Koraput, Jan 29: Students of the undivided Koraput district will now be able to pursue Sanskrit education within their own district. A Sanskrit Vidyapeeth has been established at Shabari Srikhetra in Koraput. With classes set to commence from the current academic year, a wave of enthusiasm has been seen among students.
On this occasion, a two-day workshop on Sanskrit education was organized under the auspices of Shabari Srikhetra Sanskrit Vidyapeeth. The workshop, held at the Tribal Museum premises, was inaugurated by the President of the Vidyapeeth and Jeypore MLA, Taraprasad Bahinipati.
Among the distinguished guests were Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Koraput, Professor Nrusingha Charan Panda; Director of Central Sanskrit University, Puri, Professor Prabhat Kumar Mahapatra; and Veda scholar Swami Shyamananda from Rishikesh.
The speakers highlighted the promotion of Jagannath culture and the divine Sanskrit language, stating that employment opportunities and economic development for the youth are possible through education in Yoga Science, priesthood (Pourohitya), and ritual studies (Karmakanda).
It is noteworthy that apart from Puri and Paralakhemundi, there was no other Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Odisha. Through the efforts of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, this Vidyapeeth has been established at Koraput Shabari Srikhetra and affiliated with the Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi.
In the coming days, one-year postgraduate and diploma courses in Yoga Science, Pourohitya, and Karmakanda will be introduced here. In the first year, 25 students have been admitted to each course. The course fee has been fixed at Rs 7,000 for general category students and Rs 3,500 for SC/ST students, while free education has been arranged for Divyang (differently-abled) students.
The establishment of this Vidyapeeth has been welcomed not only in undivided Koraput but also by people from neighboring Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, who have expressed their satisfaction over the initiative.