Crumbling walls greet students at Ganpati Rajkiya Sanskrit College in Ranchi. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, June 18: India’s classical language might be gaining popularity in the west but an institution here teaching Sanskrit is in a pathetic state.

Students of, Ganpati Rajkiya Sanskrit College, suffer because classes are often cancelled during rain due to the leaky roof.

“Classes are irregular,” said a student from Daltonganj, Rupesh Kumari Tiwary.

The college, established in 1934 at Kishoreganj, lacks classrooms, teachers and infrastructure. It has two clerks and a principal, Omkar Nath Mishra who is also doubling up as a teacher.

The principal said the government has given no grants since 1985. “The brick slabs on the roof are falling while walls have developed cracks. The classrooms are in no position to be used,” he said.

Ganpati Rajkiya Sanskrit College had 12 teachers but 11 of them have retired. The last teacher retired in 2003 and no appointment has taken place since then. The college had 12 classrooms but 11 collapsed. Around 100 students are taught in one room but it can also collapse anytime.

Mukesh Kumar, a student from Aurangabad, said the college lacks water, toilet and electricity facilities, too. “We are staying in the hostel where there was provision for 11 rooms but only three are in good condition,” he said.

The library has about 5,000 books that are kept in an almirah. Clerks Anil Dutt Mishra said: “We have to cover the cupboard with plastic sheets during rains. Moreover, we haven’t being paid since 1991.”