Written by Kamaldeep Singh BrarChandigarh | December 29, 2025 08:26 AM IST 3 min readShahid Rasheed, an associate professor of Sociology, found Sanskrit books at the library of Lahore’s MAO College.When Shahid Rasheed discovered two full shelves of Sanskrit books at MAO College, Lahore, recently, all he disturbed was the dust. For, without stirring any language debates or tensions, the professor’s efforts have led to the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) introducing a four-credit course in Sanskrit — marking the first known instance since Partition of the classical language being taught in Pakistan.The course is open to any student of the prestigious LUMS, pursuing computer science to biology majors, and has already drawn eight students for its debut semester. This was after Rasheed held a Devanagari workshop along with scholar Ali Usman Qasmi at the Gurmani Center of Languages and Literature at LUMS.Rasheed, an associate professor of Sociology at Lahore’s Forman Christian College, set up in 1864, says his passion for Sanskrit blossomed through self-study, guided by scholars like Professor McMus Taylor of Australian National University and Antonia Rupel, author of the Cambridge Introduction to Sanskrit. His meeting with Taylor was also a matter of chance, he recalls. “But he guided and encouraged me,” recalls Rasheed, who ensured he didn’t lose touch with the language by pursuing online courses and reading books such as Joy of Sanskrit and the newly acquired Reading Sanskrit.The Sanskrit books he discovered at MAO College weren’t the first he found tucked away forgotten in libraries hit by Partition either. MAO College itself was located in Amritsar earlier, and after Partition, moved to Lahore, occupying the building that once housed Sanatana Dharma College.Rasheed says he has found Sanskrit manuscripts in the Hindi Department library at the old campus of Punjab University, Lahore, and a rich Hindi-Sanskrit collection at Dayal Singh Library. He hopes to catalog and preserve them all, eventually. “But it’s a long journey. I still consider myself a beginner in Sanskrit because the language is a complete ocean,” Rasheed says, referring to Vedic Sanskrit, which he hopes to tackle next.Encouraged by Rasheed, others too are hoping to encourage Sanskrit learning. At Punjab University’s Hindi Department, prof Ramesh Kumar, who says he was introduced to the language by Rasheed, is hoping to revive short courses on it.Punjab University, which dates back to 1882, once had courses in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit and Gurmukhi Punjabi, with only Arabic and Persian sustaining post-1947, points out Kumar. A recent three-to-four-month introductory course focusing on Devanagari script, basic pronouns, articles, singular/plural forms, and grammar basics like “how to read Ram as Ramam or Ramaha” attracted three students, he says.Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Pakistansanskrit