Disregard for the ‘Kavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana Awards’ continues in Maharashtra; four Years’ awards still pending

Mumbai, 8 August – The BJP government in Maharashtra has continued the neglect of the Sanskrit language as it was done earlier in the Congress regime. The ‘Kavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana’ award was started in 2012 for the promotion of Sanskrit in the State; however, the government’s decision to give this award on Sanskrit Diwas has remained only on paper. Not even once has this award been given on Sanskrit Diwas since its inception. Currently, the awards from the year 2021 onwards remain pending.

These awards are given by the ‘Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University’ in Nagpur. Maharashtra government’s Department of Higher and Technical Education funds these awards, and the Directorate of Education regulates the award process. However, absolute indifference is seen across all levels regarding presenting these awards.
Not only on Sanskrit Diwas, but the awards have not been given at all for several years. The awards from 2015 to 2020- six years- were presented together in 2021. Even before that, awards for 2-3 years had been given together. The amount of ₹18,17,957 required for these awards was not disbursed by the government to the university for several years.

Very recently, this grant amount has finally been disbursed by the Department of Higher and Technical Education to the Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University.
Thus, apathy towards the Kavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana Awards continues in Maharashtra.

Editorial Perspective

Now, after Marathi has been granted the status of official language, efforts must also be made for the promotion of Sanskrut. The State government should give the pending ‘Sanskrit Sadhana’ awards to the respective recipients of each year and change the indifferent attitude towards this award.