'The project is excellent and will definitely get a good response not only from India but from other countries too,' said head of Lucknow University's Sanskrit department Om Prakash Pandey, who has been teaching the language for the last 38 years.

'The thing I like most about the project is that it would in a way contribute to strengthening the national ethos,' added Pandey, who has been a visiting faculty in universities in France, Holland, Italy and Germany.

Echoing similar views, Vijay Karn, senior Sanskrit teacher in Vidyant College, said: 'The project needs to be applauded. It was long overdue. I am sure the tutorial will revive the glorious past of the language to an extent.

'If launched well, I am quite sure Sanskrit will become quite popular among the young generation, who are hooked to the internet.'

Those aspiring to learn Sanskrit also appreciated the upcoming project.

'It is great that you get to learn Sanskrit online and that too without spending a penny,' said Diwakar Tripathi, a BA Hindi student of Lucknow University.

Emphasising the need to learn Sanskrit, officials said that the language has played a vital role in the development of all Indian languages and in the preservation of the country's cultural heritage.

(Asit Srivastava can be contacted at asit.s@ians.in)