Latest news with #Devanagari
Hans India
11 hours ago
- General
- Hans India
RISHABHDEV: The founder of civilisation
Every civilisation is defined by the values it upholds—guiding how people live, create, and prosper. The first Tirthankar, Rishabhdev, who appeared during the Mature Bronze Age approximately 5,000 years ago, is revered as the Founder of Civilisation. His teachings laid the foundation for a flourishing society and also shaped spiritual paths. Recognising the need for a structured society, Rishabhdev introduced essential professions and social constructs to guide humanity from a life of instinct to one of conscious organisation—from mere survival to a productive, creative, protected, progressive, and peaceful society. He laid the groundwork for both social and personal values and introduced the concept of the family to ensure the protection and upbringing of offspring. He established six foundational elements of society: Asi: The crafting of tools and weapons, which brought strength and order. Masi: The use of ink, enabling language, record-keeping, and the sharing of memory. Kasi: Agriculture and animal husbandry, which allowed humans to settle, farm, and live in harmony with nature. Vanijya: Trade and commerce, which encouraged the exchange of surplus goods and fostered prosperity. Shilp: Skilled professions that nurtured creativity—through craft, architecture, and the arts. Vidya: Knowledge, which opened paths to inquiry in subjects such as mathematics, medicine, and cosmology. Rishabhdev's eldest son, Bharat, succeeded him as a ruler and became the first Chakravarti (universal monarch) of the Indian subcontinent. The nation was named Bharatvarsh in his honor. His daughters, Brahmi and Sundari, were equally accomplished. Brahmi is associated with the origin of the Brahmi script—the Mother of All Scripts—which laid the foundation for many Indian scripts, including Devanagari. Sundari, on the other hand, exemplified intellectual depth in mathematics. Their presence in this narrative reminds us that knowledge thrives when nurtured and passed on with intention and care. Today, this extraordinary legacy is brought to life at Abhay Prabhavana, near Pune—a place envisioned for timeless ideas. Conceived by Shri Abhay Firodia and built by the Amar Prerana Trust, this expansive knowledge center reimagines what a modern high-tech museum can offer. It doesn't merely catalogue artifacts—it explains and preserves values as heritage. At the heart of the Outdoor Heritage Walk stands a 43-foot sculpture of Rishabhdev, styled in refined Art Deco. It is the soul of the experience. The moment you step into the space, you feel a shift—as if entering the presence of something both ancient in origin and contemporary in relevance. Surrounding this sculpture, a series of intricate murals illustrate the values Rishabhdev taught, his transformative role in the formation of a civilised society, his journey from ruler to renunciate, and most importantly—the ideals that shaped an entire continent. Storytelling here extends beyond the galleries. Just outside, the Heritage Trail takes you through reimagined sites of spiritual and architectural significance. Among these is a representation of Dholavira, one of the oldest settlements of the Sindhu-Saraswati civilisation. Many scholars and practitioners regard it as a symbol of ethical living, sustainable design, and civic thought—principles introduced by Rishabhdev to early human society. At Abhay Prabhavana, these seminal connections come alive through immersive recreations that inspire both curiosity and reverence. Nearby stands the Manstambh, a 30-meter (100-foot) tower that draws your eyes skyward. Carved from exquisite Jaisalmer stone with incredible craftsmanship, this monument represents layered symbolism—each level depicting a stage in inner evolution. It serves not only as a visual marvel but also as a meditative pause, gently nudging visitors to transcend ego and see the world with clarity and humility. Everything at Abhay Prabhavana resonates with the concept of living wisdom. It is more than a museum; it is a museum of ideas—a space that doesn't merely store memory but stirs reflection. A place where Jain ideals like compassion, self-restraint, coexistence, and inquiry are not only remembered but deeply experienced. In the spirit of International Museum Day, as the world honours institutions that preserve culture, Abhay Prabhavana and the teachings of Rishabhdev stand apart. They don't present history as something distant. Instead, they invite you to walk with it, question it, and let it reshape the way you think.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Artist Nikheel Aphale explores mythologies, divinity through Devanagari
New Delhi, A solo exhibition by calligrapher Nikheel Aphale explores themes of divinity, mythological stories, spiritual prayers, and the nuances of humanity - from coexistence and inclusivity to unity and equality - through artwork based in the Devanagari script. Organised by Artisera at Bikaner House, "Aksharscape" is Aphale's landscape of letters, where text has surpassed its linguistic purpose to become a form of self-expression. Letters take unusual forms, evoking memories, emotions, reflections and wishful thinking in Aphale's latest body of work. "'Aksharscape' is a conceptual landscape shaped by the abstract beauty of Devanagari letters. In this body of work, the alphabet transcends its linguistic role, transforming into visual forms that stir memory, emotion, reflection, and imagination. Each letter becomes more than a symbol-it becomes a gesture of self-expression and a bridge between script and sentiment," Aphale said. He added that his current body of work invites viewers to experience language not just as text, but as an art form. "It is an artistic proposition to see letters not just as symbols of sound, but as forms that evoke emotion, memory, and imagination," he said. Aphale's experiments with calligraphy started in 2006 when it dawned upon him that unlike Japanese, Persian, or Chinese calligraphy, which are internationally renowned, Devanagari, despite being used for several languages such as Sanskrit, Hindi, Nepali and Marathi, was never fully developed as a fine art form. The realisation served as an impetus for the artist to explore the script as an art form. Working mostly with ink, watercolours, and acrylic, Aphale also uses unconventional tools such as toothbrushes, sponges, bank cards, feathers, and coconut husk to explore new ways of expressing his artistic voice, and taking calligraphy beyond its conventional definition of 'the art of beautiful handwriting'. While not overtly religious, Aphale's work explores nuances of humanity, visiting themes like coexistence, unity, inclusivity, and equality, by drawing parallels between human society and the unbiased nature of Devanagari letters and their grammar, through features like 'barahkhadi', conjuncts, and the absence of silent letters. "Nikheel's work is fresh and contemporary, while still being strongly rooted in Indian culture, and we believe he is an artist to watch out for in the years to come," Varun Backliwal, founder of Artisera, said in a statement. The exhibition will come to a close on June 1.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Delhi University launches course on Sanskrit and Digital Technology to teach coding basics
