Revive Sanskrit Teaching

[Guest guest]

Mohan Gupta wrote:

>

> Revive Sanskrit Teaching

>

> The British tried to enforce cultural slavery on Bhartiyas by

gradually diminishing the importance of Sanskrit study. The condition steadily

deteriorated even after our independence and Sanskrit gradually effaced from

the syllabus of studies. This neglect of Sanskrit is to such an

> ...........The strongest argument for retaining and promoting Sanskrit

studies, however, is the indisputable fact that it carries with it a dignified

sense of values, the eternal verities and soul entrancing truths and the highest

wisdom which are the greatest builders of character. All out revival and

propagation of Sanskrit is, therefore absolutely necessary to keep in check the

cankers of moral degeneration.......As it is one of the most precious treasures

and the common inheritance of all Bhartiyas, it is the duty of all Bhartiyas to

protect, preserve and propagate Sanskrit and to re - establish it in its

pristine glory.

>

 

Dear Mohanji,

namaskaar. While I am in total agreement with you about the value of

sanskrit, and have published articles to this effect myself,

(pl see my webpage),

 

the REAL PROBLEM IS TO AVAKEN A DESIRE

AMONG THE YOUNG TO LEARN AND PRACTISE SANSKRIT.

 

Just teaching and school teachers doesnt revive a

language. This is one of the great falacies of

our time, and even the present GOVT, RSS, and

many well wishers of Sanskrit seem to suffer

from it. Teaching for WHAT?

 

first answer the what?

 

LET US CREATE A DEMAND FOR THE LANGUAGE

 

 

This cannot be done by just making it compulsory

at schools. The GOI and the Indian academics, of

all kinds, have still to evolve strategies to make

the language an attractive and socially prestigious

, kamaniiya, enterprise.

 

Some suggestions:

 

1. Award Bharat Ratna to a great Sanskrit scholar/poet/..

 

2. Initiate a National Project for retrieving, preserving,

cataloguing and publishing sanskrit manuscripts in India

and elsewhere. Donations to this project should be

100 percent tax exempt as are for sciences now.

 

3. Create a Raashtriiya Sanskrit Naatya Evam Sangiita Kendra

for preservation and teaching of sanskrit text based performances

, such as Gitagovinda ashtapadiis, kritis of Diikshitaar etc.,

supported by a consortium of business houses.

 

4. The Indian Business Class, the Vaishya Varga not caste, has to take

a lead in this not just GOI.

 

5. Persuade temples to appoint only qualified degree

holders in sanskrit and in the local languages as pujaaris and

pujaarins.

 

I am sure there are many many more strategies to

practically demonstrate the utility of sanskrit

that its lovers can suggest.

 

It is time that we talk more about the ways of implementation.

best regards,

 

Bharat Gupt

Associate Professor, Delhi University,

PO Box 8518, Ashok Vihar, Delhi 110052 INDIA.

mobile:9810077914

home phones 91+11+724 1490, fax/TEL 741-5658,

email: bharatgupt: 0009rsonal.vsnl.com/bharatgupt