Sanskrit PROGRAM

A General (Elective) Course

The College offers Sanskrit as a General subject to be chosen by the students as one of the Elective subjects along with an Honours subject in the Humanities discipline.

The word ‘Sanskrit' means purified and well ordered. It is the only language in which whole India expressed all her thoughts for the last two to three thousand years. It has united the Culture of India and given it a synchronous form. So Sanskrit is the pathway which connects the dimmed past of ssancient India to the present digital India. Keeping this in mind, the University of Calcutta takes immense care in framing the syllabus in Sanskrit so that students may be able to know the Indian heritage and culture and philosophical thought of the Vedic era. Sanskrit is indeed the language not only of kavya or literature but of all the Indian Philosophy and Science.

The Three-year General Course syllabus in Sanskrit is compact and useful to the students. There are four papers, each bearing 100 marks and consists of drama, prose, poetry, Upanisad, Dharmasastra, History of literature, grammar etc.
 

 

Course Outcome - Sanskrit General (Elective)

‘Svapnavasavadattam' is the best of Bhasa's dramas where the poet has displayed his skill of characterization and a fine manipulation of the plot which has made the drama interesting up to the end. The drama has a Psychological study of feeling which is wonderful indeed. The text helps students to think about the characters which are complex and Psychological by nature. It is in the curriculum of the 1st year General Course. The drama text “AbhigyanShakuntalam” by Kalidasa has been selected as teat book for 2nd year students. Superb characterization, study of human nature and wonderful mastery over the Sanskrit language has given the poet worldwide recognition. From this teat students can know how to love nature and how to behave with companion which becomes very much pertinent in day today life.

The Mahakavya ‘Raghuvangsham' is believed to be one of the mature-period work of Kalidasa. The book is written in 19 cantos and canto 1 and 2 are taught for BA 2nd Year students. It has been rightly said that the Raghuvamsam has given full scope to the poet's extraordinarily artistic imagination. Students love to read this Kavya which increases their vocabulary and mobilizes their creative energy.

The two great epics the “Ramayana” and the “Mahabharata” are undoubtedly the precursors of Sanskrit Kavya literature. The “Balakandya” Ch 1 and 2 of the Ramayayana and the “Udyogaparvan” ch 33 of the Mahabharata are taught to B.A. 2nd year and 3rd year students. The influence of these two epics on Indian Society and literature is well known to the students. So the text portion of both the Mahakavyas help students to make them understand it.
The study of Dharmasastra named “Manusamhita” deals with the respective duties of the different varnas and asrama. The book “Manusamhita” Ch VII is mainly intended for the B.A 2nd year students. Students can know the social structure of our society from this text.

Beside these texts, the Ishopanishad, the Sahityadarpana , the History of Sanskrit literature (classical only) and the History of Sanskrit and general acquaintance with Sanskrit works on Social Scientific and Technical literature are also taught to 2nd year and 3rd year B.A. General students.
 

Program Outcome - Sanskrit General (Elective)

The Academic Programme for General Course enable the students not only to acquire the professional skills but also develop a deep understanding of rich heritage and dynamic prevalent scenario of India through various texts in different disciplines of ancient pedagogy, composed in Sanskrit.

Pursuing this course a student may grasp advanced knowledge of ancient Indian literature, philosophy, poetry and dramaturgy, Mantras, Growth and Development of legal works, politics, erotics, history of medical works, history of astronomy, astrology, mathematics etc. A student may also know how to analyse a teat through critical perspective and to assess the text through social economic and political picture. Through careful reading and immense analytical discussion of Sanskrit texts, students may gain ability of undertaking comparative approach between ancient and modern literary works.
 

Program Specific Outcome – Sanskrit General (Elective)

 Students graduating with Sanskrit as a general subject can pursue career in various fields. Teaching the subject at secondary and higher secondary levels they may start their career. They can continue their higher studies in linguistics and manuscripts reading which opens avenues for jobs in related fields. The exposure to vernacular studies creates openings in the area of Journalism also.