Chikkamagaluru: Rahul Gandhi skips meet with research scholars

Chikkamagaluru: Research scholars of the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Rajiv Gandhi campus, Sringeri, one of the 13 centres for Sanskrit learning in the country, were left disappointed as Congress president, Rahul Gandhi skipped his interaction with Sanskrit University graduates and research scholars at Sringeri on Wednesday.  

But he spent some time interacting with students of Sadvidya Sanjeevini Mahasamskrutha Patashala run by Sharada Peeta. The Mahapatashala is involved in propagation of Sanatana Dharma.

It was the late  Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress president’s father and former Prime Minister, who was instrumental in establishing the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan at Sringeri at the request of the Sringeri Mutt during his visit to the town in 1991.

The 300 students at the campus, who waited in vain for Mr Gandhi, were first told they would have an opportunity to interact with him and shoot off a volley of questions,  but were later informed no such discussion would be possible, and  he would merely visit the campus. But when neither happened,  they were expectedly downcast .  

Said a research scholar in astrology, Ganesh Krishna Bhat, “We were   ready with questions for Mr  Gandhi and were disappointed at his decision to cancel his visit. Our questions were mainly about the development of the Sanskrit language, the future of Sanskrit graduates and employment opportunities for them and so on.”

A student, Subaraya H J, said all the queries prepared for the Congress president were about the Sanskrit language and had nothing to do with politics.

“The campus is  26 -years- old and we have  500 students from all over the country studying Sanskrit here,” said Mr Sachidanand Udupa, in-charge principal.