राजकीय संस्कृत महाविद्यालय, वाराणसी

राजकीय संस्कृत महाविद्यालय (Government Sanskrit College) वाराणसी का प्रथम महाविद्यालय था। इसकी स्थापना १७९१ में हुई थी। इस महाविद्यालय से अनेकों ख्यातलब्ध अध्यापक निकले। सन १९५८ में यह सम्पूर्णानन्द संस्कृत विश्वविद्यालय में मिला लिया गया।

To establish their rule in India, the officers of the East India Company thought in necessary to preserve the knowledge of Hindus and Muslims. In the year 1750 they passed a resolution for that purpose. To preserve Urdu, they established a Madarsa at Calcutta, whereas for protection and development of Sanskrit, they chose Benares. In 1791, during the period of British rule in India, Jonathan Duncan, the representative of the Honourable East India Company proposed the establishment of a Sanskrit college for development and preservation of the Sanskrit Vangmaya and to show that the English people were in favour of the development of the Indian culture. This was sanctioned by Governor General Lord Cornwallis. Kashi Naresh Mahip Narayan Singh donated a huge tract of land in the southern part of Benares for construction of the college. The first teacher of this Institution was Pandit Kashinath. The Governor General initially sanctioned a budget of Rs. 20,000 per annum.^[1]

Initially the college offered courses up to graduation. From 1857, the College started Postgraduate teaching. The examination system was adopted in 1880. In 1894 the famous building of Saraswati Bhavan Granthalaya, where thousands of manuscripts are preserved, was constructed, . These manuscripts are edited by the Principal of the College and published in book form. The series of books are known as Sarasvati Bhavana Texts. More than 400 books have been published in the series.^[2].

From 1791 to 1844 the college was governed by the Administrative officers of the city. Later British officers decided that Indians should also obtain knowledge of European literature and Philosophy. Therefore they ordered the appointment of a Principal for the college. The qualification laid down was the Principal must be a scholar of Sanskrit with knowledge of European literature and Philosophy.^[3] The Principals from 1844 were:

1. Professor J. Myor, ICS (1844 - 1846)
2. Dr. J.R. Ballentien (1846 - 1861)
3. Ralph T. H. Griffith (1861-1876)
4. Dr. G. Thevo (1876-1888)
5. Dr. Aurthor Venice (1888-1918)
6. गंगानाथ झा (1918-1923)
7. गोपीनाथ कविराज (1923-1937)
8. डॉ मग्गलदेव शास्त्री (1937-1958)

• सम्पूर्णानन्द संस्कृत विश्वविद्यालय
• भारतीय शिक्षा का इतिहास
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