Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 19: A lecture-series on Dr Uttam Chand Shastri Pathak and his contribution to Sanskrit was organized by Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha Akhnoor and Shri Kailakh Jyotish and Vadik Sansthan Trust at Shri Parashuram ji Temple, Akhnoor.
SSP Shakti Pathak was the chief guest on the occasion, while Prof Sharat Chander Sharma, Dean and Head of the Modern Subjects, Central Sanskrit University, Delhi was the main speaker. President, Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha, Akhnoor, Askok Shastri and President, Shri Kailakh Jyotish and Vadik Sansthan Trust, Mahant Rohit Shastri jointly presided over the function.
Delivering his keynote address, Prof Sharat Chander Sharma said that Sanskrit is the bedrock of Indian civilization. “It is the main stay of our national unity and integration. Its erosion seriously threatens India as a nation,” he said and pointed out that during the golden period of Jammu and Kashmir, Sanskrit flourished under the patronage of the kings as the official language.
He stressed that we must make every effort to restore Sanskrit to its former glory. “Sanskrit scholarship must be encouraged and honoured by the public as well as by the Government, and one of the ways of doing that would be to institute a State Award in Sanskrit in the name of the great son of the soil and propounder of Sanskrit learning, Dr Uttam Chand Shastri Pathak, who established Churamani Sanskrit Vidyalaya at Basohli.
“Instituting a State Award in the name of such a great Sanskrit luminary would not only give a fillip to the Sanskrit Scholarship in Jammu and Kashmir but also ensure national integration,” he said
Speaking on the occasion, President, Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha, Akhnoor, Ashok Shastri said that Dr Pathak believed social service to be an integral part of Dharma and worked with untiring zeal for the upliftment of society. His admirable contribution to the social cause can never be forgotten.
Addressing the gathering, President, Shri Kailakh Jyotish and Vadik Sansthan Trust, Mahant Rohit Shastri said that the Government must institute “Dr Uttam Chand Shastri Pathak State award in Sanskrit” to honour the Sanskrit Scholars who make significant contribution to the promotion, propagation and enrichment of Sanskrit language and literature, as this would re-establish Sanskrit to its former glory.
The function was also attended by industrialist Sunil Sharma, Rakesh Gandotra, Deepak Khajuria, Suresh Magotra, Pandit Taramani, Pandit Shammi Mishra and others.
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