Reviving Sanskrit Wisdom for Contemporary Challenges

Enhancing Employability and Innovation through Indic Knowledge Systems

Abstract

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 marks a pivotal shift in India’s education landscape, urging academic institutions to integrate Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into mainstream curricula to build a foundation of holistic learning, self-reliance, and innovation (Ministry of Education, 2020). This shift is not merely symbolic; it recognizes the vast repository of traditional knowledge, especially in Sanskrit texts, that can meaningfully address present-day challenges in governance, healthcare, ethics, sustainable development, and entrepreneurship (Ranganathan, 2021; Subrahmanyam, 2022). The revival and modern contextualization of Sanskrit studies offer pathways to cultivate analytical thinking, linguistic precision, and ethical leadership, all of which are vital to the rapidly transforming global economy (Joshi & Sharma, 2020).

This article analyzes how institutions such as Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University (KKSU), Ramtek, and its Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE) are pioneering Sanskrit-based curricula for undergraduate and postgraduate learners that extend beyond philology into contemporary domains such as artificial intelligence, policy studies, and business ethics. The wide range of programs listed by KKSU, including B.A. in Sanskrit, Vedic Studies, Yoga, Ayurveda, and M.A. in Indian Philosophy, Dharma Shastra, and Manuscriptology, among others, provides a structured academic foundation that enhances both employability and entrepreneurial capacities in sectors such as wellness, education, governance, and digital humanities (KKSU, 2024).

Drawing from both classical Indic paradigms and modern pedagogical frameworks, this paper argues that Sanskrit education is not only culturally relevant but strategically significant for nation-building. The case studies from Universities illustrate how students are being prepared to become not just job seekers, but job creators, embodying the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat and responding to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through indigenous solutions (Kumar, 2023).

By integrating IKS with modern competencies, Sanskrit-based education can play a catalytic role in India’s transformation into a knowledge economy rooted in its civilizational ethos. Thus, the revival of Sanskrit is both a cultural imperative and an economic strategy for sustainable innovation, ethical leadership, and inclusive development.