IIT-Kanpur's 'Gita super site' sees 4,700% jump in readership
The faculty at IIT-Kanpur is bewildered: readership on a 10-year-old dormant website on Hindu religious scriptures has suddenly surged by 4,700%! Whereas earlier, it was averaging 500 hits daily, it now gets 24,000, IE reports. Though the project itself might be controversial, "secular credentials can't be questioned on such a pious initiative," says Professor TV Prabhakar. Here's more about the 'Gita super site' (www.gitasupersite.iitk.ac.in).
Nine texts in 12 Indian languages
The roots of this project began under Prabhakar in 1989, when he started work on a DOS version of 'The Holy Geeta'. When the internet arrived, scriptures were redone in HTML. It now has nine sacred texts, including Ramcharitmanas, Yoga Sutra and Valmiki Ramayanam. The Sanskrit texts can be translated into 11 other Indian languages. A separate website for Upanishads (www.upanishads.iitk.ac.in) has been launched.
What explains the surge in readership?
Professors say they noticed a sudden surge in readership in October, sometime after a message about the site was circulated on WhatsApp. This project was initially allotted Rs. 25L, but now the institute intends to seek more funds so more texts could be included. Prabhakar rejects allegations of trying to thrust Hindusim. "There will be criticism for the sake of it for every good thing."
Memorizing Sanskrit mantras may boost memory, thinking
Incidentally, a recent report in the Scientific American claims memorizing Sanskrit mantas may improve cognitive functions including memory and thinking skills. MRIs were conducted on brains of trained pandits, which revealed increases in grey matter density and cortical thickness in memory, language and visual systems.