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Amid ongoing debates about the relevance of Sanskrit in modern computing, Delhi University (DU) has introduced a course linking the classical language with digital technology . The Department of Sanskrit is offering an elective course titled Computer Applications for Sanskrit to students pursuing the subject across DU course, classified as a discipline-specific elective, introduces foundational computing skills tailored to the use of Sanskrit. It is designed to help students engage with tools and methods used in computational linguistics, including web development using HTML, Unicode typing in Devanagari script, optical character recognition (OCR), and text digitisation and Chandra, faculty member and course designer, said the course aims to demonstrate the integration of Sanskrit with technology. "We have developed various tools like grammar checkers, speech-to-text applications, and a Sanskrit research database. Through this course, students will learn the coding behind such tools," he curriculum focuses on web-based tool development, Devanagari input systems, multimedia basics, and e-learning concepts for Sanskrit. While it does not offer advanced programming training, it covers basic coding principles that can be applied to build digital platforms for the to fourth-semester students with working knowledge of Sanskrit, the course incorporates tools created by DU's Computational Linguistics Group and includes references from software theory and logic. A dedicated unit covers OCR for Indian languages, offering insights into available technologies and their applications in preserving ancient course objective, as outlined in the syllabus, is to introduce students to current research in Sanskrit computing and highlight tools developed with government and private funding. The expected outcome is to provide students with an understanding of computational linguistics in Sanskrit and the potential of digital tools to aid language learning and a recent event, Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta echoed support for Sanskrit's use in coding. "Even Nasa scientists have written about Sanskrit being a scientific language. It is the most computer-friendly language," she said during the conclusion of a Sanskrit learning in 2014, DU's Computational Linguistics Research and Development for Sanskrit initiative has been focused on developing digital content, language analysis systems, and searchable databases of Sanskrit literature. The department also organises summer programmes for students from other institutions to explore the intersection of Sanskrit and technology (With TOI inputs)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
As debate over coding in Sanskrit rages, DU introduces course blending ancient language with web development
New Delhi: Amid the debate around Sanskrit being a suitable language for coding — with some even citing Nasa's supposed use of the ancient language — Delhi University has introduced a course that brings the idea closer to the classroom. Offered by DU's Department of Sanskrit as a discipline-specific elective paper, titled "Computer Applications for Sanskrit", the course aims to equip students with modern computing techniques to develop tools using the Sanskrit language. Discipline-specific electives are optional courses that students can select from a range of available choices. This particular course will be accessible as an elective option to all Sanskrit students enrolled across various colleges in DU. Subhash Chandra, a faculty member at the Sanskrit department who developed the course and teaches computational linguistics, said the aim is to show students how Sanskrit can be integrated with technology. "We also have a website where we display some tools that we have developed using coding in Sanskrit. Some of these include language analysers, grammar checkers, speech tools — similar to those in Hindi that convert speech to text — and a Sanskrit research database. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo In this course, we will teach students coding to develop such tools," he said. The course syllabus will cover web-based tools development, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and webpage creation, alongside Unicode typing in Devanagari, OCR applications, and text digitisation and preservation. It will introduce students to interactive Sanskrit learning platforms and discuss the need for such tools in Sanskrit education. The module also includes e-learning concepts and multimedia basics. A dedicated section on Unicode will focus on typing in Devanagari script (alphabet used for Sanskrit, Hindi and other Indian languages), introducing students to relevant software and keyboard tools. Another unit is centred on the tools and techniques used for text processing and preservation of Sanskrit texts. The final unit explores Optical Character Recognition (OCR) applications for Sanskrit and other Indian languages, offering insights into the current technologies and developments in the field. While the course does not teach full-fledged programming, it introduces basic coding and digital skills to help students create interactive tools and platforms in Sanskrit — aligning, in part, with the broader narrative of giving ancient Indian languages a technological future. It is open to fourth-semester students with a working knowledge of Sanskrit and draws from tools developed by DU's Computational Linguistics Group and texts on software