SAARC Diary: ICCR Launches Sanskrit Learning Gaming App “Little Guru”
NEW DELHI, Apr 9: On the occasion of its 71st Foundation Day, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Delhi unveiled ‘Little Guru,’ a gamified app. The App created in collaboration with GamappSportswizz Technologies to promote Sanskrit language across the globe. The ‘Little Guru’ App will be the world’s first Gamified Sanskrit learning App, using gaming strategies, artificial intelligence, and a sophisticated user interface to ensure easy learning.
Delivering a video message at the launch of ‘Little Guru App,’ Dinesh K Patnaik, Director General of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) Delhi, claimed that Sanskrit is still a living language and is thought in many parts of India and around the world, but delivered in an outdated manner. We were getting lot of requests from people across over the world to learn Sanskrit, but they were unwilling to go through the rigours of learning, so the ICCR through the usage machine learning, artificial intelligence, and gaming techniques chose a simple method of imparting Sanskrit as a language. This app, will revitalise Sanskrit and pique the interest of the younger generation in ancient history, culture, and heritage across the globe.
The App was simultaneously launched in many countries such as Austria, Bhutan, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Dubai, Brazil, Dublin, Equitorial Guinea, Eswatini, France, Iceland, Indonesia, Medan, Netherlands, Niger, Philippines, Rwanda, Sau Paulo, Senegal, Serbia, Vancouver, Venezuela etc.
Bhutan held a formal launch event. According to the Indian Embassy in Thimpu, Sanskrit has been the most dominant language in world history. It is one of the world’s oldest languages, a language that opens doors to some of humanity’s greatest literary gems, such as the Vedas and Upanishads, as well as the great epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. To a greater degree, Sanskrit represents a significant part of India’s cultural heritage and traditions. Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), as well as foreign scholars, have expressed a desire to learn this ancient language and become acquainted with one of the world’s oldest civilizations.
The Indian Embassy in Thimpu added, a Sanskrit language module was implemented in early 2002 for undergraduate students of the College of Language & Culture Studies in Trongsa, and it is still part of the second-year curriculum of the Bachelor’s degree in Language & Literature. Bhutanese language and Buddhist studies scholars have a strong affinity for Sanskrit since 80-90 percent of the original Buddhist literature ancient texts and scriptures from the 13th-14th centuries were written in Sanskrit and were later translated into Tibetan and Dzongkha. Several mantras and other remarks used in ceremonies and prayers are also in Sanskrit.
In a tweet message Ruchira Kamboj The Indian Ambassador to Bhutan stated, “Delighted to introduce ‘Little Guru ‘ in Bhutan, the first gamified Sanskrit Learning App that makes learning easy and fun!. The language of the Vedas, Shastras, Upanishads, and Kavyams, #Sanskrit is the soul of India’s rich heritage.”
In a Facebook Post the ICCR in Bhutan – Nehru Wangchuk Cultural Centre stated, ‘”Little Guru’! Big idea!. The world’s first gamified Sanskrit learning App has been launched in Bhutan today”. Little Guru is a subscription-based App that ICCR is making available to Bhutanese nationals at a special rate of US$ 0.99 per month or US$7.99 a year.
(Venkatesh Iyer)
