Make Sanskrit National Language of India
This is a petition and appeal to solicit nationwide support to make Sanskrit National Language of India.
WHY?
Internationally also, we have been seeing the trend... people moving towards eastern culture, now moving deeper into the roots - taking initiation, singing Name, chanting, practicing yoga etc. We see growing interest in these traditional sciences and people living with greater understanding. But, something is missing when they are attracted towards eastern culture. Originality is missing. It is true many a time with the eastern born and brought ups also. They also feel not connected to the root. The missing link can only be connected with the classical language - Sanskrit.
On the onset, it might look impractical to propose an ancient language for acceptance as a National or International language 'for all modes of communication'. But, that cannot be accepted as a sufficient reason to stop us promoting Sanskrit, as it will have long lasting benefits for the generations to come. Every alphabet of Sanskrit carries life in it. It is alive. It implements itself. Very sound of the character implements the deep meaning living in it in the words using them. Sanskrit is not limited to just forming a set of characters to provide a piece of information. It is much more than that. Vedic mathematics, Mantra Yoga etc. are some of the easily graspable benefits that have become popular recently.
Rick Briggs a researcher at NASA, has written:
"In ancient India the intention to discover truth was so consuming, that in the process, they discovered perhaps the most perfect tool for fulfilling such a search that the world has ever known -- the Sanskrit language."
According to Forbes magazine, (July, 1987), "Sanskrit is the most convenient language for computer software programming."
Sanskrit is the best language in this world that can assimilate and give us the best of both worlds - ancient world and the modern world.
WHY?
- Sanskrit is the oldest, most highly evolved language in the world.
- Till now, unanimous support from all localities has not been achieved for any single language. Sanskrit, no doubt will be acceptable to all.
- Sanskrit carries with it our ancient culture and has the capability to assimilate any level of modernization and advancement.
- Major Indian languages are derived from Sanskrit. It should already have been accepted as National Language.
- Sanskrit is fundamentally strong in phonetic and grammar.
- Sanskrit is purely a scientific language. Every word and character has a definite reason and meaning to it for pronunciation, meaning and formation of new words.
- It is easy to learn Sanskrit, as most of the Indians already know the alphabets, as they are already being used in major Indian languages.
- Declare Sanskrit - the National Language of India.
- Make a time-bound plan for Sanskrit literacy taking help of NGO's if required.
- Make Sanskrit a compulsory subject for study in Middle and High schools.
- Promote Sanskrit to be made an elective subject in schools across the world.
Internationally also, we have been seeing the trend... people moving towards eastern culture, now moving deeper into the roots - taking initiation, singing Name, chanting, practicing yoga etc. We see growing interest in these traditional sciences and people living with greater understanding. But, something is missing when they are attracted towards eastern culture. Originality is missing. It is true many a time with the eastern born and brought ups also. They also feel not connected to the root. The missing link can only be connected with the classical language - Sanskrit.
On the onset, it might look impractical to propose an ancient language for acceptance as a National or International language 'for all modes of communication'. But, that cannot be accepted as a sufficient reason to stop us promoting Sanskrit, as it will have long lasting benefits for the generations to come. Every alphabet of Sanskrit carries life in it. It is alive. It implements itself. Very sound of the character implements the deep meaning living in it in the words using them. Sanskrit is not limited to just forming a set of characters to provide a piece of information. It is much more than that. Vedic mathematics, Mantra Yoga etc. are some of the easily graspable benefits that have become popular recently.
Rick Briggs a researcher at NASA, has written:
"In ancient India the intention to discover truth was so consuming, that in the process, they discovered perhaps the most perfect tool for fulfilling such a search that the world has ever known -- the Sanskrit language."
According to Forbes magazine, (July, 1987), "Sanskrit is the most convenient language for computer software programming."
Sanskrit is the best language in this world that can assimilate and give us the best of both worlds - ancient world and the modern world.
Dear friend, at the time of constitution formation situation was entirely different. Country was strongly divided in various communities. It was difficult to do this at that time. Now, we are grown and more mature than at that time. It is right time to take right step, which we could not take at that time unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteYes, Sanskrit seems difficult to start with, agreed. We need some time. That is the reason I have suggested a time-bound plan to achieve the same. Transition can be gradual (again unfortunately...). We should not ignore what we can achieve with Sanskrit, which I have written in my post also.
"Apart from that Sanskrit is considered as the language of Hinduism. How that will unite thousands of faiths?"
Sanskrit is considered the mother of all languages that are regionally spoken in India. So, nobody will have any problem in accepting Sanskrit as National Language. You should also notice, we haven't been successful with Hindi as our national language in even half a decade now.