theory and logic. The objective of the paper, as stated in the syllabus, is to "introduce the current researches and developments in Sanskrit computing. The primary emphasis will be on tools and techniques developed under govt and private funding and on exploring new technologies for Sanskrit". The learning outcomes add: "The students will get an overview of computational works undertaken in the field of Sanskrit and a clear idea about how a range of practical linguistic tasks of Sanskrit can be done by developing CL systems. And, they will also know how CL tools can facilitate the learning and teaching process in the field of Sanskrit." On May 4, chief minister Rekha Gupta, speaking at the closing ceremony of a 10-day Sanskrit learning initiative, voiced support for the potential the language holds in the field of coding. "Even Nasa scientists have written papers on Sanskrit and confirmed that it is a scientific language. Coding can be done in Sanskrit. It is the most computer-friendly language," she said. Such assertions have sparked renewed discussions on the applicability of Sanskrit in contemporary computing, with DU's course now offering a practical academic framework to explore the language's digital possibilities. The Computational Linguistics Research and Development for Sanskrit initiative at DU's Department of Sanskrit was launched in 2014 under the supervision of Chandra. The group focuses on developing e-learning tools, creating digital content for Sanskrit scientific texts, building language analysis tools, and digitising Sanskrit literature for searchable online access. The department also runs a summer school that invites students from other universities to participate in a programme termed the "emerging intersection of Sanskrit and technology".
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Sanskrit for coding? DU introduces course to explore ancient language's role in modern computing
NEW DELHI: Amid the debate around Sanskrit being a suitable language for coding - with some even citing Nasa's supposed use of the ancient language - Delhi University has introduced a course that brings the idea closer to the classroom. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Offered by DU's Department of Sanskrit as a discipline-specific elective paper, titled "Computer Applications for Sanskrit", the course aims to equip students with modern computing techniques to develop tools using the Sanskrit language. Discipline-specific electives are optional courses that students can select from a range of available choices. This particular course will be accessible as an elective option to all Sanskrit students enrolled across various colleges in DU. Subhash Chandra, a faculty member at the Sanskrit department who developed the course and teaches computational linguistics, said the aim is to show students how Sanskrit can be integrated with technology. "We also have a website where we display some tools that we have developed using coding in Sanskrit. Some of these include language analysers, grammar checkers, speech tools - similar to those in Hindi that convert speech to text - and a Sanskrit research database. In this course, we will teach students coding to develop such tools," he said. The course syllabus will cover web-based tools development, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and webpage creation, alongside Unicode typing in Devanagari, OCR applications, and text digitisation and preservation. It will introduce students to interactive Sanskrit learning platforms and discuss the need for such tools in Sanskrit education. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The module also includes e-learning concepts and multimedia basics. A dedicated section on Unicode will focus on typing in Devanagari script (alphabet used for Sanskrit, Hindi and other Indian languages), introducing students to relevant software and keyboard tools. Another unit is centred on the tools and techniques used for text processing and preservation of Sanskrit texts. The final unit explores Optical Character Recognition (OCR) applications for Sanskrit and other Indian languages, offering insights into the current technologies and developments in the field. While the course does not teach full-fledged programming, it introduces basic coding and digital skills to help students create interactive tools and platforms in Sanskrit - aligning, in part, with the broader narrative of giving ancient Indian languages a technological future. It is open to fourth-semester students with a working knowledge of Sanskrit and draws from tools developed by DU's Computational Linguistics Group and texts on software theory and logic. The objective of the paper, as stated in the syllabus, is to "introduce the current researches and developments in Sanskrit computing. The primary emphasis will be on tools and techniques developed under govt and private funding and on exploring new technologies for Sanskrit". The learning outcomes add: "The students will get an overview of computational works undertaken in the field of Sanskrit and a clear idea about how a range of practical linguistic tasks of Sanskrit can be done by developing CL systems. And, they will also know how CL tools can facilitate the learning and teaching process in the field of Sanskrit." On May 4, chief minister Rekha Gupta, speaking at the closing ceremony of a 10-day Sanskrit learning initiative, voiced support for the potential the language holds in the field of coding. "Even Nasa scientists have written papers on Sanskrit and confirmed that it is a scientific language. Coding can be done in Sanskrit. It is the most computer-friendly language," she said. Such assertions have sparked renewed discussions on the applicability of Sanskrit in contemporary computing, with DU's course now offering a practical academic framework to explore the language's digital possibilities. The Computational Linguistics Research and Development for Sanskrit initiative at DU's Department of Sanskrit was launched in 2014 under the supervision of Chandra. The group focuses on developing e-learning tools, creating digital content for Sanskrit scientific texts, building language analysis tools, and digitising Sanskrit literature for searchable online access. The department also runs a summer school that invites students from other universities to participate in a programme termed the "emerging intersection of Sanskrit and technology".
