Archive · 13 Dec 2025
Pakistani University Introduces Sanskrit Course
A professor in Pakistan named Shahid Rasheed is teaching Sanskrit, an ancient language, at a university in Lahore.
He started learning Sanskrit by himself because he was interested in it and wanted to understand the shared history of South Asia.
He faced many challenges because there were no teachers or books on Sanskrit in Pakistan.
But he found ways to learn, like using online resources and asking people traveling abroad to bring him books.
Now, he is teaching a course at LUMS, and his students are very interested in learning more.
The university also plans to teach the Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharat, which are important texts from ancient India.
His long-term goal is to write a comprehensive grammar book of Sanskrit in Urdu.
The initiative aims to engage with the rich Sanskrit archives in Pakistan that have been neglected since the 1947 partition.
Shahid Rasheed, a Pakistani professor, is teaching Sanskrit at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
He started learning Sanskrit 15 years ago and faced challenges due to the lack of resources in Pakistan.
The course, 'Introduction to Sanskrit,' is one of the first of its kind in Pakistan and includes exposure to the Mahabharat television series.
The initiative is also driven by Dr Ali Usman Qasmi, who aims to engage with the rich Sanskrit archives at Punjab University library.
The university plans to introduce the Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharat in the future.
- Who
- Shahid Rasheed, a Pakistani professor of sociology, and Dr Ali Usman Qasmi, Director of the Gurmani Centre
- What
- Launching a Sanskrit course and planning to introduce the Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharat
- When
- Started 15 years ago, now offering a full course at LUMS
- Where
- Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Pakistan
- Why
- To understand the shared cultural and philosophical heritage of South Asia and to engage with the rich Sanskrit archives in Pakistan
- Professor
- Shahid Rasheed
- University
- Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
- Course
- Introduction to Sanskrit
- Enrollment
- 7-8 students
- Language Resources
- Online platforms, YouTube channels, books from abroad
- Long-term Goal
- First comprehensive Sanskrit grammar in Urdu
- Initiative
- Heritage at LUMS
- Director of Gurmani Centre
- Dr Ali Usman Qasmi
- Scholar
- JCR Woolner
- Texts to be Taught
- Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharat
Sources
This Pakistani professor is reviving Sanskrit in a Lahore university. ‘This is shared heritage’
"It Is Ours Too": Pakistan Brings Back Sanskrit, Plans Gita, Mahabharata Studies
Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharat, and Sanskrit to be taught in Pakistan school. Know all about the initiative
In a first since partition, Pakistan introduces Sanskrit at this Lahore University
Which Pakistan university is reviving Sanskrit studies? Plans for Gita, Mahabharata courses revealed
