Ph.D in Sanskrit

The Department was established at Punjab University, LAHORE. Professor A. C. Woolner. Dr. Luxman Saroop the great oriental scholar who had been awarded the Ph.D. Degree under the supervision of Prof. A.A. Macdonell from Oxford University served the Punjab University at LAHORE.

Soon after the partition, the Department of Sanskrit was located temporarily at the D.A.V. College, Jalandhar. Dr. surya Kant, the University Reader in Sanskrit, acted as Head of the Department and was assisted in the teaching by shri Pagan Nath Agrawal University, Lecturer and Shri Jagdish Bhatia, the Head Pandit. The Post-graduate teaching in Sanskrit was conducted in collaboration with the Sanskrit Department of D.A.V. College, Jalandhar.
The Department was shifted to February 12, 1952 from the premises of the D.A.V. College to Kothi Mahboob Alam (Jalandhar City), as evacuee property, acquired by the Panjab University on rent. On October 21, 1952 Dr. Surya Kant Joined the Banares Hindu University as Professor of Sanskrit, on his departure Shri Jagan Nath Agrawal worked as Head of the Department.
In 1956, the Syndicate of Panjab University appointed a committee to submit proposals for the promotion of the study of Sanskrit in the State. Besides the Vice-Chancellor, Dewan Anand Kumar, who acted as the Chairman, the Committee included Dr. Mehar Chand Mahajan, Acharya Vishva Bandhu and Professor D.C. Sharma. The committee recommended that the Department of Sanskrit be expanded by the recruitment of One Professor, two Reader and three lecturers and that "An Honours School in Sanskrit be started."
The Syndicate of the University had decided in July 1956 to shift the Department to Sadhu Ashram, Hoshiarpur to Promote the language in Collaboration with the V.V.R.I. but Dr. A.C.Joshi, after taking over as Vice-Chancellor, disapproved this move, since he wanted to centralize all the post-graduate Teaching Department at Chandigarh and consequently, arrangements were made to shift the Department to Chandigarh and the Department started functioning on the University Campus with effect from July 14, 1959. At Chandigarh, Professor D.N.Shukla took charge of the Department as Head on November 16. 1959. Dr. Ram Gopal joined the Department as Reader and Dr. Jai Dev Vidyalankar and Shri S.D Ojha joined as Lecturer at that time. The teaching activities of the Department were expanded by the introduction of new groups i.e. Epigraphy, Veda, Darshana, Sahitya and Vyakarana.
Dr. D.D. Sharma was appointed Lecturer in place of Shri S.D. Ojha in 1962, and later Dr. D.D. Sharma promoted as Professor, Dr. D.N.Shukla published learned monographs on Vastu-sastra in Hindi and two volumes in English, under the title "The Hindu Science of Architecture" and "The Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting." He also worked on Shilpa-sastra, Aeronautics and fine arts and another research project, entitled "History of Shilpa-sastra" financed by the University Grants Commission. Dr. Ram Gopal published his two outstanding books "Vedic Vyakarana" (Part I & II) and "India of Vedic Kalpa Sutras". He published a number of research papers on Vedic Language and Literature. Dr. Ram Gopal joined as Professor in Kali Das Chair and later he joined as Vice-Chancellor of M.D. University, Rohtak
On selection Dr. Ram Murti Sharma joined as Professor in Department and he published a number of books on Indian Philosophy and later he joined as Vice-Chancellor of Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi after his retirement.
Prof. Ram Gopal, Prof. Ram Murti Sharma and Prof. D.D. Sharma have also received the Certificate of Honour from the President of India for their outstanding contribution to Sanskrit Studies. Prof. D D Sharma was awarded Nehru fellowship, Prof. V. P. Upadhyaya has been honoured with most prestigious Guru Gangeshwara Veda Vedanga National Award at Nasik (Maharashtra). Besides this, he has been facilitated 4 times by University Syndicate/Senate for other most important national and International awards.
During the Headship of Prof. D.N.shukla, Dr. Ramakant Sharma and Dr. Anirudh Joshi joined the department as lecturer and later retired as professor. In 1979 and 1981 Dr. Dhan Raj Sharma and Dr. Ved Parkash Upadhyaya were transferred along with the post from V.V.B.I.S & I.S. Hoshiarpur to the Department of Sanskrit, P.U., Chandigarh in the interest of the University work and joined as lecturer in the same status and latter promoted as Professor. In 1984 Dr. Vikram Kumar joined as lecturer in the Department. On selection Dr. Shankarji Jha joined as Reader and Dr. Virendra Kumar Alankar joined as lecturer in 1990. In 2003 & 2004 Dr. Dhan Raj Sharma and Dr. Anirudh Joshi retired as Professor
Professor and Chairperson/Head of the department Dr. V. P. Upadhyaya has authored Ten Books and 100 papers in the field of Veda, Vyakarana, Dharmasastra and jyotish. Prof. Shankarji Jha has also authored six books and published 15 papers in the field of Kavya-sastra and Sanskrit Vyakarana. Prof. Vikram Kumar also authored five books and published 30 papers. Dr. V.K.Alankar, Reader, has published 9 books on Grammar, Veda and Indian Philosophy. He has published also 25 Research Papers on Ramayana, Mahabharat, Ved, Philosophy, Grammar and Puranas. One book on Yoga Philosophy and One Poetry book is also going to be published very shortly.

