"What is Sanskrit?" - A Pathetic Case of Dereliction

  In our previous article of this series "Why an Indian Must Learn a 'Dead Language' Called Sanskrit '", we have explored the befits of learning Sanskrit, and tried to prove why all INDIANS, irrespective of cast, creed or religion MUST learn it. At the concluding part, we had also strongly advocated the case of Sanskrit as the National Language of India. But ironically, the word which suits best with the attitude of Govt. of India (along with a significant portion of so-called intellectuals) towards Sanskrit, is not 'indifference' (let alone 'respect'), not even 'negligence', but 'dereliction'. In this piece, we would take an attempt to discuss that piteous story.

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The First Part: Why an Indian Must Learn a 'Dead Language' Called Sanskrit 
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Now, if anyone asks me - "What is Sanskrit?" (I am damn afraid that after 20 years, it would be a forgotten Language, literally, and Indian children would ask their parents this question), I cannot go by the well-written Wikipedia definition ("Sanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, the primary liturgical language of Hinduism and a literary and scholarly language in Buddhism and Jainism"). My answer would be stupidly  simple - Sanskrit? It is a pathetic case of dereliction.

Okay, let's not get emotional at this point. Let's start our story with a quote of our Honorable Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh - 

"Like the civilization of India, Sanskrit does not belong to any particular race, sect or religion. It represents a culture that is not narrow and sectarian but open tolerant and all-embracing...It is this spirit of liberalism and tolerance embedded in Sanskrit that we must inculcate in our present-day life."

And yes, he further added that the government will strengthen efforts for promotion, development and enrichment of Sanskrit. (He had made this comment in the 15th World Sanskrit Conference, organized in the month of January, 2012.)

Like many of our articles, here, at the very beginning of this one, we are putting another caveat. In this article, we would refrain ourselves from going into a debate on whether Sanskrit does not or does belong to any particular race or religion. If anyone try to remember history a bit, there is a high probability that he ends up with a conclusion that Sanskrit was an integral part of Ancient Indian Civilization aka Hindu Civilization. But we are not going into that, at least in this piece.

For the sake of our discussion, we are taking the positive part of the above comment. Now, this is quite clear from  our Prime Minister's speech that Sanskrit deserves a respect and Govt. would try its best to revive it's importance in India with social and financial support. BUT, is it the real case??? We would try to analyze in detail in this post.

 First let's try to figure out what Sanskrit deserves at the current situation (i.e when Sanskrit has neither the national language of India tag nor a declared "minority" status). It is probably known to all that Sanskrit is one the languages those are included in the eighth schedule of Indian constitution. What is its significance? This status direct government to release fund for Sanskrit colleges and universities, and for a national organization to stimulate the study it. Further, according to The Official Language Resolution,1968 (dead link, accessed the resolution via web.archive.org),

... a programme shall be prepared and implemented by the Government of India, in collaboration with the State Governments for the coordinated development of all these languages, alongside Hindi so that they grow rapidly in richness and become effective means of communicating modern knowledge;

... all the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution and English shall be permitted as alternative media for the All India and higher Central Services examinations after ascertaining the views of the Union Public Service Commission on the future scheme of the examinations, the procedural aspects and the timing.   

 Additionally we can recall article 351 of Indian Constitution once more. It was explicitly written in the "Directive for development of the Hindi language" that the primary language from which words are to be imported to enrich Hindi is Sanskrit. 

So, by the constitution of India itself, Sanskrit has its own rights and it should enjoy some advantages than other foreign languages like French or desi languages like Urdu. But real situation hardly indicates so. If we go to find the main reason behind it, we would discover something humorous (as well as pathetic) - a part of so-called intellectuals support this shameless negligence with a damn attitude - Sanskrit is communal.

Back in the year of 2008, Prof. Kamla Kant Mishra (a Sanskrit prof and a member of Govt. projects related to Sanskrit), in a talk with The Washington Post, had expressed his disappointment precisely - speaking about Sanskrit is very political in today's India. In his words, "Some people oppose anything that promotes Sanskrit because of its association with Hinduism."

He was hundred percent right. Numerous examples can be cited . But the best is probably to analyze our PM's comment again. Does not the implicit message is something like - Well, the word 'Sanskrit'...is considered...somehow...communal. May not be true...but....

Varman also pointed out the same nicely in an old article - "Sanskrit, a synonym for Communalism". And obviously same point was dealt in Shantanu Bhagwat's article- "The Shameful Neglect of Sanskrit". As a result, overall position of Sanskrit is our society is deteriorating , in a rapid rate. Courtesy? Obviously people in our country who love to be 'secular'. And easiest way to prove you secular nature? Show some disdain to Sanskrit. And obviously our nature of following - from Macaulay to MTV - does not help much. 

Some instances of this dereliction can be summed-up (obviously this not exhaustive and many more painful situations can be cited without much effort) as follows.

