In a bold move, Presidency College, Madras, appointed an intellectual advocate of the Dravidian ideology as a Vedic Pandit, despite his limited knowledge of Sanskrit. This unconventional hiring decision was based on his unwavering commitment to the Dravidian ideology. The Sanskrit Department underwent significant changes, with new academic positions being filled by individuals with unique backgrounds. The syllabus was revised to make it more student-friendly, resulting in the removal of certain traditional texts and the replacement of others. However, the experiment did not yield the desired results as the department saw a decline in student enrollment and experienced a mass exodus of teachers seeking better opportunities elsewhere. Eventually, the university had to acknowledge the lack of interest in Sanskrit by issuing a general order to upgrade syllabi across all subjects. Despite these efforts, Sanskrit education at Presidency College failed to attract students, leading to a decline in the once vibrant department. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of modernizing traditional disciplines without losing their essence.
Source link