Ram Yatna Shukla

Ram Yatna Shukla was a Sanskrit scholar and president of the Kashi Vidvat Parishad, a body of Varanasi scholars of the Vedas, astrology, Paninian grammar and Indian philosophy more than 200 years old. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2021 in the field of literature and education, from Uttar Pradesh ^[1].

Abhinav Panini

Shukla was born on 15 January 1932 ^[2]. He took Acharya degrees in three subjects and a PhD from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi ^[2]. He spent most of his career there, retiring in 1992 as professor, head of department and dean, and also taught at Banaras Hindu University, the French Institute of Pondicherry and the Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in New Delhi ^[2].

For his new ways of teaching Sanskrit grammar and Vedanta he was popularly called “Abhinav Panini”, the new Panini ^[2]. Among his books is Vyakaran Darshane Srishti Prakriya Vimarsha ^[2].

Teaching at home

He lived simply, and for some 70 years taught Sanskrit free at his home in the gurukula way ^[2]. Many of his students went on to become professors, vice-chancellors, administrators and heads of religious institutions ^[2]. He founded the Nagkoop Shastrartha Samiti and the Sanatan Sanskriti Samvardhan Parishad, and advised the government on promoting Sanskrit ^[2].

He received more than 25 awards and the title Mahamahopadhyaya ^[2].

Ram Yatna Shukla died in September 2022 ^[3].