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NEW DELHI, INDIA, July 16, 2014 (Financial Express): In a circular dated June 30, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked the Directorate of Education of various states, including New Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to celebrate Sanskrit Week in their schools from August 7-14 this year. It also asked principals to commence “Sanskrit-related activities” from July onwards and send in entries for selection at the national level by July 20, 2014.

“The celebration of Sanskrit Week would provide a medium for popularizing Sanskrit and stimulating the interest in the language by increasing the awareness about the close relationship between Sanskrit and other languages and the cultural heritage in India. The Sanskrit Week in schools may encourage linguistic creativity among students and provide them an opportunity to benefit from the systematic structure around Sanskrit…,” the circular reads.

According to CBSE, the schools may hold short-speech competitions for students from classes IX to XII. Another proposed national-level competition for students is essay-writing in Sanskrit. CBSE also directed schools to organize Yuva Sansad or Youth Parliaments, seminars for teachers on “practical applications of Sanskrit,” screen Sanskrit films and organise interactions for children with eminent Sanskrit scholars.