New NCERT textbook introduces project-based learning to Sanskrit in Class 8

Sanskrit in the classroom is changing tone. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has released a new Class 8 Sanskrit textbook by the name Deepakam, bringing it in sync with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the revised school curriculum framework (NCF-SE 2023).

The book is a departure from conventional textbook approaches, with the intent of making Sanskrit more relevant to everyday life and the ways in which students think and learn today.

A NEW FORMAT FOR AN OLD LANGUAGE

Deepakam is more than a textbook. It is a conscious effort to change the way Sanskrit is learned in schools. One of the most significant changes is the transition towards project-based learning.

This promotes students to use the language through real contexts and rational problem-solving. It is less about memorisation, more about thinking.

picture-based learning has also been introduced, providing visual pointers to help students grasp meanings and contexts better. The grammar exercises in the textbook are structured to determine learning gaps and provide means of improvement.

These exercises hope to be less mechanical and more diagnostic in approach. In a major addition, the textbook features contemporary topics. There is a chapter on 'Digital India' as part of the syllabus, illustrating how an ancient language can converse with the language of the times. This serves to make Sanskrit more accessible and indicate how the language remains evolving. 

CONNECTING WITH INDIA 'S LITERARY PAST

Even as it adjusts to contemporary times, the textbook does not forget its heritage. It contains poetic pieces that resonate with human values, tales of sagacity, self-control, and empathy.

Works such as the Hitopadesha and Charaka Samhita are presented, giving students an insight into the richness of Indian philosophical and scientific thinking.

Exercises have also been given a fun way to learn. Colourful writing activities and interesting tasks are abundant on the pages, promising to counteract fear with curiosity for studying Sanskrit.

DIGITAL AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS

Deepakam is now available for purchase, as per NCERT's official X (formerly Twitter) post. Students can access it from NCERT's official website or purchase it on Amazon.in.

With Deepakam, NCERT has tried a fine balance: safeguarding the heritage of the Sanskrit language while bringing it into the fold of contemporary classrooms.

It is both an educational tool and a bridge of culture, another step towards rephrasing Indian education in terms of the aims of NEP 2020.