Kathmandu, Apr. 29: Minister for Land Reforms and Management Siddha Raj Ojha has said that it is the Sanskrit lovers and scholars themselves who should reach a conclusion on whether or not the Sanskrit language should be tought as a compulsory subject in schools and colleges.

Minister Ojha, who was speaking at a colloquium on “Sanskrit for all” organised by Jayatu Sanskritam here today, described Sanskrit as the origin of “Our culture and civilization” and stressed the need to make the people aware of the fact that preservation of the Sanskrit language helps to enrich the Nepali language.

MP Ramchandra Bhattarai spoke of the need to make the Sanskrit language modern and practical so as to enhance its attraction.

Vice-chancellor of Mahendra Sanskrit University Dr Madhav Prasad Gautam said no one has been discriminated against on the basis of ethnicity when it comes to studying Sanskrit.

A host of speakers emphatically said that Sanskrit is not a dead language; it should be preserved and promoted. Various working papers were presented at the programme.