1. As The Washington Post reports, Govt. of India is continuously cutting fund for Sanskrit education at the school level. But what is more piteous, the attitude NCERT towards it. In their own words -
   
   

   "The Sanskrit project was initiated by the previous government. They had their own priorities. The project was so-so. How many people really speak Sanskrit in India? ..... We cannot replicate the teaching methods of traditional religious schools in our mainstream schools."

   
   If this is on-the-record attitude, anyone would be afraid of thinking about the off-the-record approach.  As a result, projects (that were fortunately started during NDA periods), one after another, are either terminating or no one knows the status. Many ambitious NCERT projects like Teaching in Sanskrit through Sanskrit, Computer-aided Sanskrit teaching, Vidyarthi Sahitya Shabdkosh, Bal Sanskrit Shabdkosh had stopped all of a sudden. Sometimes one or two media houses reported these stories (e.g. This report on Sanskrit, appeared on The Sunday Indian), but  absolutely nothing had changed. A blamed B, B blamed C, ultimately everything had settled down and we had forgotten everything. Dereliction continues.
2. All of us probably well-aware about Sachar Committee Report. So, without going in detail about it, I am directly quoting two excerpts from this Govt. of India accepted report -
   

   "…. This was brought into sharper focus by a constitutional provision (article 351) which prescribed that Hindi should draw increasingly upon Sanskrit for its vocabulary.  This Sanskritisation of Hindi and the perversion of the three language formula in many Hindi speaking states (providing for only Hindi, Sanskrit and English) has practically put an end to Urdu instruction in most government schools, there by effecting the education of a whole generation of Muslims." (Page no. 18)

   
   

   “Non-Urdu medium schools with a provision for teaching Urdu as an elective subject are few and far between.  This contrasts sharply with the importance attached to, say, Sanskrit, which is offered in a majority of the schools. ‘The Hindi speaking states operate largely with Hindi, English and Sanskrit whereas the non-Hindi speaking states have largely operated with a two language formula’ with some exceptions (NCERT, 2005).  The importance given to Sanskrit in the educational framework in Delhi and many north Indian states has tended to sideline minority languages.  Students have to opt for Sanskrit as there is no provision to teach Urdu (or any other regional language) in many schools.  This, in effect, makes Sanskrit a compulsory subject". (Page no. 83)

   
   Now, this is simply an attempt to compare Sanskrit with Urdu and to prove that the minority are being affected by the importance given to Sanskrit at the present time. So, the inline message is - implement something so that Sanskrit (the saffron language) loses it position. And astonishingly this report was accepted by central govt. (The Supreme Court Verdict on Sanskrit is worth-remembering here). Another shameless example of dereliction.
3. A nice article was published in the May, 2012 issue of सम्भाषण-सन्देश (The English translation is available here). How Sanskrit is going to be abolished from school education in the entire country was shown clearly in that article. The writer's own experience is worth mentioning -
   
   

   "I witnessed firsthand last week how stupid people’s thinking is regarding Foreign languages .  I was standing in line in front of a bookstore to buy a textbook for my 7th grader son.  At that time a father of a 6th grader, in Central Schools, had come to buy just the Sanskrit textbook.  The previous day the book was not available and thinking that he should stand in line only if the book is available that day, he asked the store keeper something loudly.  Hearing that, 2-3 people in line lectured him – ‘Why is your son studying Sanskrit?  Teach him French or German’ and such!" 

   
   Thus sometimes foreign languages, sometimes even computer, is replacing the subject Sanskrit from school-curriculum. Hilarious! [Please note, we are by no means deny the need the learning a foreign language or computer in this era of globalization. But we are against the poor govt. policies which are directing students to learn it in cost of Sanskrit.]
   
   In the following part we are furnishing some information from that article (I have not personally cross-checked any of them).
   
   
   
4. First consider the Central Schools (Kendriya Vidyalaya). In the Central Schools three languages are taught. Now they are under Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). And CBSE was providing a three language formula - English, Hindi, Sanskrit/French/German. As a result, even central schools are introducing the same. And at that condition most of the students are not opting for Sanskrit.
   
   Secondly, consider Maharashtra. Hindi was the compulsory third language in all Marathi Secondary schools. They were thinking of changing it, to introduce a foreign language as a third one. The message is clear -  there is no place for Sanskrit.
   
   Third, consider Tamil Nadu. Here  some 'oriental' schools used to teach Sanskrit as an elective. But now state govt. ordered to stop such 'special' Schools.
   
   Forth, consider Assam. There elective Sanskrit used to taught for three years (in 8th,9th and 10th grade). But now, it's importance is decreasing and would be taught for two years.
   
   Fifth, consider Andhra Pradesh. Here, state govt. started 355 model schools. And, of the 7100 positions for teachers, there is none for Sanskrit.
   
