Sanskrit belongs to the Indo Iranian branch of Indo European family. For centuries it has been accepted as the language of administration and learned communication in India. Therefore it comprises of a vast variety of literature. It includes epics, dramas, erotic poetry, devotional poetry, treatises on administration, politics, and modern sciences such as chemistry and so on. This ancient language has acquired more importance as the borders between different nations shrunk due to globalization.

Location

The Sanskrit Language Program is located in Pune (erstwhile Poona), which is considered to be a seat of learning. It is also considered as the cultural and educational capital of Maharashtra. It boasts of a prestigious university, i.e. University of Pune, and many an institution of eminence. It has a special place in the development of Maharashtra and of India.

Pune's population is 3.5 million. Local language is Marathi, common language is Hindi, and English is also understood. Mid-June to mid-September is the Monsoon season. After monsoon comes Post-monsoon (Oct-Nov) with little rain and warm weather, Winter (Nov-Feb), Spring (Feb-March), Summer (April-May).

Advanced Reading Course in Sanskrit 2012-13

• Eligibility – minimum three years of Sanskrit study.
• Duration - one semester (Fall or Spring) from the academic year 2012-2013. 
• The aim of this reading course is to make students familiar with various advanced and classical texts in Sanskrit, and the traditional method of analysis and textual criticism presented in these texts. The texts vary in range and nature from poetry to poetics and from veda and vedāṅga literature to philosophical literature such as sāṅkhya, nyāya, mῑmāṁsā, vedānta, tantra etc. and also commentarial literature.  
• A screening test may be executed to know students’ proficiency.
• The teaching will be for three hours (9 a.m. to 12 .15 p.m.) from Monday to Friday, while one hour will be kept for discussion and writing. This class will be devoted to reinforce the content and the arguments made in the texts read earlier. This particular method is a traditional way of reinforcement which is called as anuvāda.
• The medium of instruction will be Sanskrit.
• Initially a dialogue and discussion class may be taken for making students familiar and comfortable in speaking which would be required for the rest of the course.
• The last class may be converted into a dialogue and discussion class for first couple of weeks.
• Special guest speakers may be invited to speak on a particular branch.
• Tests will be arranged periodically to evaluate students’ understanding and progress.
• There will be different texts and schools chosen for the reading course every couple of years, and will be uploaded on the website.
• The texts for the reading course 2012-13 are: