Sanskrit & Sanskruti Part I – Is it
needed to be taught or not?
When we were in high
school, we were not exposed to studying Hindi subject. It was the third
language but it was so neglected in our state that the pass mark for Hindi was
fixed at 5% in the SSLC examination. Our Hindi teacher used to jokingly say
that even if we copy the question paper in the answer sheet with few mistakes a
pass was guaranteed. But today, Hindi occupies prime place in the state, where
common folk never used to utter a word of the language, as it was considered as
a language of the northern states being imposed on southern states.
In Hyderabad, a famous
political leader, a Telugu speaking Baga Reddy was speaking fluent Urdu in his
speeches that Urdu scholars used to praise. He is basically from a Telugu
speaking family. When Telangana was liberated by India from Nizam, all the
official correspondence was being carried out in Urdu (despite being a Telugu
majority state). But the shift to English, Telugu was accomplished without much
hassles.
Hindi, once the language
branded as pure Northern language is now universally accepted as a language of
India and our Prime Minister started delivering keynote addresses in foreign
countries in the same language.
On a related note, I read
a small story long back. One employee starts at home at 10 AM sharp, sit in a
watch repair shop, after one hour ask the owner “Time Kya Hua Bhai”. He leaves
for office, reaches at 11.30 AM, opens cupboards, arranges files and half hour
later ask a co-employee, “Time Kya Hua Bhai”. He goes to canteen, sip tea, ask
the counterman “Time Kya hua Bhai”, returns sits and relaxes and at lunch time,
ask again “Time Kya Hua Bhai”. Leaves for lunch spends time till 2.30, comes
back , sits till 3.30 and leaves office, goes to watch shop, sit an hour and ask
“Time Kya Hua Bhai” and satisfied that that day’s time was up, leaves for home.
This is because he knew only Urdu and could not do any work in either English
or Telugu.
These anecdotes and story
tell us a naked truth. If we think it fair and we have flair, we can learn any
language. No language need be region specific or caste or religion specific.
Language is used for communicating. There are 3,000+ languages in India, many
of which do not have script. Dialects are understood by the local people. And, the
same language, spoken in different regions of a state or in another part of
country has a different dialect.Are we not learning? Then, why can not
we teach and learn Sanskrit?
The issue came to the
fore again after a “right wing nationalist” party took power in India and the HRD Ministry discontinued German as the third language and
replaced it with Sanskrit. Left liberals, pseudo
intellectuals, secular pseudos jumped on their feet and questioned the
rationale of imposing the “right wing Hindu Nationalism” in the curriculum. The
same groups did not fight when English was, by force, imposed on the nation by
British colonialists that it was Christian oriented language. I have no grouse on English or any other language or religion. I am opposed to the hypocrisy.
Reasons
given by these pseudos are:
1. Sanskrit is
Brahminical language.
Who is a Brahmin as per
Hindu scriptures? The one who attains Brahma Gnana is a Brahmin. By this
rationale even 0.0001 per cent of Indians do not come under the category.
Except the businessmen who own businesses and earn profit and live (these can
be termed as Vaishyas) and military men who fight wars to defend us (these are
Kshatriyas), rest of all of us Shudras, as we work for others. That is Varna Dharma. Castes are creation of subsequent feudal lords to retain
supremacy over masses. Even Military men work
for others, but benefit can be given due to their bravery. So, this stupid
theory is debunked.
Those who say it is
Brahminical forget Sage Valmiki was not a Brahmin but became one. Sage
Viswamitra was not a Brahmin but became one, by attaining Brahma Gnana. Why not
we all strive to attain the One Supreme Gnana?
2. That Sanskrit does not
find you jobs anywhere in the world.
In how many nations, can
we find jobs learning French, German, Chinese? This theory is thus debunked.
Many European countries follow their own language and
still are employed. Why not we?
still are employed. Why not we?
3. Sanskrit will take us
back to the medieval ages. What about German? Is it modern? Or French? Is it
too modern?
The whole opposition
smacks of intolerance to whatever Hinduism stands for, either good or bad.
