Puri: Hundreds from across the globe visit Srimandir, the abode of Lord Jagannath every day, but most of them are unaware that a Sanskrit school has been functioning from the shrine precincts since 200 years.
Currently the school has around 100 students in five classes starting Class VI. The Gajapati kings were instrumental in setting up the school in 1803. Pujapanda servitors of Srimandir have been managing the school, said servitor Madhab Chandra Pujapanda Samanta.
The school, running from a building near the Goddess Bimala temple, offers two courses in Sanskrit — Prathama comprising Class-VI and VII and Madhyama covering Class VIII to Class X. “27 students have enrolled for Prathama while 73 are pursuing Madhayama. The government has recognised Prathama and provides grants, but it has not approved Madhyama so far,” said a teacher.
Sources said the building that houses the school is also being used as the office of Pujapanda Niyog. “Students sit on the floor. But we have arranged small tables for them to keep books. All meetings of Pujapanda Niyog are organised at the building after school hours,” said a servitor.
The students enrolled for Prathama are getting midday meals, free books and uniform under the Sarva Sikhya Abhiyan(SSA).The government has appointed two teachers to guide students pursuing Prathama. However, pupils enrolled for Madhayma are yet to get any benefit from the government. “Madhyama opened in 1999. But, the course has failed to get government grants-in-aid as the school does not have land. Five teachers who guide students on Madhayama are not getting a single rupee from the government,” said a Pujapanda servitor. It is learnt that students and teachers of the Sanskrit school keep their shoes and umbrellas in a small building near the West Gate of Srimandir as these things are not allowed into the 12th century shrine. The school authorities serve MDM to Prathama students from the same building.
Sources said the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has allotted a plot for the school at Harchandisahi. “The school will be shifted from Srimandir once the new building is ready” said the teacher.
School managing committee secretary Harekrushna Pujapanda Samanta said the 200-year-old Sanskrit educational Institution finds mention in Madalapanji, the official record of Srimandir.
“Many students of the school have excelled in different fields. The government should approve Madhyama,” he added.
Madhusudan Pujapanda, a former student, claimed the school has been associated with Jagannath culture since inception. “The idols of Srimandir presiding deities were once hidden in the school during invasions,” claimed Pujapanda Samanta, who had served as a joint secretary in the Higher Education Department.
Students claim they feel privileged to learn in a divine ambience. “The atmosphere of our school is different from that of other educational institutions. Learning at the abode of Lord Jagannath is a rare experience,” said Shivani Panda, a Class-IX student.
Govind Sahu, a Class-VII student, claims the school has given them a chance to know details regarding the Lord and his rituals. “We feel like visiting Srimandir to have darshan of the Lord while going to school every day” he said.
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