Murty Classical Library Launched

BENGALURU: Fields Medal winner for 2014 Prof Manjul Bhargava said if Indian classic literature is available for the masses, it will be a gift to the world. The mathematician was speaking at the unveiling of the Murty Classical Library of India (MCLI) in the city on Wednesday.

Prof Manjul Bhargava is the R Brandon Fradd Professor of mathematics at Princeton University and a winner of the Fields Medal, which is the highest honour in the field of mathematics.

“Indian classic literature has not been translated into accessible languages. The Harvard Press, which has published several pieces of Latin and Greek literature, does not include Indic literature in its list. There have been petitions at various universities in the US and across the world to include Indian classic literature as a subject of study. MCLI is a step towards translating and publishing great works of Indian literature,” Bhargava said.

Five newly published works of Indian literature were released on the occasion — Therigatha: Poems of the first Buddhist Women, Sufi Lyrics, The History of Akbar (Vol 1), The Story of Manu and Sur’s Ocean.

Prof Sheldon Pollock, the Editor of the books, said, “MCLI’s mission to make works available to scholars, students and general readers around the globe, renders it exceptional.”

Infosys executive chairman Rohan Murty donated $5 million for the not-for-profit initiative.

Time With KIDS

Manjul Bhargava interacted with school students at a programme organised by Bishop Cotton Boys’ School in the city on Wednesday. He spoke about the application of mathematics from ancient Sanskrit texts. Later, Bhargava, a student of Zakir Hussain, rendered a tabla performance.