New Delhi, January 20: The wave seems to have engulfed everything sans barriers of distance and language, including an artist’s creativity

The above is a verse from Acharya Ramakant Shukla’s poem on the tsunami tragedy. In a Sanskrit Kavi Sammelan organised by the Delhi Sanskrit Academy today, most of the poets recounted the horror of tsunami. Around 21 poets from all over India participated in the programme, which is held every year on the occasion of Republic Day.

Most of the 600 or so audience, were students from different Sanskrit schools and colleges in the city.‘‘We have come here to listen to the best of Sanskrit poets of the country,’’ said Vikesh Sharma of Hanuman Sanskrit Mahavidhyalya. A Class XI student, he can recite almost anything from Yajur Veda.

The secretary of Delhi Sanskrit Academy, Dr Shrikrishan Semwal said that Sanskrit flows in our life as all the subjects have originated from this language, including physics, architecture, medical sciences. ‘‘People may not be interested in studying the language today but they cannot deny its importance, which is precisely the reason why foreigners are attracted to India, they want to know the essence of life,’’ said the secretary who also holds a grudge against government officials for not taking the matter of recognising Sanskrit universities seriously.

The Kavi Sammelan also saw poets deliberating on state of the language, Indian culture and social problems. Renu, doing her Acharya course, had come from Arsh Kanya Gurukul, Narela. She said that Sanskrit does help them to do a lot of ‘‘soul searching’’. ‘‘To create interest in the language, we organise camps in our village to teach people basic yogic exercises and translation,’’ said Renu.

The activities of the Academy include free coaching for Civil Service aspirants opting for Sanskrit, providing funds for publishing books, organising competitions in schools and various awards to encourage teachers and students to study Sanskrit literature.

‘‘The main handicap of the language is that that no monetary advantages are attached to its study, like it is with any other kind of literature. But by preparing a curriculum which focuses on both the professional and practical aspects, this handicap can be done away with,’’ said the Programme Officer of the Academy Dr Hari Ram.