KOTTAYAM, MAY 10: Union Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has pointed out that the national dialogue on traditional and modern science will tackle the fundamental questions of giving out to the world a new paradigm of science and technology with a human face.
Inaugurating the State-level dialogue at Indraprastham Auditorium here on Monday, Joshi said if the combination takes place, within the next 10 years India will be on the forefront of scientific achievements in the world.
For this, one has to delve deep into the Sanskrit language, the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Puranas, he said.
All science students and scholars should undertake a course in Sanskrit and all Sanskrit students should study science, the result would then be unbelievable, he added.
Joshi said, "India’s science is not merely theoretical and philosophical but also experimental and mechanical. Westerners even now go to the Upanishads for a new idea. And the scientists there have even studied Sanskrit." How many Indian scientists know Sanskrit, he asked adding, "We must take serious interest in learning Sanskrit."
Joshi said when he was in the syllabus revision committee of Allahabad University, he wanted introduction of study of contributions made by Indian scientists. But the other members were not aware of any contribution except something in mathematics. That too came to be accepted only in 1969, a process which had started in 1962.