In a groundbreaking move, the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Pakistan has launched a formal Sanskrit course, the first of its kind since the partition of India in 1947. This initiative is being hailed as a significant step towards reclaiming the shared South Asian heritage and fostering regional harmony. The Gurmani Centre for Languages and Literature at LUMS successfully concluded its pioneering "Introduction to Sanskrit Language and Literature" course on December 9, 2025.
The four-credit elective course drew enthusiastic participation from undergraduates, researchers, and faculty across various disciplines. What started as a three-month weekend workshop in early 2025 evolved into a full academic program, blending foundational grammar with deep dives into Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita. Students explored authentic translations, philosophical undertones, and cultural touchstones, including the Urdu rendition of the Mahabharata's theme song.
Dr. Shahid Rasheed, the course instructor, taught himself Sanskrit through online resources. He described the initiative as "a small yet significant step toward reviving serious study of a language that has shaped philosophical, literary, and spiritual traditions across the region". Dr. Ali Usman Qasmi, Director of the Gurmani Centre, highlighted the vast collection of Sanskrit manuscripts at Punjab University, which have been largely neglected since independence. He expressed the hope to produce Gita and Mahabharata scholars from Pakistan within the next 10-15 years, with plans for specialized follow-up courses in the spring of 2026.
Dr. Qasmi noted that the Punjab University library houses one of the richest but least-studied Sanskrit archives. He added that a significant collection of Sanskrit palm-leaf manuscripts were cataloged in the 1930s by scholar JCR Woolner, but no Pakistani academic has engaged with this collection since 1947 and that only foreign researchers use it. He hopes that training scholars locally will change that.
The course has seen enrolment exceeding expectations and fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue. According to Prof Dr Ashok Kumar of Hindi Department Punjab University, LUMS was the first to start the basic levels I and II followed by the Punjab University Lahore. Kumar added that to have a grip of Sanskrit, a student needs to complete seven levels that would require at least three years and that most students enrolled in Sanskrit in PU and LUMS are Muslims, having keen interest in learning of the language.
Dr. Rasheed explained that classical languages contain much wisdom for mankind and that modern languages derive from classical traditions. He believes that Sanskrit is the binding language of the entire region and that it is a cultural monument that they need to own, as it is not tied to any one particular religion. Dr. Qasmi said the initiative aligns with the university's broader language ecosystem, which includes Sindhi, Pashto, Punjabi, Baluchi, Arabic, and Persian.
Looking ahead, LUMS plans to offer courses on the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita and hopes to teach the language as a year-long course by Spring 2027.
