Where the voice of south is not heard

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Where the voice of south is not heard

Date:15/08/2004 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/15/stories/20

04081503541600.htm

 

By T. Ramakrishnan

 

 

 

 

Students at Sri Ahobila Math Veda Patasala in

Chennai. -- Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

 

CHENNAI, AUG. 14. Southern States account for

a large number of Veda Patasalas. But those

who run the traditional schools say that

their voice is not heard at the Centre.

 

Though the number of students in Patasalas is

going up in the south, the representation of

Vedic scholars from the south in the

governing council of the Ujjain-based

Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Veda Vidya

Pratishthan, an autonomous body for the

promotion of Vedic studies under the Union

Human Resources Ministry, is not much," says

N.K. Vasudevachariar, secretary of Sri

Ahobila Math Veda Patasala, West Mambalam,

Chennai. V. Rajagopala Ganapathigal, who runs

Sitharama Gurukulam for about 10 years, says

the feeling that the south is neglected is

widely prevalent.

 

"Varanasi, once considered the seat of Vedic

learning, has lost its status. Compared to

the north, the south has more Patasalas and

new institutions are coming up, says M.

Subbaraman, executive trustee of the

41-year-old Veda Rakshana Nidhi Trust, which

provides financial assistance to numerous

Patasalas. He says the southern States have

about 400 Patasalas.

 

Even the establishment concedes that the

south has outscored the north.

 

`No discrimination'

 

 

"Most of the Patasalas are in the south,"

says Omprakash Pandey, secretary of the

Pratishthan. But he hastens to add that the

issue of representation has to be addressed

by the Ministry as "the matter is beyond my

powers."

 

Prof. Pandey says that when it comes to the

release of funds, his institution does not

discriminate among the Patasalas on a

regional basis. "We follow well-laid out

norms," the official says.

 

He also agrees that the amount of honorarium

and stipend is low. At present, a full-time

teacher is paid Rs. 5,500 a month or Rs.

6,500 a month depending on the

qualifications. The Patasalas demand that it

be increased to Rs. 10,000. Similarly, a

full-time Vedic student should be given a

stipend of Rs. 1,000 instead of Rs. 500. The

Pratishthan has taken up the matter with the

Ministry.

 

Another complaint from the south is that the

two proposed Vedic research centres are to be

set up in New Delhi and Allahabad. Prof.

Pandey's reply: "It is all only in the

formative stage. Anyway, I will take this to

the notice of the Ministry."

 

 

 

 

 

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