ABOUT SANSK-NET | ARCHITECTURE | ACTIVITIES

FRAME WORK FOR NETWORKING SANSKRIT INSTITUTIONS
There are many Sanskrit Universities and Vidyapeethas in the country specializing in different fields of Sanskrit and Indology. Each Institution has a rich collection of published and unpublished books as also rare manuscripts of great indological value. Traditional scholars working in these institutions have made significant contributions to the different aspects of their chosen field. In recent years there has been a growing recognition of the use of Sanskrit in developing computer languages. There is also a growing awareness that the rich literature in Sanskrit contains valuable material relevant for contemporary challenges in the fields of physical and social sciences.

Unfortunately, due to the inadequate linkage between the traditional world and the modern scientific world, the rich potential of knowledge that exists in the traditional world has not been fully explored by the modern world. To bridge the gap that exists between the traditional scholarship and the modern scientific expertise we should develop some innovative schemes and mechanics. The basic objective of this proposal is to work out an innovative scheme of this kind. We have captioned as "Sansk-Net", because it is essentially aimed at the networking the Sanskrit institutions.

OBJECTIVES

The basic objective of the "Sansk-Net" programme are the following:

1. To present the database available in different institutions in a Computer framework.
2. To assist the institutions to develop the hardware, software and the technical capability to place the information in the modern technical framework.
3. To develop computerized linkage among the different institution so that each institution can have access to the database available in the other institutions.
4. To make use of the principles and techniques available in Nyaya, Vyakarana, Vedanga and Vedanta for developing new paradigms for the computer.
5. To develop packages for training for the faculties in the scientific work and shastraic world for making best use of the infrastructural facility.
6. To facilitate preservation of the information on rare manuscript, Vedic literature and Sastras.

MODALITIES

1. To develop the "Sansk-Net" both in its conceptual and its operational framework. We should work out the modalities for implementation of the programmes. Each institution should have a minimum hardware and software which the system requires.
2. The Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapetha, Tirupati, would function as the Nodal institution for launching the "Sansk-Net". The facilities for interaction for "Sansk-Net" shall be the Sanskrit language.
3. A workshop to discuss the detailed conceptual and technical paper on this subject is being organized in which all the Sanskrit Vidyapeethas, Universities and Research Institutions, as also Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and National Information Centre (NIC) representatives will be invited.

CURRENT STATUS

The Project SANSK-NET was proposed by Indian Heritage Group (IHG) and Real-Time Systems Group (RTSG), Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Bangalore, to be an initiative with Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidya Peetha (RSVP), Tirupati as the nodal centre and C-DAC as the technical Implementation agency.

Content creation is under progress in the institutions. All centers are fully equipped with the necessary facilities to create textual content, cataloguing of their individual collections etc. C-DAC is developing software to integrate the various contents created under the project as also create a website to host them. Presently, a CD-ROM is made of the contents created so far.

Clearance:
The Project was sanctioned in December 1999 under the Sanskrit Year Celebrations program and was to complete by Septemeber 2000. The funds allocated were Rs. 41 lakhs. Four Participant centers besides C-DAC, Bangalore and RSVP, Tirupati were to be involved. Each centre was to be given infrastructure and financial support for creating Sanskrit content in equal measure, i.e, approximately Rs. 2 lakhs for each, per centre.

In this direction, various activities were undertaken in right earnest, with the first meeting being held on 10.12.99 at RSVP, Tirupati. Subsequently, a meeting with the representatives of the proposed participant centers was held on 18.2.2000 at Tirupati and plan of action was chalked out in consultation. One meeting at Bangalore held on 4.3.2000 deliberated on certain implementation strategies etc. A further meeting of participant centers was held at C-DAC, Bangalore on 5.5.2000 and 16.6.2000 on the draft of the MoUs to be signed between RSVP and C-DAC and RSVP and participant centers.

Accordingly, MoU between RSVP and C-DAC was signed on 9.6.2000 as also between RSVP and Ahobila Muth Sanskrit College, Madhurantakam, T.N. and Purna Prajna Samshodhana Mandiram, Bangalore.

• Enter into MoU with RSVP, committing to contribute assigned content to the specified quality and adhering to project schedules.
• Identify and depute project staff for hands-on-training at CDAC on the chosen content creation.
• Commence content creation after CDAC trains project staff and RSVP equips with hardware/software.
• Transfer contents progressively through eMail/Internet, once connectivity is established

Proposed contents to be created by C-DAC under Sansk-Net:
Technical co-ordination, System design, DEáIKA usage, training, specific s/w development; Krishna Yajurvedic Brahmana text entry

Contact person: Veda V¡ridhi Dr. P. R¡m¡nujan, Group Co-ordinator

A training program for the project staff was held from 19.6.2000 to 30.6.2000 at RSVP, Tirupati, by IHG, C-DAC, Bangalore and the details are hereunder:

Topics Covered:

1. Indian Language Computing Fundamentals – input, output etc.
2. ISCII standard, INSCRIPT Keyboard Layout - familiarization and practice, special keys for Sanskrit-specific characters
3. iLEAP/LEAP Office software usage – theory and practice of various features
4. About Digital content creation on MS-Windows platform
5. File creation, saving, opening/closing/merging, word processing operations like formatting and exporting
6. File-naming conventions, size considerations, back-up files, directory/sub-directory structures
7. Data entry activity, division of texts into suitable portions, reference info. encoding, structuring, formatting etc.
8. Editing, verification, cleaning up and back-up
9. Word split (semi-automatic), index, concordance (s/w by C-DAC)
10. Compound-dissolution by mark-up/tagging (scheme design by C-DAC)
11. Sending files to C-DAC, www etc. thru floppies, CD-ROM, e-mail, internet
12. Analysis – Morphological, Syntactic, Semantic and pragmatic
13. DESIKA software description and methodology
14. Various examples from shastras – Vyakarana, Nyaya, Mimamsa (incl. Vedanta) and Alankara
15. Coverage of Vedangas – Shiksha, Nirukta, Chandas and Kalpa
16. Sanskrit Authoring System
17. Lab practice on all days
18. Extension to different areas of research problems
19. Creating URL of institution incorporating work done under the project
20. C-DAC to integrate and create application program

Infrastructure Creation:
The configuration of hardware and software provided under the project was: Modem, Zip drive, CD Writer, and Deskpro SB-PIII.

Networking aspects:
The architecture proposed is enclosed in the diagram. Connectivity for RSVP and C-DAC would be through leased line and VSNL respectively.

Software development and Integration:
Various application programs are developed including for analysis, processing, retrieval, web-formatting etc. One such application is related to the web-page of SANSK-NET and another on cataloguing.

Application program of Sanskrit Authoring System of IHG, C-DAC, Bangalore has incorporated all the texts content created in their appropriate vidya-sthanas.

Textual Digital Content Creation:
The Monitoring Committee on SANSK-NET Project has taken note of the work on content creation carried out so far by the individual participating centers and the details are given below: