State-owned Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) will soon begin a course in Sanskrit language. The decision, taken at a meeting last week by the executive council of the premier institute, was announced on Thursday.
According to IIMC director general KG Suresh, a three-month certificate programme in Sanskrit journalism will be offered to students wanting to pursue a course in the classical Indian language. The institute already offers courses in Urdu, Malayalam, Odiya and Marathi.
“We have set up a new unit known as the department of Indian languages that will offer courses in Sanskrit and other Indian languages. A memorandum of understanding has been signed with Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha. They will look after the language part while we will draft the curriculum,” Suresh said.
IIMC, a premier institute under the ministry of information and broadcasting, offers courses in journalism, advertising and public relations and is also a hub for training officials of the Indian Information Service, foreign correspondents and personnel of the armed forces.
On whether there is a market for Sanskrit journalism, Suresh said, “There are a few Sanskrit publications. Besides, All India Radio and Doordarshan have programmes in the language. Our research has shown there is a growing market for journalism in Indian languages.”
{{/usCountry}}On whether there is a market for Sanskrit journalism, Suresh said, “There are a few Sanskrit publications. Besides, All India Radio and Doordarshan have programmes in the language. Our research has shown there is a growing market for journalism in Indian languages.”
{{/usCountry}}Data from Audit Bureau of Circulations, a non-profit body for measuring and auditing newspaper and magazine circulation in the country, shows while English and Hindi publications grew by 17.6% and 37.8%, Bengali, Malayalam and Marathi publications grew between 5-9% between June and December 2015.
In 2016, the country’s first Sanskrit newspaper Sudharma made a fervent appeal for funds. Sources said the I&B ministry was also approached to offer aid through advertisements, but no decision was arrived at.