Combine traditional, modern science — Joshi

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.