Sanskrit is actually a language that evolved with the evolution of humans in this subcontinent, which is also referred to with the name "Hindustan". Now, will you call Hindustan also a place for Hindus only? Certainly not.
Sanskrit represents the civilizations that evolved here. Sanskrit was the main language used here during the early times. So, Hindus have their mythological literature in Sanskrit. So, it won't be wise to limit such a wonderful language to just one religion or community.
So, I request to help reap the benefits of this magnificent language... Of course, with the initial efforts it requires, for the reason that it will benefit us and the generations to come.
Sanskrit is not an easy language.....In olden times because it was tough, many people remained illiterate and the educated got the chance to exploit the uneducated....I have been exposed to Sanskrit and it is very difficult to learn especially if it is introduced after a child becomes of 5-6 years age because the child will always compare it with its mother toungue....
ReplyDeletevarious dialects in india were evolved because sanskrit was tough...
look at south korea....it abandoned chinese language in the 16th century and invented a new language, very scientific and achieved 99% literacy in 100 years...and look at its ability to prosper....and look at its unity.....
Yes, many people have been saying this. So, I agree. But, that also should not stop us from taking human race to the heights of evolution Sanskrit can take us to. It is worth doing whatever effort it might take.
ReplyDeleteDear Bharathas,
ReplyDeleteThe great values of Indian culture, heritage and tradition are now in great risk. We do not know what hidden agenda is cooked up behind screen. Our country is full under the grip of foreign forces religiously, economically and in all other aspects of national means. The Sikh head is interested for his community benefits, the Italion head is interested to safeguard the self motivated huge funds, already released the huge funds of her counter part Kotrochi from London bank, getting complete Nehru descendants christianised and commercialised, industrialized, terrorism and mafia tiers are lavishly supported - all at the cost of poor hindu votes! Muslims are Preasurising all over from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Bangal to Gujrat and they are gaining what ever they asked for and sought for. We have seen Indian National flag was removed and hoisted green community flag at Nedumpassery Airport to receive a communal minister, words and lines are remved from our National Anthem, lessons and pictures of Swami Vivekanda removed fron the text books of students, illegitimately given 5% reservation in Andhra, now very alarmingly they are bouncing the three wings of Armed Forces and tens of hundreds of such other sensitive organs of Indian security and integrity. The danger to Indian national alnguage and sancrit being the mother language to all world language is one among our contry's misfortune. Writing alone is not a remedial means. Action - ANDOLAN throughout Bharatha Varsham is the inevitable treatment - shock treatment. How is it to start, where to start and there is question of when to start as it is right now. send the message of Swami to all the 80% of INDIAN POPULATION - the Hindu faction the message of Swami Vivekanandan and the Upanishad Vakyams - UTHISHTATO JAGRADAI - ARISE, AWAKE AND STOP NOT (SLEEP NOT) UNTIL WE REACH THE GOAL.
Namaste,
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, do we not have enough problems and enough sources of rifts amidst us already that you need to run out and create a new one? National language is a medium of communication for the common man. When so many people are illiterate, how and when are you going to teach them to speak a new language? I completely agree that there is a dire need for inculcating the national spirit in today's Indians. But there should be other ways for doing so. Sanskrit is a beautiful language and I had the good fortune of being able to learn some of it in school. And yes, it made me feel more 'connected'. But if you think you can get people to learn it by forcing it upon them, forget it. The beauty of our country is amalgamation of the different cultures residing together. Please work towards slowly erasing those differences further, not creating a new drastic issue. Jai Hind.
Sanskrit is and has always been a language suited to refined literary and poetic expression. It's tailored to use in literature and scholarly writings, and hasn't been developed as a language for everyday use. That's why in history Sanskrit and the vernacular languages have always worked together in parallel as a team. Different languages are suited to different purposes.
ReplyDeleteThis language isn't meant to be suitable for every kind of use. We should still study Sanskrit and use it for literature and scholarly writing, but use vernacular languages for everyday conversation. Otherwise Sanskrit will lose its special quality as a classical language.
Or suggest some alternative argument if you don't agree with this.
Dear friend, what you are saying is absolutely correct. Dialects were there and will very much be there. Going against dialects does not seem to be a feasible idea.
ReplyDeleteMy point is to bring Sanskrit back to life. If we want to see that happen one solution that seems possible and feasible to me is to make everybody realize that all the Indian languages inherit from Sanskrit. Only if we can revive those missing / forgotten parts in various languages that will bring Sanskrit closer to hearts and we would be able to revive Sanskrit.