   These five are only examples. If you try to find, you would probably find a lot. And the picture would be clearer for you.
5. Recently, Ministry of Human Resource and development took the decision that  Devanagari numbers would be thrown out from school curriculum. "People should educate their children about ancient Indian learning at home and must encourage such studies...Therefore, those who are interested in ancient learning, can pursue them separately. Use of Devanagari numerals cannot be included in school syllabus" - yes, this is the attitude of a Delhi-based-educationist, who works as an advisor to MHRD on primary education. What is clear as daylight, the govt. is determined to destroy anything that was a part of ancient Indian civilization. Fight against Sanskrit or Devanagari is merely a part of it.
6.  If anyone give a look to Scheme for Development of Sanskrit Education, he would be speechless, literally. I don't know even that was implemented well still now. But some Brain-storming figures (going through this one may think Sanskrit is so cheap!):
   
   a) Meritorious students at traditional Pathshalas, would receive 300/- Per month.
   
   b)Eminent Sanskrit Pandits in indigent condition (read per annum income <24000/-) would come under the scheme of Samman Rashi - they would receive Rs 2000 per month.
   
   c) Under the scheme of Financial Assistance for Publication, Re-print of Rare and Bulk Purchase of Sanskrit Books, 80% of total expenditure would be borne by Govt., and max copies allowed to order is 500.
7. I was surprised like anything when I came to know that Sanskrit education at Jawaharlal Nehru University was started only in 2001! If a leading institution like JNU took long 32 years to start a "Center for Sanskrit Studies", I am afraid when other institutes can get the time to think about it!
    
8. This negligence is not limited to the central govt. or to a few state govt. only. The root of the problem has gone to innermost layer of our society. There are only a few who actually care for Sanskrit. Old valuable books are going out-of-print one by one and we are showing a great thumb to the problem.  Sometimes even original priceless ancient manuscripts on different areas of Science (written in Sanskrit) are rotting or  becoming the food for worms (the original link on livemint.com is dead, so accessed via web.archive.org). 

To be very frank, we need to agree, as Prof. Sheldon Pollock had pointed out, India is on Verge of ‘Cultural Ecocide’. And the audacity to ignore Sanskrit is a syndrome of that acute disease. Here I would like to quote from a column of Ananya Vajpeyi, "Sanskrit: Classic tale of Neglect", which depicts the gloomy picture very well:

"In early 2010, author Gurcharan Das told me that he was disturbed about having to go to American universities to study or refresh his Sanskrit in preparation for writing his latest book.....As we shared stories across generations, I recounted to Das my own disappointments and difficulties in trying to study Sanskrit in India. I told him about my misadventures at universities, libraries, archives and traditional schools in multiple states - Maharashtra, Karnataka, UP, Tamil Nadu and Bengal. I had spent my twenties in graduate school, searching for Sanskrit. I found it more readily in the UK and the US: in India it consistently eluded me.....By 2050, when India would have become the world's most populous nation, it will also have severed ties with its extraordinary linguistic and literary inheritance."

So, after reading up to this point, you may get frustrated enough. And ask me - "What's next?" Really, even I don't have a clue on what is coming for Sanskrit in next days in our country. Surprisingly, today much more work on Sanskrit is going outside India. As The Wall Street Journal reported, Sanskrit has already made a mini comeback in US. In China, Peking University had launched an ambitious project to  rediscover Sanskrit learning.  Now, in the UK, Sanskrit is thriving. The Daily Mail had observed a global interest in this "forgotten" Language Sanskrit. [As we have already discussed in detail, about Sanskrit education in school level around different parts of world, so we are not repeating it here.]  

In India, there is obviously a class of people who literally devoted their life to reboot vigor in Sanskrit. Someone like Sampath Kumar is publishing daily newspaper "Sudharma" in Sanskrit, still today. Yes, still we hear some good news (like Sanskrit is getting popularity in  Ranchi University or some enthusiasts have organized Sanskrit classes at IIT Kanpur), but  exceptionally. The general trend - it's better if we don't talk about it more. It can only increase our pain.

Once Sir William Jones wrote (Source: Wikipedia article),

" The Sanskrit language, whatever be its antiquity, is of a wonderful structure; more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin and more exquisitely refined than either: yet bearing to both of them a stronger affinity, both in the roots of verbs, and in the forms of grammar, than could possibly have been produced by accident; so strong indeed, that no philologer could examine them all without believing them to have sprung from some common source which perhaps no longer exists..."

   

So, it would be a unpardonable Sin if we don't try our best to revive the study and culture of Sanskrit in our own country, in the birth place of this forgotten language. Obviously, Govt. has its own duty, but at the same time we cannot deny that as a citizen of India, we also need to so something. At least, we have to change our attitude towards the matter.We have to join our hands and have to change the story. It's our moral responsibility, as an INDIAN.