Urooj Niazi 
When the Pakistan university added Sanskrit to its curriculum for the first time since the country was created in 1947, it was called a “historic and symbolic” move. The choice has led to the reawakening of an old language that has a long history in South Asia’s intellectual and cultural heritage. People on both sides of the border have talked about it in academic and cultural circles.
Before the Partition, the subcontinent had a lot of interest in and engagement with Sanskrit, which is one of the oldest ancient languages still in use today. University leaders made it clear that its return was a sign of renewed academic interest in historical studies, not a political or religious change.
Why Learn Sanskrit Now?
According to faculty members who are a part of the initiative, the goal of the move is to do more studies in linguistics, philosophy, history, and comparative literature. Sanskrit books are at the root of many old writings about math, astronomy, medicine, and government. This makes the language important for studying those subjects, even for people who don’t speak the language natively.
The course is an option, so students from different fields can learn the language if they want to. The teachers made it clear that the focus is still on academic research and the preservation of classical knowledge instead of ideology.
Mixed Reactions and Strong Support from the Academic Community
People on social media have had mixed reactions to the news, with some praising it for encouraging cultural openness and others doubting its relevance. But most scholars and historians have praised the move, calling it a step towards academic growth and intellectual openness.
Language experts say that learning Sanskrit is not at odds with the things we want to get out of modern schooling. It doesn’t do those things. Rather, it makes you better at analytical thought and gives you access to a huge amount of classical literature that has been important to South Asian civilisations for hundreds of years.
A Move to Start a Conversation About Culture and School
People see the program as a small step towards cultural conversation in an area that is usually defined by historical differences. The university has stressed that the program is only for academic purposes, but many people see it as a reminder of the history that people share across borders.
Even though it’s a small thing, teaching Sanskrit is an important event in Pakistan’s academic history. It shows that more and more people are able to learn about history through academic work, which suggests that education can sometimes do what politics can’t.
