A government-aided school in South Chittoor, Ernakulam, received a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat on Sunday for using football to make Sanskrit learning more engaging for students.

The Prime Minister highlighted St. Mary's Upper Primary School during the monthly radio programme, aired at 11 am. The school was recognised for an innovative classroom initiative that blends language learning with sport to preserve India's linguistic heritage in an enjoyable way.

Sanskrit meets football in the classroom

Speaking during the programme, Modi said a classroom in Ernakulam offered an inspiring example of preserving India's rich linguistic heritage alongside sports.

The school developed a project called Aksharakanduka (Alphabet Ball) to help pupils learn Sanskrit through football-themed teaching methods. The initiative was introduced during the FIFA World Cup and connected each Sanskrit alphabet letter with a football-related term.

Teachers prepared learning cards and posters, with every Sanskrit letter paired with a football word and translated into both English and Malayalam. Images of famous footballers and trophies were also included to make lessons more interactive and appealing for children.

Teacher behind the initiative

The project was officially launched by headmaster Jibin Joy, while the concept and learning materials were created by Sanskrit teacher Abhilash T. Prathap, who has been credited with popularising the language through this distinctive approach.

The Prime Minister specifically referred to the teacher's efforts, saying a school in South Chittoor, Ernakulam, has a Sanskrit club where Abhilash ji is promoting Sanskrit in a unique way.