Course Offered: B.A (Honours) Sanskrit
Established in 1956, the Department of Sanskrit at LSR promotes the appreciation of this rich and scientific language, crucial to the understanding of several Indian cultural, philosophical and religious traditions. The thrust areas of the course are Vedic and Upanishadic lore, history of ancient Indian cultures, philosophy, Arthashastra and other areas of Indology.
The course places emphasis on specific aspects of India’s intellectual traditions which are relevant to contemporary discourses in diverse disciplines both in the humanities and sciences. Short modules on linguistics and philosophy of language, reasoning and ontology, aesthetics and Indian theatre, mathematics and Astronomy and Indian science have been introduced. The faculty approaches the study of Sanskrit not merely as a language but as a subject that sensitizes students to its role as a repository of Indian culture, ethical values and Vedic mathematics. Faculty members also encourage fluency in speaking the language. Students of the Sanskrit Department study epigraphy and archaeology and hence are eligible to pursue a Masters Degree in this field. Students of Sanskrit are in demand in museums, manuscript studies and fields related to archaeology. Other career options include teaching and translation work.
The learning of students is enriched in various ways through a number of educational activities conducted within and outside the Department. The department of Sanskrit has always been proactive and has invited eminent scholars to disseminate their knowledge and their expertise. Seminars on Vedic Mathematics, Kinship and Social Justice in Ancient Hindu Legal System, panel discussions and talks on Archaeology and Sanskrit,Yoga and mental health, Sanskrit chronology, Sanskrit Logic & Debate, Indian Knowledge Tradition, Indian poetic tradition, Hindu Calendar system, Role of Women in Vikasit Bharat: In the context of Sanskrit Shastras are some of the popular and memorable ones. Department has also took initiative to organize workshop based short term course on “Indian Culture, Languages, & History: An ancient and Contemporary view.” In order to enhance the understanding of students on their course work, department has evolved the pedagogy outside the classrooms by organizing field trips to various Inscription sites and museums. In the process of getting aligned with NEP 2020, department offers various courses such as Ayurveda, Yoga in Practice, Vedic Mathematics, Ancient Indian Methods of Script Writing etc. for undergraduate programs. The Sanskrit Sambhashan Shivir from Lok Bhasha Prachar Samity is organized at regular intervals.
Lectures and Events
The academic year 2025–2026 was marked by several vibrant academic and co-curricular initiatives organized by the Department of Sanskrit to promote the study and appreciation of Sanskrit language, literature and India’s intellectual traditions. One of the major initiatives undertaken by the department was Sanskrit Samvad Shala, a ten-day spoken Sanskrit programme held from 23 April to 3 May at the New Conference Hall (NCH). The programme aimed to encourage students to engage with Sanskrit as a living and communicative language.
The valedictory session of the programme was graced by the presence of Prof. Chand Kiran Saluja. Prof. Saluja is a retired faculty member from the prestigious education college, the Central Institute of Education, University of Delhi and is presently devoted to working for the promotion of the Sanskrit language in social life with great dedication. Students were encouraged to practice the language in everyday contexts, thereby making Sanskrit accessible and enjoyable. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation, with more than 100 students attending the sessions and
benefiting from this immersive learning experience.
Sanskrit Week Celebrations
The department also celebrated Sanskrit Week through interactive and participatory activities designed to engage students from across the college. A thought board activity was installed near the Nescafé area where students from different departments were invited to share their reflections, ideas and perceptions about Sanskrit. In addition, a Sanskrit Quiz was organized focusing on basic knowledge of Sanskrit language, literature and cultural heritage. Students from diverse academic backgrounds participated enthusiastically, with more than 100 students taking part in the activity.
Association Highlights
The Shloka Gayan Competition, held on 25 September 2025, showcased students’ ability to recite and present Sanskrit verses with clarity and expression. Amita Srivastava (2nd Year) secured the first position, Anjali Kumari (1st Year) secured the second position and Sudha Suryam (2nd Year) secured the third position.
The Speech Competition, organized on 16 October 2025, provided a platform for students to demonstrate their oratory skills and articulate their ideas in Sanskrit. Nandini Vij (3rd Year) won the first prize, followed by Amita Srivastava (2nd Year) in second place, while Smriti Verma (3rd Year) secured the third position. Shweta Pandey (1st Year) also participated with great enthusiasm. The Prose Reading Competition, conducted on 13 November 2025, focused on improving students’ pronunciation, fluency and comprehension of Sanskrit prose texts. Nandini Vij (3rd Year) secured the first position, Lakshaki Gupta (3rd Year) obtained the second position and Amita Srivastava (2nd Year) achieved the third position. Sarita Bhatt (3rd Year) was awarded a consolation prize. Creativity was further encouraged through a Sketching Competition held on 20 November 2025, where students visually represented themes inspired by Sanskrit literature and culture. Yogita Kumari (2nd Year) secured the first position, Himani Panchal (2nd Year) secured the second position and
Shweta Pandey (1st Year) achieved the third position. Bhoomi Basoya and Manvi Shukla (1st Year) were awarded consolation prizes for their artistic contributions.
Annual Academic Conference
The Department of Sanskrit organized its Annual Academic Meet ‘Samskriti ’26’ on 21 February 2026 at the New Conference Hall . The event brought together scholars, faculty members and students from different institutions for a day of academic exchange and cultural engagement.
The first session was based on the theme ‘Indian Knowledge Tradition and National Renaissance.’ The session featured distinguished speakers Prof. Ramraj Upadhyay from the Department of Vedavedanga, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University and Prof. Santosh Kumar Shukla from the Institute of Sanskrit and Indic Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. The speakers highlighted the continuing relevance of India’s knowledge traditions in shaping contemporary
intellectual discourse.
The second session included inter-college competitions such as Shloka Gayan and Sanskrit Quiz, along with cultural performances by students. The competitions were judged by Dr. Neha Beniwal, Assistant Professor, Department of Sanskrit, Satyawati College and Dr. Vishnu Mishra, Department of Sanskrit, Lady Shri Ram College. Their guidance and evaluation added significant academic value to the event.
| Name | Areas of interest |
| Dr. Pankaja Ghai Associate Professor (Teacher-in-charge) pankajaghai@lsr.edu.in | Dharmashastra and Kautilyarthashastra Publications and other works click here |
| Dr. Vandana S. Bhan AssociateProfessor vandanasbhan@lsr.edu.in | Vyakaran and Kavyashastra Publications and other works click here |
| Vandana Rani Assistant Professor vandanarani@lsr.du.ac.in | Bhasha-Vigyan, Panini Vyakarana (Laghusiddhantakaumudi), Vakyapadiyam (Bhartrihari), Shakatayan Vyakarana Publications and other works click here |
| Mr. Surya dev Bahuguna Assistant Professor suryadevbahuguna@lsr.du.ac.in | Bharatiya Jyotish shastra and Sanskrit Literature Publications and other works click here |
President – Amita Srivastava
Secretary – Shweta Pandey
Treasurer – Akansha Gupta
Email: unionstudentlsr@gmail.com
The Sanskrit Department has been publishing its Annual Academic Journal ‘Tejas’ every year.
Tejas 2024-25
Samproshika 2024-25
Tejas 2021-22
Tejas 2020-21
Samproshika 2019
Tejas 2018-19
Tejas 2017-18
Tejas 2016-17