Pune: Sanskrit Students Gain Practical Experience Through Internship Program On Dictionary Project At Deccan College
Pune, 26th June 2023: In a unique initiative, students of Sanskrit were provided with a rare opportunity to participate in an internship program organized by the Department of Sanskrit and Lexicography at Deccan College (Deemed University). The internship aimed to offer practical training in the field of lexicography and the application of Sanskrit learning. This program was open to all Sanskrit students and was a first-of-its-kind endeavor.
The Department of Sanskrit and Lexicography at Deccan College is undertaking the ambitious project of publishing ‘An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Sanskrit on Historical Principles’ (EDS). Once completed, this dictionary will be the largest of its kind due to the vast amount of data available in the Sanskrit language. Currently, 35 volumes of the dictionary have been published, covering over 6,000 pages. The project is financially supported by the Government of Maharashtra and the Ministry of Education, Government of India, through the Central Sanskrit University in New Delhi.
The internship program was conducted from June 1st to June 21st, 2023, with a duration of 21 days. It was open to third-year B.A. and M.A. students of Sanskrit from various institutes in Pune, as well as from other cities such as Kolhapur, Thane, Solapur, Nashik, New Delhi, Tirupati, and Bangalore. Despite receiving over 50 applications, only 25 students were selected to participate due to limited seats. The internship took place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and carried two credits.
During the internship, students had the opportunity to become acquainted with the principles and processes involved in creating the ‘An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Sanskrit on Historical Principles’ (EDS). They actively engaged in various primary steps, including preparing reference slips for entry words, assigning grammatical status, determining meanings, providing citations with commentaries and translations, adding book name abbreviations and precise references, and checking entries against various dictionaries. The final task involved preparing an article or copy of the entry and reviewing its proof.
The internship proved to be highly beneficial for the students, enabling them not only to gain insights into the important aspects of dictionary-making but also to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Sanskrit language. All participants exhibited efficiency and successfully completed their assigned tasks. At the conclusion of the program on June 22nd, the students’ achievements were assessed through a questionnaire, and certificates were distributed to acknowledge their successful completion of the internship.
The proposal for the internship program was put forward by Prof. Prasad Jodhi, the Head of the Department of Sanskrit and Lexicography and the General Editor of the EDS. Prof. Pramod Pandey, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, supported the idea. Dr. Kirti Kulkarni coordinated the internship under the guidance of Prof. Prasad Joshi, while Dr. Bhav Sharma, the Secretary of the Sanskrit Dictionary Project, assisted with the arrangements. The Department’s entire staff contributed to the success of the program.
It is worth mentioning that the Department of Sanskrit and Lexicography also offers a post-graduate program in Sanskrit Lexicography, as well as M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Sanskrit and Lexicography. Additionally, they provide a short certificate program for Sanskrit language learning.
