A scholar, teacher and a learner.

Jnanpith awardee Dr Prof Satya Vrat Shastri, a Sanskrit scholar has devoted 62 years of his life studying and researching the language. With more than 70 national and international acclaims to his credit this scholar has written heart rendering poems and stories.

His writings
He gets nostalgic as he tells about the first poem that was published in 'Sanskrit Ratnakar' in Jaipur, when he was 11 years old. He has written three Mahakavyas (brief epic narrative poem), three Khandakavyas (lyrical stories) having about 6000 stanzas, one Prabandhakavyas (Integral compositions) and one Patrakavya. Aprt from these, he has also penned many books related to academics and course books for MA which are prescribed by many universities.
Some of his writings have been appreciated worldwide. These include Ramakirtimahakavyam, Brahattaram Bharatam, 'Discovery of Sanskrit Treasures' in seven volumes and more. He has written a daily account of his experiences and now he is in process of writing his autobiography.

Journey
"I have learned many things from people whom I have come across my life. I consider all of them as my gurus," said Satya Vrat Shastri. His first guru was his father, Charu Deva Shastri, after this he learned under the guidance of Pandit Shuk Deo Jha and Dr Siddheshwar Varma. Dr Prof Shastri got his Ph.D from the Banaras Hindu University.
He had been heading the department of Sanskrit in Delhi University for forty years after which he became the vice chancellor of Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri, Orissa. He has represented the country around the globe while he was a visiting faculty at various universities in Bangkok, Thailand, Germany, Belgium, Canada and many others. He also taught Sanskrit to Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for 3 years. Currently, he is serving as an honorary professor at Special centre for Sanskrit at JNU.

Message
Shastri feels that the warmth in the student-teacher relationship is dying. People have lost the faith in the bond and the basic concept is vanishing. "The behaviours and character of the teacher always reflects in that of the students," he adds.

Awards
At 81, when he looks back at his career, he has collected many international and national awards. The only recipient of Jnanpith Award in Sankrit language, he was conferred by the Padma Bhushan award in 2010.
He has also won the Sahitya Akademy award, but the one closest to his heart is the Distinguished Alumnus Award which he received in 1971 from BHU.

Daily routine
Even at this age, he wakes up at 5 and makes sure he is at his desk by 7 am. He says that the love and dedication for the language is what keeps him going. "The other thing is that with Sanskrit, I feel my father is still around me, guiding me," he adds.
— Raushni Bhagia