Sanskrit re-enters Pakistani academia for the first time after partition; Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata studies may follow!

In a moment without precedent since the 1947 Partition, Sanskrit has formally returned to a university classroom in Pakistan. Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has introduced a four-credit Sanskrit course, signalling a rare but meaningful revival of classical language studies in the country.

The move marks a significant departure from post-Partition academic trends and reflects a growing interest in reclaiming intellectual traditions that predate modern political boundaries.

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One Scholar’s Long Journey into Classical Languages

At the heart of this revival is Dr Shahid Rasheed, Associate Professor of Sociology at Forman Christian College, whose personal academic journey sparked wider institutional interest. His engagement with Sanskrit followed years of study in other classical languages.

“Classical languages contain much wisdom for mankind. I started with learning Arabic and Persian, and then studied Sanskrit,” Dr Rasheed told The Tribune.

Much of his training came through digital platforms, underscoring how modern tools are reshaping access to ancient knowledge.

“It took almost a year to cover classical Sanskrit grammar. And I'm still studying it,” he said.

What began as a three-month weekend workshop soon gained traction, attracting students and scholars eager to explore the language’s literary and philosophical depth.

Untapped Manuscripts and Forgotten Archives

The academic case for Sanskrit studies in Pakistan extends well beyond a single classroom. Dr Ali Usman Qasmi, Director of the Gurmani Centre at LUMS, points to a largely ignored treasure trove of manuscripts housed within the country. Pakistan, he notes, possesses one of South Asia’s richest Sanskrit collections, much of which remains unexplored.

The Punjab University library alone holds a vast archive of palm-leaf manuscripts. “A significant collection of Sanskrit palm-leaf manuscripts were catalogued in the 1930s by scholar JCR Woolner, but no Pakistani academic has engaged with this collection since 1947. Only foreign researchers use it. Training scholars locally will change that,” he said.

‘It Is Ours Too’: Reclaiming a Shared Heritage

Dr Rasheed frequently encounters scepticism for studying a language widely linked to Hindu religious traditions. His response challenges both religious and national boundaries.

“I tell them, why should we not learn it? It is the binding language of the entire region. Sanskrit grammarian Panini's village was in this region. Much writing was done here during the Indus Valley Civilisation. Sanskrit is like a mountain - a cultural monument. We need to own it. It is ours too; it's not tied to any one particular religion,” he told the English daily.

For him, Sanskrit represents a civilisational inheritance rather than a sectarian one.

Languages as Pathways to Regional Healing

Beyond scholarship, Dr Rasheed sees language learning as a potential force for reconciliation in South Asia.

“Imagine if more Hindus and Sikhs in India started learning Arabic, and more Muslims in Pakistan took up Sanskrit, it could be a fresh, hopeful start for South Asia, where languages become bridges instead of barriers,” he said.

This vision reframes classical languages as tools for dialogue rather than symbols of division.

A Personal Connection to Script and Soil

A report by The Print adds a personal layer to Dr Rasheed’s story. For the 52-year-old academic, language is “a bridge” rooted in shared history and family memory. His first student was his daughter, who is now fluent in reading and writing Devanagari. His family history spans both sides of the border - with ancestral ties to Karnal and Sheikhpura in present-day Uttar Pradesh.

“Devanagari attracted me. It is so artistic, I found it profound,” he recalled, according to The Print.

Expanding the Curriculum: Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata Studies

The Sanskrit initiative is only the beginning. LUMS plans to introduce structured academic courses on key Sanskrit texts, including the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita.

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“In 10–15 years, we could see Pakistan-based scholars of the Gita and the Mahabharata,” Dr Qasmi told The Tribune.

As part of the programme, students are also engaging with cultural adaptations of Sanskrit literature, such as the Urdu rendition of “Hai katha sangram ki”, the iconic theme from the Mahabharat television series