Mysuru: T. Narayana Shastri Foundation has organised a programme at Ganesha Hall, #854, Panchamantra Road, Kuvempungar, today (Nov. 28) at 4.15 pm to offer tribute to Mahamahopadhyaya, Padma Shri Dr. Satya Vrat Shastri, who passed away in New Delhi on Nov. 14.

Vidwan Dr. H.V. Nagaraja Rao, Sanskrit Scholar, Mysuru, will be the chief speaker. Padma Shri  Vidushi K.S. Jayalakshmi, Editor, Sudharma Sanskrit Daily, Mysuru, will be the guest of honour.

Dr. Satya Vrat Shastri was born at Lahore in 1930. He was educated in Punjab University and Banaras Hindu University with MA, Ph.D degrees. He served as a Professor of Sanskrit in University of Delhi. He was a Visiting Professor in Germany, Belgium, Canada & Thailand. He served the Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri, as the Vice-Chancellor. He had authored three Mahakavyas and five Khandakavyas in Sanskrit poetry form. He penned five works in English and was honoured by prestigious institutions in India, Canada, Italy and Indonesia. Eight scholars have conducted research studies on his works and were conferred Ph.D degrees. Dr. Satya Vrat Shastri was the only Jnanpith Award recipient in Sanskrit field.

T. Narayana Shastri Foundation: T. Narayana Shastri was a freedom fighter in the 1942 Quit India Movement. Brought up in utter poverty, he came to Mysuru bear foot and without a penny in his pocket. By begging alms, he continued his studies for ten years. He also secured 1st Rank in Vyakarana Vidwat at Sanskrit College in Mysuru. He was a teacher in High Schools at Turuvekere (Tumakuru), Tarikere (Chikamagaluru) and Bhadravathi (Shivamogga) where he established four Sanskrit Schools. He was often termed as Pusthaka Parivrajaka (Book Monk), as he used to sell, distribute, present books of cultural, national, social, spiritual values numbering about 12,000. He was the Founder of 10 voluntary organisations to train youths in social service activities. T. Narayana Shastri Foundation is established in his memory.