A 19th-century illustrated Sanskrit manuscript from the Bhagavad Gita, composed c. 400  – 200 BCE. Source: Wikipedia

Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) and the Central Sanskrit University (CSU), New Delhi, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote mutual cooperation in the areas of Sanskrit, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), and technology-enabled research. This is an important step enriching interdisciplinary research and fostering academic synergy.

The scope of the agreement includes the following:

• Academic collaboration in Sanskrit, IKS, linguistics, Computational Sanskrit, Vedic Sciences, Philosophy, and allied disciplines. 
• Exchange programs for faculty, researchers, and students to facilitate shared learning and joint research initiatives. 
• Organisation of joint academic events including workshops, conferences, lecture series, and summer schools. 
• Mutual access to academic and library resources, manuscript repositories, and archival collections. 
• Development and supervision of interdisciplinary research projects and programs that bridge tradition and technology. 
• Regular exchange of academic publications, course materials, and research outputs to enhance the quality of scholarship and learning. 

Prof. B S Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, said, “This collaboration with Central Sanskrit University (CSU) is a unique opportunity to integrate the depth of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) with the innovation-driven environment of IITH. The Department of Heritage Science and Technology at IITH, together with CSU, aims to unlock new dimensions in research and education by bringing traditional ancient wisdom into dialogue with modern Science and Technology as most of the writings (scriptures, manuscripts, inventions, discoveries) in the olden days were written & recorded by the great scholars of our country in ancient languages especially in Sanskrit language and thereby, traditional ancient wisdom can be unfolded completely if we get in depth familiarity with Sanskrit language ” 

Vice Chancellor, CSU, Prof Shrinivasa Varakhedi, added, “This MoU is a historic step in reviving India’s knowledge tradition. We see Sanskrit not merely as a language, but as a vast reservoir of scientific thought, profound philosophical insights, and a living embodiment of India’s cultural and intellectual traditions. Through this collaboration, we aim to bridge ancient wisdom with contemporary research, fostering interdisciplinary studies that will benefit not just scholars of Sanskrit, but learners and innovators across diverse domains. It marks a new chapter in integrating Indian Knowledge System into modern academic discourse.”