PM Modi to Visit 200-year-old Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in UP That Houses 95,000 Rare Manuscripts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to pay a visit to the historic Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Uttar Pradesh on July 7th. The university, constructed over 200 years ago, boasts a remarkable library filled with valuable handwritten manuscripts. During his two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, PM Modi is expected to explore the university. Originally named Prince of Wales Saraswati Bhawan, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University's library currently houses approximately 95,000 manuscripts in various scripts, including Devanagari, Kharoṣṭhī, Maithili, Oriya, Gurmukhi, Telugu, Kannada, and Sanskrit.

Professor Anand Kumar Tyagi, the Vice Chancellor of Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, expressed pride in the library's extensive collection. He stated, "Our library, Saraswati Bhawan Library, is one of the oldest in the world and has successfully preserved around 95,000 rare manuscripts on subjects such as Vedas, Vedangas, Puranas, astrology, and grammar. These manuscripts are written in different scripts, including Devanagari, Kharoṣṭhī, Maithili, Oriya, Gurmukhi, Telugu, Kannada, and Sanskrit. Some of these manuscripts are inscribed on gold leaf, paper, palm, and wood."

Shashindra Mishra, the public relations officer of the university, provided insights into the institution's history and its library. He explained, "Originally known as Government Sanskrit College, the present-day Sampurnanand Sanskrit University was established in 1791 under the proposal of Jonathan Duncan, the resident of the East India Company, with the approval of Governor General Lord Carnwalis. Its objective was to promote the Sanskrit language. Pundit Kashinath served as its first teacher and Acharya. The college offered education in subjects such as Veda, Vedanta, Purana, Ayurveda, Sahitya, Astrology, Theology, Mimamsa, Nyaya, and more." Despite several unsuccessful attempts to elevate the Sanskrit Government College to a full-fledged university, it finally obtained university status in 1956 with the passage of the Varanaseya Sanskrit University Act. Mishra added, "This university was founded on March 22, 1958, by the then Chief Minister Dr. Sampurnanand and Education Minister Pt. Kamlapati Tripathi in Varanasi, under the name Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya. However, it was later renamed Sampurnanand Sanskrit University under the UP State University Act, 1973, on December 16, 1974." He further emphasized the significance of the university's library, stating that its vast collection of well-preserved manuscripts is a source of national pride.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also expected to visit the university on July 5th to review the ongoing preparations for the Prime Minister's visit. During his two-day stay in Varanasi, PM Modi will address a public meeting in Wazidpur and lay the foundation for development projects worth Rs 7,000 crore. In addition to exploring the library, the Prime Minister will also visit the ancient building of Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.