FROM VEDAS TO VIRTUAL

With its highly structured and systematic grammar, and minimal linguistic uncertainty, Sanskrit stands out as a promising candidate for contemporary scientific language, including coding

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Amid continuing discussions about Sanskrit's role in modern technology, Delhi University has launched a new course that bridges the ancient language with the digital age.

The Department of Sanskrit is now offering an elective titled "Computer Applications for Sanskrit", aimed at students studying the subject across DU colleges.

Classified as a discipline-specific elective, the course offers students foundational computing skills with a focus on Sanskrit applications.

It aims to equip learners with practical knowledge in areas such as Unicode typing in Devanagari script, web development using HTML, optical character recognition (OCR), and techniques for digitising and preserving Sanskrit texts, key components in the field of computational linguistics.

Subhash Chandra, the course designer and faculty member, has been quoted as saying that the objective is to showcase how Sanskrit can be integrated with modern technology.

"We've developed tools such as grammar checkers, speech-to-text systems, and a research database for Sanskrit," he has added.

"This course will help students understand the coding and technical framework behind these innovations."

While it doesn't delve into advanced programming, it introduces basic coding principles that students can use to create digital platforms supporting the language.

Open to fourth-semester students with a working knowledge of Sanskrit, the course draws on tools developed by Delhi University's Computational Linguistics Group and integrates concepts from software theory and logic.

A dedicated module explores Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for Indian languages, offering students practical insights into its role in digitising and preserving ancient texts.

According to the syllabus, the course aims to familiarise students with ongoing research in Sanskrit computing and showcase tools developed through government and private sector initiatives.