Kalam releases modern edition of Sanskrit text

Comprising 3,000 verses, the version published by Varanasi-based Chaukhamba Prakashan, throws light on the advancements in weather sciences, agriculture and astrology in ancient India.

It was released by the former President on the sidelines of the centenary celebrations of city-based science organisation "Vijnana Parishad, Prayag."

"It is a proud moment for us to have got the book released by Kalam who is known to be an avid follower of ancient Indian learning, besides himself being a scientist of the highest order," noted Sanskrit scholar Girija Shankar Shastri, who has compiled and translated the verses to Hindi, said.

"The compilation aims at dispelling the myth that the `Brihaspati Samhita` deals only with astrology," he said, claiming that the compilation was "the first attempt ever to bring out the famous treatise in the form of a book that could be available to the common reader."

Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India R Chidambaram was part of the event as well.

Kalam later participated in a function organised by a public school on the occasion of its silver jubilee and also interacted with students of an engineering college on the outskirts of the city.