The Department of Sanskrit has 60 seats in M.A. I and 60 seats in M.A. II & Presently 20 students are pursuing their Research in the department. Department has its own library for students and there are nearly 1200 books in the departmental library. There are five specializations in M.A. Classes. This year two groups (Sanskrit Literature and Sanskrit Grammar) are being run in the Department. Department also formed Sanskrit Sodh Parishd to promote the research activities in the Department.
In 2000 Department celebrated Sanskrit Year and organized a National Seminar on Sanskrit and Modern Sciences. On 13-15 Oct. 2005 a national seminar on Life and Works of Maharshi Valmiki was also organized under the directorship of Dean of Languages. During last three years the departmental Sodh Parishad organized monthly Seminars.
The Department organizes extra-curricular activities for the students, including Quiz Contests, Seminars, Declamation Contests and Group Discussions In addition. The faculty of the Department is actively engaged in research pursuits and each member has authored several books / research papers. The Faculty includes several highly visible academics, who have travelled extensively for academic purposes. At the same time, they are involved in the various administrative bodies of the Department and contribute to the society for human welfare.

Post Graduate department of Sanbskrit Panjab University Campus, Sector-14, Chandigarh provides courses in Vedic Studies, Indian philosophy, classical Sanskrit Literature, Grammar and Philology. Pali, Prakrit, Jyotish, Dharmashastra etc. in PhD and D. Lit. level. For post graduate courses of M.A. Degree there is provision for various groups i.e. Veda, Darshana, Sahitya and Grammar in M.A. II examination. There are 20 M. Phil seats in the department and admissions are subject to entrance test. Sanskrit has been proved an asset to the candidates for competitive examinations i.e. Union and State Civil Services; and besides having obtained good ranks in Government jobs. This department has proud of its scholars, two of them reached to the post of Vice Chancellors of Sampurnanand University, Varanasi & MD University Rohtak and another one became Chairperson/Head of a department. Sanskrit is a language in which various subjects viz. Indian Philosophy, Economics, Political Science, Law, History, Medical Science, Architecture, Engineering and maths are vested. Lilavati; a standard Sanskrit book in the subject of Mathematics, Vastusutropanishad of Paippalad school of Atharvaveda is an authentic work in the field of Architecture. Arthashastra of Kautilya is a scientific work in the field of Economics and Polity. Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita both are ancient most and important works in the field of Medical Science. Bhaskaracharya, Aryabhatta and Varahamihira are famous for their important contribution in Mathematics & Astronomy in Sanskrit Literature. Ancient Indian Culture is truly reflected in Sanskrit since it was the language of Aryans and court language during Golden period of Indian History and afterward every rites and ritual done in this language in Indian Sub continent. It is also said to be the most scientific language suitable to computer, hence also called the language of future. Without the knowledge of Sanskrit no one can find the way of spirituality or Metaphysics.