IIT Students Turn to Ancient Indian Scriptures in the AI Era: IISc Professor Explains the Logic

At a time when global education is heavily anchored to artificial intelligence, software engineering, and corporate placements, Professor Pratosh AP from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has shared a compelling perspective on the enduring relevance of traditional Indian knowledge systems. According to him, students from elite engineering institutes like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are actively studying Sanskrit and ancient scriptures alongside their technical curricula.

Professor Pratosh emphasized that the study of traditional texts is not confined to religious or spiritual pursuits; rather, it serves as an exceptional tool for sharpening analytical reasoning, critical cognition, and logical deconstruction.

Rigorous Logic and Academic Skepticism

In a video posted on his social media platform X, Professor Pratosh recounted his interactions with several IIT undergraduates and top-ranking JEE candidates who approached him to explore the deeper intellectual framework of Sanskrit and classical texts.

Citing one notable example, he spoke of a student who has studied Nyaya Shastra (classical Indian logic and epistemology) under him for five years. The student initially joined with a declaration to engage in ten years of rigorous textual study specifically to challenge and disprove the professor’s perspectives.

Welcoming such critical inquiry, Professor Pratosh noted that an education in scripture should sharpen intellect, regardless of ideological outcomes. He remarked that even if the student rigorously embraced the Charvaka school—an ancient materialistic and empiricist philosophy—it would still represent a victory of reasoned dialectic, creating a thoughtful and disciplined thinker.

Guiding Ethical Direction in the Age of AI

Addressing the modern academic landscape, Professor Pratosh observed that contemporary benchmarks for student success often revolve solely around securing admissions to elite universities, landing high-paying jobs, and accumulating financial wealth. In contrast, scriptural training encourages students to think beyond transactional outcomes.

Turning to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, he pointed out that while engineers continue to enhance computational capability, society must understand how to steer this power responsibly. Drawing a parallel to ethical conflicts described in the Mahabharata, he underscored that computational algorithms must be crafted to genuinely elevate human life. Placing potent technologies in the hands of individuals lacking a foundation in ethics (dharma) and moral discernment could lead to troubling consequences.

Building Cognitive Capacity and Rapid Learning

Professor Pratosh divided the benefits of scriptural study into three dimensions: intellectual, social, and spiritual. He asserted that an extensive immersion in Nyaya Shastra cultivates logic to such an extent that someone trained in it for a sustained duration could master advanced mathematics and quantum physics in as little as a single year—a proposition he noted has been tested through direct observation.

He also referenced the philosophical dialogue between sage Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, which examines foundational questions regarding the limitations of material wealth, true fulfillment, and enduring wisdom.

Concluding his address, the professor stressed that ancient Indian texts should not simply be treated as a hunt for modern scientific discoveries, but recognized as tools for expanding cognitive architecture. “Scriptures teach you how to learn,” he stated, arguing that the relevant question is no longer why students should study classical Indian texts, but why such study has been left out for so long.