History of Sanskrit Education in Bankura from Ancient to Modern Times

Abstract

Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages of Indian subcontinent. With expansion of Aryan territory from Saptasindhu area to eastern India and thereafter some parts of southern India, it became popular in India. Sometimes, many kings like the Guptas also helped to disseminate it in the society. In this process, Sanskrit reached in the Bengal and in Bankura district also. Bankura district became a centre of Sanskrit learning. Many Sanskrit scholars were here who prospered the language with their works. Malla kings, local king of the area whose kingdom was stretched from Manbhum to Medinipur, patroned some of these scholars. Their capital Bishnupur of Bankura became a centre of assimilation of Sanskrit scholars. After their fall, many zamindars also patroned the Sanskrit scholars and gave financial help to open Sanskrit tols. Even in British period, we find many tols here. But as English language became popular among the people, as it helps to secure a job, Sanskrit with many other native languages started to lose its past glory. After freedom of India in 1947, though the Sanskrit tols of Bankura have got financial and academic help from the State government, they cannot recover their past glory. And now with this corona crisis, they are going to close slowly. But the Sanskrit scholars of the area are now raising their voices to continue the tols. And also almost every schools of the district have Sanskrit as the subject in secondary and high secondary level. The colleges under Bankura University and the Bankura University also offer many courses on Sanskrit in under graduate and post graduate level. We hope for a better condition of Sanskrit learning in Bankura in future.