Girls crossing swords, chanting mantras to keep ‘culture’ alive
VARANASI: A group of girls dressed traditionally in yellow salwar suit and crossing swords like warriors on a battlefield — by the looks of it appears to be a scene from a period Bollywood movie.
Chanting vedic mantras aloud, practising war skills like crossing swords, throwing spears, fighting with bamboo stick and learning martial art tricks are a routine for these Sanskrit-speaking girl students of Panini Kanya Mahavidyalya in the heart of Varanasi.
Part of Gurukul-style degree college, these girls study Vedas, Puranas, ancient Indian wisdom and culture, apart from routine subjects, in the morning.
After normal school hours, around 4pm, all of around 100 girl students gather in the sports ground to learn war tactics for over one and a half hour — much like their defence academy counterparts.
“We also study English along with other subjects and also learn classical music,” says Damini, a student of Prathama (a course equivalent to Class 10th).
The intermediate here is referred as Madhyama, Shastri is graduation course and Acharya is equivalent to MA.
All the girls wake up in ‘Brahma Muhurt’ at around 4 am daily. The day begins with reciting morning prayers in Sanskrit. It is followed with a 45-minute yoga session and normal classes.
“The training for crossing swords and other defence techniques boosts our confidence. Apart from acquiring skills, we are becoming capable of defending ourselves in every situation. Every girl should be given such training in present time,” says Indrani Arya, a second year student of Shashtri.
Aiming to become a Sanskrit professor, she plans to clear her NET examination soon.
“l wants to be the professor of Sanskrit. I want to spread the light of ancient Indian wisdom across the globe,” she says.
Shobha Arya, a student of ninth standard (prathama) wants to be a doctor after completing her Madhyama.
“I plan to appear in medical entrance examination after completing my Class 12,” she says.
Smriti Arya, another Sanskrit student of Class 11 aims to be an IAS officer.
“I aspire to crack civil service examination after completing my graduation,” she says while claiming her motto is welfare of one and all.
“Ours is a residential post graduate college, affiliated with Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. We follow Gurukul paddhati. Girls are taught Vedas,
Panini’s grammar, philosophy and psychology, Indian culture in Shastri and Acharya courses, while in Prathama, madhayama, Vedas, Sansktri, English and basic science are taught,” says Nandita Shashtri, principal.
“We prepare the students for nation-building. Around 11 of our former students, work as professors in different degree colleges and universities,” she claims.
The college runs on donations from philanthropists and former students.
Interestingly, students get everything free.
“All girls pursuing Prathama,
Madhyama, Shashtri and Acharya courses practice crossing swords, spear throwing and bamboo fighting daily. Young girls learn judo Karate,” says the principal.
In summers, they practice these arts in the morning and in winters it is done in the evening.
“There is nothing new about it. All this is part of Indian culture. In ancient time, girls were imparted training in crossing swords and Indian form of martial arts. We must not forget brave
› We follow Gurukul paddhati. Girls are taught Vedas, Panini’s grammar, philosophy and psychology, Indian culture in Shastri and Acharya courses, while in Prathama, Madhayama, Vedas, Sansktri, English and basic science are taught NANDITA SHASHTRI, principal, Panini Kanya Mahavidyalya
Rani Laxmibai and Rani Durgawati,” she says while exhorting the government to extend some support to the college, which nurtures culture, imparts education on Vedas, Puranas and prepare the girls for nation building.
The girls, who complete education here, spread the light of ancient Indian wisdom among people.
Many of them work towards spreading of the wisdom among commoners and also in foreign land.