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Regional Round-Up
Navin Patnaik?s initiative for Sanskrit
A step towards a great goal
By Dr. Indulata Das
Ignoring Sanskrit has become a ?secular move? and perhaps is considered as a potential fetcher of so-called ?secular votes?. As a result, obstructing the promotion of Sanskrit, causing maximum damage to its learning are some of the choicest activities of the ?champions of Secularism? of the land.
The Government of Orissa deserves high commendation for creating more space for Sanskrit in the intermediate curriculum. Now, Sanskrit has been introduced as a Modern Indian Language (MIL) in the intermediate courses. With this provision, students of Science and Commerce, who were earlier deprived of a chance to study Sanskrit after Matriculation, would be in a position to study the same in the intermediate level. The Arts students whose options were earlier restricted to studying Sanskrit as an optional paper only, can now choose two papers of Sanskrit viz. one MIL paper and one optional. Not only this, Sanskrit has also been introduced as an elective paper for the Science and Commerce students too. They are in a position to read two papers of Sanskrit if they choose. This spatial expansion of Sanskrit in the curriculum is a farsighted measure which will serve multiple purposes.
Sanskrit is the proud identity of India. In fact, India is honoured to have possessed a language of such immensely high stature. It is contempt of Sanskrit even to be kept on par or equalised with any other language of the country or of the world. This language should have received a grand special status in the country and provision should have been made for every Indian to learn Sanskrit as a minimum token of respect for this great heritage of India. Rightly has it been observed by Mahatma Gandhi that ?Without the study of Sanskrit one cannot become a true Indian and a true learned man?.
But due to many wrong, selfish and suicidal decisions by people who matter in framing policies, the language is not only deprived of its deserving status but also has received fatal blows from its own beneficiaries. It is almost driven to the threshold of extinction by those who should have been its saviors.
Ignoring Sanskrit has become a ?secular move? and perhaps is considered as a potential fetcher of so-called ?secular votes?. As a result, obstructing the promotion of Sanskrit, causing maximum damage to its learning are some of the choicest activities of the ?champions of Secularism? of the land. Even official attempts, ?in the name of secularism? have been made in the past to uproot Sanskrit by abrogating it from the school level itself. But the attempt was aborted because of the timely interference of the judiciary. With every passing day a new device is being invented by these ?ill-wishers of Sanskrit? to damage the existence of the language. Those to whom any proof of India?s greatness causes discomfort have a natural heartburning for Sanskrit. Because, Sanskrit literature is the greatest witness of the unbelievably great past of the country. It is the greatest treasure of this great, ancient civilization.
Now a new suicidal move is catching momentum. Sanskrit, the mother of Indian regional languages is receiving murderous blows from none other than the so-called ?promoters of regional languages?. Damaging Sanskrit has become easier under the deceiving camouflage of their so-called love and allegiance for mother tongue. They want to kill Sanskrit in order to promote their regional languages. An unthinkable idea indeed! Because the truth?not bitter but sweet?is that Sanskrit is the life force of the regional languages of the country. Sanskrit imbues the regional languages with life and vitality. Far from causing damage to them Sanskrit learning fortifies and protects these languages against distortion. Those who want to kill Sanskrit to provide so-called protection to their languages also know this truth. They know that killing Sanskrit would kill their own languages.
The Constitution of India in its Article 344(1) and 351 has recognised 18 languages as MIL. These are 1- Assamese, 2- Bengali, 3- Gujarati, 4- Hindi,
5-Kannada, 6- Kashmiri, 7- Konkana,8-Malayalam 9- Manipuri, 10- Marathi, 11-Nepali, 12- Oriya, 13- Punjabi, 14- Sanskrit, 15- Sindhi 16- Tamil, 17- Telugu, 18- Urdu
Sanskrit is one of the languages enumerated in the list. But unfortunately this language which has been recognised as ?the greatest language of the world? not by Indians but by western scholars like Max Muller, has failed to receive even an equal treatment with other regional languages mentioned in the list.
Sanskrit, which is the identity of India, has not been able to be a compulsory subject for Indian students. In many states it has not found even a place in the curriculum. Sanskrit does not receive the honour of ?First Language? or even of ?Second Language? in any state except exceptions like MP. In almost all the states, where Sanskrit learning is existent, it is kept as a third language that too as an alternative to other languages like Hindi or the local regional language.
India is the only country where its own treasure is undervalued and dishonoured by its own people. As a result of this shameful tendency the language which is the crowning glory of the country is fighting a battle of existence to survive in its own land.
When many conspiracies are woven round Sanskrit, and undergoing a crisis of existence, the step of Orissa government to expand the place of Sanskrit in the curriculum is praiseworthy. It is a commendable step in the right direction. In addition to conferring a little honour on Sanskrit, this step would be of many practical use to the learners.
An intermediate degree in Science subject has been prescribed as the minimum qualification for admission to Ayurveda. Although the text books of Ayurveda are written in Sanskrit, yet no provision was there earlier for a student to study Sanskrit in intermediate before taking admission into Ayurveda.
Yoga has been introduced in almost all the colleges and universities. The texts of Yoga are also written in Sanskrit. Expansion of Sanskrit in the college level will certainly benefit the aspirants of Yogic studies. Expanded Sanskrit courses will facilitate the study of Indian Philosophy too. Study of books like Panchatantra and Arthasastra are considered beneficial in management etc. The knowledge of Sanskrit can certainly help one to go through the original texts.
Knowing India is impossible without the knowledge of Sanskrit. The culture, history, philosophy of India and everything that India stands for is recorded in this language. A thorough knowledge of Sanskrit therefore is the minimum requirement to enter into this domain of wisdom.
Viewed from this perspective, a little spatial expansion of Sanskrit in the curriculum may appear a negligible measure. Yet it is commendable. Because it is a small step towards a great goal.
(The writer can be contacted at indulatadas@yahoo.co.in)
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