SANSKRIT LOVERS HAPPY WITH SMIRITI IRANI MOVE

Vrindavan November 30 (IANS)

 

The move to introduce Sanskrit in place of German in 500 Kendriya Vidhyalayas affecting more than 75,000 students, has been widely welcomed by Sanskrit lovers and scholars in Mathura -Vrindavan.

 

While the Supreme Court of India and the HRD minister Smiriti Irani debate the merits of Sanskrit over German, pandits and scholars in Vrindavan are upbeat and endorse the move to replace German with Sanskrit in the Kendriya Vidhyalayas.

 

They claim that Sanskrit is a divine language. "Sanskrit will ensure that our sanskars and paramparas remain alive  and are enriched. Without Sanskrit there is no understanding of the Indian treasure of knowledge," said pandit Vijay Kishore Mishra, a vedic scholar and a  corporator of the local body.

 

Mishra said there were over a score institutions in Vrindavan that taught Sanskrit to thousands of students, local and from Nepal, MP and several other states.

 

With the population of Indians settling abroad and opening temples, the demand for "karam kandi pandits" has gone up manifold. Even in "our own country, more temples means demand for more Sanskrit knowing priests. All our rituals from Havan, Grah Pravesh, death-related rites, conduct of marriages, pujas etc., Sanskrit is the language used extensively," says Piyush Pandey who runs an astrology website.

 

Even the Supreme Court bench hearing the plea filed by a group of KV students's parents to challenge centre's decision to replace German with Sanskrit acknowledge "it was a good decision as it is mother of all languages." The bench said  "why should we forget about our culture. With Sanskrit you can learn other languages easily as it mother of all languages."

 

Though Sanskrit has never been a mass language, its use in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism has been widespread. Sudharma daily from Mysuru, editor Sampath Kumar says the influence and interest in Sanskrit is increasing. Both the Doordarshan and the AIR have Sanskrit news bulletins. A large number of government and educational institutions have Sanskrit Motos, like Sayameva Jayate of the Republic of India, Yato Dharmastato Jayaha of the Supreme Court, Satyam Shivam Sundaram of Doordarshan. 

 

Because of the growing interest in Sanskrit Vrindavan has become the major centre of Sanskrit learning. Dr Chandra Prakash Sharma, a Sanskrit scholar said there were 18 "pathshalas" institutions teaching Sanskrit. The number of students is around 2000. "Many come to learn Karam Kand, others learn Bhagwat Kathas. Vrindavan is the hub of Sanskrit learning," Sharma said.

 

Music maestro Acharya Jaimini, a Shastri in Sanskrit, said "this was a welcome initiative of the Modi Government. It will definitely help infuse some life in a number of institutions in Vrindavan which are passing through a bad phase, structures are in dilapidated shape, many demolished to make way for new buildings. Since the Sanskrit scholars had no avenues for placement the language did not grow. But if the Kendriya Vidhyalayas begin teaching Sanskrit, it will open doors for employment in a big way."

 

Jaimini said there were Sanskrit schools in Mathura, Goverdhan and Barsana also. Vrindavan was the major centre for "producing Bhagwat Katha vachaks who are now in demand all over the world. With the advent of religious TV channels there was growing market for Sanskrit scholars."

 

Vrindavan needs a full fledged Sanskrit University because of the renewed interest in the language and market potential, adds Jagan Nath Poddar, a local social activist. Poddar said "those who say Sanskrit is a dead laguage should know that the Hindu sanskars and all the karam kand, plus the marriage rituals are conducted in Sanskrit. Even foreigners are learning Sanskrit in Vrindavan."