Salma Qureshi of Gujarat become first Muslim girl to get Ph.D degree in Sanskrit

Salma Keshubhai Qureshi has created a history by taking Sanskrit as a subject and getting a Ph.D degree. Salma completed her Ph.D. on the subject “पुराणेषु निरूपिता शिक्षापद्धतिः एकम् अध्ययनम्” under the guidance of Dr. Atulbhai Unagar, Professor of the Sanskrit Department.

Ahmedabad: Sanskrit is the most ancient Indian language, but its use and importance as study language is declining day by day in the country. However, a girl from a small village in Amreli district, Salma Qureshi chose to study the Sanskrit language. After studying up to standard 10 in her village, she moved to Ahmedabad to pursue higher study, with her father giving her the blessings and moral support. Success is said to be accomplished only when a person keeps working hard and dedicates one’s life. Salma Qureshi by her success has proved this right.

Girl from a small village make it big

Born into an ordinary family in Ingorala village in Liliya taluka of Amreli district, Salma chose to pursue her study in Sanskrit. For that, she had to leave the village and move to Ahmedabad. She stayed at the Samaras Hostel in Ahmedabad and kept her study in Sanskrit language going on despite hardships. Sanskrit has been an important language always in the country and even in the new National Education Policy, it has been mentioned 22 times. The new policy, prepared under the chairmanship of Padma Bhushan Dr Kasturi Rangan, has rightly emphasised the importance of the study of Sanskrit. Salma Qureshi has found the language very attractive and a guide to learn the basic principles and values of education based on the Puranas and Shastras, as it was practised in ancient times.

Salma welcomes new National Education Policy

Qureshi Salma has chosen the subject of the ancient educational system and her study and insight into the subject would be really helpful in the implementation of the new education policy. Salma has done the great work of finding out how the principles of ancient Sanskrit education were beneficial and can even be applied today for the well-being of the new generation. There is no doubt that this work will truly provide a direction towards better implementation of the educational development of the students. Professors and other language experts believe that this research will be helpful not only to Gujarat but also to the country's academics, teachers, principals and school administrators.

The first Muslim Girl to do a PhD in Sanskrit

It is a misgiving that Sanskrit is the language for the Brahmins only. Such wrong impressions have been created by anti-national elements, some believe. Sanskrit is not the language of any religion, sect or any privileged class. Sanskrit was the language for all in the ancient times and even today it is the language for all to study. A Muslim girl student Salma has proved this by herself doing a PhD in Sanskrit medium.

In order to attract today's youth to study the Sanskrit language again, students like Salma can be an ideal example. She has shown the usefulness of Sanskrit even today, as was in ancient times.

Gujarat University has always been at the forefront of such unique experiments. The Center for Spoken Sanskrit was established by Gujarat University in 2018, at the behest of the then Home Minister Rajnath Singh. In the same spirit to promote the study of Sanskrit, Prof. Himanshu Pandya established the Maharshi Panini Sanskrit Promotion Center. Thus, not only in Gujarat, Gujarat University has always been at the forefront to promote Sanskrit in the country.