Well-known city-based Sanskrit poet Dr Shankar Rajaraman was honoured with the ‘Presidential Award of Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman’ by Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu at New Delhi.
For his notable contribution to the field of Sanskrit language, Shankar was also presented with a grant of Rs 1,00,000 and a certificate by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind.
An allopathic doctor graduated from MS Ramaiah Medical College and the holder of a post-graduate diploma in psychological medicine from JJM Medical College, Davanagere, Shankar is also a gold medalist in MA Sanskrit from Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), Mysore.
He completed his doctorate on contemporary psychology and Sanskrit poetics from the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.
He specialises in ‘chitra-kavya’, a cryptic form of Sanskrit poetry, and his works include ‘Devi-danaviyam’ and ‘Chitra-naishadham’.
He is also the recipient of awards like the ‘Professor M Hiriyanna Sanskrit Works Award’ by Karnataka Samskrit University and the ‘Bannanje Award’ for his contribution to Sanskrit.
“I am overwhelmed by the recognition from the President and Vice-President of India. It is a tribute to Sanskrit and to the work I have undertaken. I am highly encouraged to do more work and contribute to the spread of the language and literature across the country and the world. We have a very rich heritage in Sanskrit and it is our responsibility to protect this,” said Shankar in a press note.
Apart from composing poetry, Shankar also translates classical Sanskrit works to English.