Prof. Vasudev Shastri Abhyankar hailed as Mahamahopadhyaya of Sanskrit rendered his yeoman’s service of 35 years in Fergusson College. He was appointed as a Shastri to teach Shastras in the traditional manner. His complete translation of Patanjali’s Vyakarana Mahabhashya is indeed a shining feather in the cap of D. E. Society. The Sanskrit Department of Fergusson College experienced its golden days under the headship of the distinguished scholar of Sanskrit and Indology Prof. R.N. Dandekar. Vedik Mythology was the main subject of his study. Prof. Dandekar received the Padmabhushan Award of the Govt. of India and received the honorary D.Litt. from a dozen of universities.
Prof. R. D. Wadekar taught Sanskrit, Pali and Ardhamagadhi in the College from 1936 to 1960. The President of India honored him with the Rashtrapati Award. Another Great Scholar to serve the college was Prof. T. G. Mainkar. He contributed to the Vedik Mysticism, Geeta Study and Poetics. He was offered the title of D. Litt. by Bombay University.
Prof. P.N. Virkar and P.S. Joshi were other eminent names to teach Sanskrit in the College. Prof. P.S. Joshi, author of the Bhimayanam, Prof. M.G. Dhadphale, distinguished scholar of Sanskrit, Pali and Buddhism headed the Sanskrit Dept. for more than 3 decades. He was followed by Dr. Mangala Mirasdar who must be remembered for popularizing Sanskrit among the college students. She was instrumental in undertaking many activities, especially the State Level Sanskrit One Act Play Competition. Dr. Prasad Joshi thereafter lead the department and students benefitted from his scholarly guidance.
Thus, the Sanskrit Department of the College indeed was gifted with scholarly teachers, devoted and disciplined. They produced a series of eminent students. Under their able guidance, the college continuously bagged the Prizes of Bhau Daji Prize, Zhala Vedant Prize and so on. The name of Fergusson College is always underlined for its contribution to Sanskrit studies.