friends, I am very pleased to announce that Sh S Ranganaathan-ji has very kindly volunteered to coordinate this effort.

    He will try and get in touch with each one of you individually but please do feel free to follow up with him directly on this too.

    Sh S.Ranganaathan Email s.ranganaathan AT gmail.com

    Thank you once again, and a very special thanks and gratitude to Sh Ranganaathan-ji for offering his time for this.

  21. Hari says:
    March 29, 2011 at 6:37 am

    namaste

    I second Shri.Subramanya’s suggestion. Ask Mr. Arvind to contact Samskrita Bharati in Bangalore. They would be able to provide him some support and guidance. He can talk to Dr. Vishwas there. Also there are research positions in Samskritam in IIT Bombay. That might require some knowledge of Maths and science and possibly engineering. But still worth a try. Rashstriya Samskrit Samsthan also does research and cataloging of Samskritam. I am surprised you haven’t heard of Rashtriya Samskrit Samsthan in New Delhi.

    Now-a-days with computers, you can do all your typesetting and printing from the computer. So surprised to hear that he had difficulty there. On the web there are a lot of resources for him to be in touch with like
    minded people and help in the advancement of Samskritam. Xeroxing charges can be high. There has been a movement by Rashtriya Samskrita Samsthan to put most of the old books on-line. So making copies for your own use might be a thing of the past. The Karnataka State Open University conducts exams for M.A. in Sanskrit. This is a long-distance learning course and students sign-up from anywhere and will have to write the exams on a specific date. These are usually working individuals who would be looking for someone to tutor them. So Mr. Arvind can also do that. This would require a
    phone connection and possibly an internet. He can get in touch with
    KSOU to get the details and see what he can do help the students registering for M.A.

    Finally, any person, especially of Indian Origin would lose tremendously if they don’t learn Samskritam and what it has to offer at some point in their life. Western countries have known the power of Samskritam for quite a while now. In one Elementary School in London and another one in Ireland learning Samskritam is compulsory.
    (Look up on the web for the links ). And Samskritam is the mother of all Indo-European languages too ( not just Indian languages ).
    I wish Mr. Arvind the very best.
    Hari

  22. smriti says:
    March 29, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    Shantanu ji,

    I have spoken with Dr Vishwas from Samskrita Bharati; also I have sent an e-mail on the same to you.

  23. Rakesh Kaul says:
    April 2, 2011 at 11:53 pm

    Thank you for the post. How can I get an electronic copy of his Phd thesis. I am happy to pay an honorariam. Regards Rakesh

  24. B Shantanu says:
    April 3, 2011 at 6:56 pm

    Rakesh-ji: Sh Ranganaathan-ji (#20) is coordinating these efforts. I have forwarded your comment to him. He should be able to respond soon. Thanks

  25. Gopalananda says:
    April 5, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    सर्वेभ्यः सदस्येभ्यो नमः। praNaamam arpayaami

    यदि भवान् मम सन्देशम् पठितुम् शक्नोति,समर्पयामि भवताम् चरणयो:सादरेन सहितं ममाभिवादनम्।

    सर्वेषु धर्मेषु परोपकारस्य विशिष्टं महत्वं वर्त्तते, अतः परोपकारिः जनानाम् सर्वत्र एव पूज्यते |
    let me tell you all,

    You all possess a wonderful combination of knowledge and feelings and above all the practical ability to bring the ideas in to realized form there by helping the scholar in a right way where we can utilize the capability ability knowledge and intellect in its maximum .
    We all should join hands not only with this scholar but also to those who are like him who have spend their life for promoting this dev vaani and sincerely search support help and encouragement to them and their further aspirations.

    Let us meet the scholar, judge his ability and capability and place him suitably.
    plz provide the details

    har har mahadeva

    ॐ नमः पार्वती पत्ये: हर हर महादेव

  26. Aravind Shanbhag says:
    April 5, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    I visit the sight satyameva_jayate today.

    thanks for all responsing the rural talent.

  27. Shankar says:
    April 12, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    Please request Mr Arvind to contact me by email. Madras Sanskrit College might need scholars. The Kanchi Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Vishwa Mahavidyalaya (University run by Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham) might need some teaching staff. I can render some support to him.

  28. gaurav khanna says:
    May 31, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    hiiiii……
    i m aiso a skt student n have a keen interest in skt.
    economically so week,still don’t want any help.the same thing wishing ion your behalf,Arvind.
    agar kuchh karna hai to mango mat, balki apne ander aisa kuchh lao ke dunia aae tumhare paas. be strong.

    i will contect you after completing my thises.

  29. Madhulika says:
    July 18, 2011 at 9:32 am

    Pls let us know the final outcome.
    How/what is Shri Arvind Shanbhag doing now?

    Hoping to hear excellent news!
    It’s amazing what a blog can achieve!!

  30. B Shantanu says:
    July 19, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    Madhulika: As far as I know, Dr Arvind has got a job and we also managed to raise a corpus of funds for him..
    I have requested Sh Ranganaathan-ji who gave his full-time and efforts to coordinate this initiative to provide us an update..
    Thanks a lot.

  31. p.s.venkataraman says:
    August 7, 2011 at 6:37 pm

    *** COMMENT EDITED ***

    do not worry Dr arvind. You are going to billinare shortly. My humble suggestion to you is to ally N A S A, america who wants sanskrit schalor for their organisation. You will wonder that atlast n a s a found out that sanskrit is the only language for giving proper comments for the computer/planate research in future. If you apply you will definetely succesful. For your information, please go to GOOGLE, and after going to google enter IMPORTANE OF SAANSKRIT LANGUAGE BY N A S A STUDY. you will understand that your phd study will certainly help them. Once approach You may call me, I am p.s.venkataraman from chennai. My mobile no. is XXXXXX. and my email is; simsolu2005@yahoo.co.in. Wishing you good luck arvind

    *** NOTE by MODERATOR ***

    I have removed mobile number to protect privacy. Thanks

  32. Gopi says:
    June 29, 2012 at 7:04 am

    How is Dr Arvind Shanbhag doing now?

  33. B Shantanu says:
    June 29, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    Gopi-ji: I should check with Ranganaathan-ji. Thanks for reminding.

  34. kiran says:
    October 20, 2012 at 7:10 am

    Hi,

    Just came across this blog post. Do let me know if i can be of any assistance.

    Regards

    Hari Kiran

  35. Mahesh says:
    November 6, 2012 at 7:32 pm

    GREAT JOB ARVIND CONGRATS.

    Honorable madam Dr Jyotsna Kamat. I know u through your website, i always refer to your website for information on kannada nadu history.

  36. Chinmay K says:
    February 12, 2023 at 9:15 am

    Hey myself Chinmay K.
    I am the student of Sir Arvind Shanbhag currently he is working in Sarojini Madhusudan Kushe School in Attavar,Mangalore.He is teaching Sanskrit and he is one of my favorite teacher he also published an article in the School magazine of ‘Sarojini Madusudan Kushe’ called ‘Vidya Kunj Volume-16’ .He is a good teacher and is also a guide. He teaches us the right manner and encourages us! I’m proud to be his student!
    Thank you.