Ranchi, March 29: In the cyber age, when most children are hooked to the Internet, her favourite pastime is memorising Sanskrit shlokas.

Meet two-year-old Shreya Ghosh, a nursery student of Vishnupuri Shishu Mandir, who can rattle off mantras and shlokas of the Bhagwad Gita and Upanishad with an enchanting lisp.

“Shreya memorised several shlokas from the first chapter of Gita and other old Sanskrit scriptures when she was a two-year-old kid. She enjoys the musical quality and chants the mantras when she sits idle playing with her dolls,” said Jaishree Ghosh, Shreya’s mother.

“She picked it up from other senior students of her school. The first time she pronounced the Sanskrit words, I could not understand. But, when I listened carefully, I understood what she was trying to say. So, I started making special efforts to correct her pronunciation,” Jaishree added.

A teacher at Shreya’s school said: “We spotted the talent in her in a cultural programme in the school. She took the stage with confidence to recite Sanskrit shlokas.”

Principal of the school Mata Parivrajika Tatasthapuri said, “I have imparted lessons from Bhagwad Gita to many children since 1967. But this two-year-old kid is special. She has a remarkable memory. This is not only my observation. My guru Vihsnupuri Ji, who recently visited Ranchi, has also observed the same quality in the girl. Since I have found the girl interested in Sanskrit shloka, I have started paying special attention to her,” Mataji said.

Back in her Burdwan Compound residence, Shreya gave a performance specially for The Telegraph. The girl, who will celebrate turn three on July 21 this year, said she prays everyday for the welfare of mankind.

“Ami nitya prathna kori aar Bhogoban ke boli je sab kichu thik karo dao (I pray regularly and ask God to make everything right),” she said.

Shreya’s father is a sales officer in a private company while her mother is a teacher in the her daughter’s school.

“We want a carefree childhood for our daughter. I do not want to pressurise her,” Shreya’s mother said. The child has friends of her age but she strikes a friendship with seniors easily.

Shreya, who wants to become a painter in future, has a dream of her own. “I will like to make Lord Vishnu my friend and play with him. Cashews and raisins are what I’ll ask him for.”

As wishes go, this one is surely different. But so is this wonder child. And who knows, her lilting chant might just reach the god’s ears.