Religion is faith. But Dharma is a way of life. By learning Sanskrit and the scriptures written in the language
we can teach our children a way of life, that is better.In the process, if we
find something bad in the way let us delete the same or teach not to practice
like a superstition, that any way was not taught in scriptures. Instead, crying
from rooftops, without allowing discussion is too immature and premature.
To
Be Continued
Next Part: Let us know
origin and history of the language and how many languages carry words in one
form or other from Sanskrit, the Mother of all languages.
**
PART 2 THE
MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN ON SANSKRIT:The very basis of arguments of
the opponents of teaching Sanskrit from primary level of education either in
India or in any other sovereign nation interested in teaching It to their
posterity, is based on a wrong premise. The main argument centers around the
wrong notion that all the scriptures or other literature written in Sanskrit
were intended only for one Varna, the Brahmin and others were prevented from
learning It. But the scriptures and Itihasas tell a different story. Ravana,
who is considered as an asura, or to use Christian lingo, a Satan is considered
as Ravana Brahma, a Brahmin who earned
the Brahma J~nana through strict penance and hard learning. Prahlada, son of
Hiranya Kashyapa, a kshatriya and Satan again, attains Brahma J~nana and the Supreme Lord’s benevolence. Dhruva, a Kshatriya,
attains the position of a star by his penance. Bali, a Kshatriya and an asura
attains the Highest Land by the grace of Lord Vishnu through his charity and
penance. Examples abound.
How do the opponents of Sanskrit oppose teaching
Sanskrit, dubbing it as Brahminical? The main scripture they quote is from
Rigveda. This portion is called the Purusha Suktam. Purusha
sukta (puruṣasūkta, पुरुष सूक्त) is hymn 10.90 of the Rigveda, dedicated to the Purusha, the "Cosmic Being". (sic.)
The first controversy surrounding the
hymn was that it was interpolated at a latter period to perpetuate the caste
division in Hindu society, amongst other arguments in this direction. But this
argument was debunked by many Hindu scholars, the main being Tiru B.V.Kameswar
Aiyar, who stated thus.
“The language of this hymn is
particularly sweet, rhythmical and polished and this has led to its being
regarded as the product of a later age when the capabilities of the language
had been developed. But the polish may be due to the artistic skill of the
particular author, to the nature of the subject and to several other causes
than mere posteriority in time. We might as well say that Chaucer must have lived centuries after Gower,
because the language of the former is so refined and that of the latter, so
rugged. We must at the same time confess that we are unable to discover any
distinct linguistic peculiarity in the hymn which will stamp it as of a later
origin.” (sic)
The Purusha Sukta, in
the seventh verse, hints at the organic connectedness of the various classes of
society. (sic.)
What does the hymn
state that is so controversial. It is this part.
यत्पुरुषं व्यदधुः कतिधा व्यकल्पयन् ।
मुखं किमस्य कौ बाहू का ऊरू पादा उच्येते ॥११॥
Yat-Purussam Vya[i-A]dadhuh Katidhaa Vya[i-A]kalpayan |
Mukham Kimasya Kau Baahuu Kaa Uuruu Paadaa Ucyete ||11||
Meaning:
11.1: What did the Purusha (i.e. Virat) hold within Him? How many parts were assigned in His Huge Form?
11.2: What was His Mouth? What was His Arms? What was His Thighs? And what was His Feet?
ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद् बाहू राजन्यः कृतः ।
ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥१२॥
Braahmanno-Asya Mukham-Aasiid Baahuu Raajanyah Krtah |
Uuruu Tad-Asya Yad-Vaishyah Padbhyaam Shuudro Ajaayata ||12||
मुखं किमस्य कौ बाहू का ऊरू पादा उच्येते ॥११॥
Yat-Purussam Vya[i-A]dadhuh Katidhaa Vya[i-A]kalpayan |
Mukham Kimasya Kau Baahuu Kaa Uuruu Paadaa Ucyete ||11||
Meaning:
11.1: What did the Purusha (i.e. Virat) hold within Him? How many parts were assigned in His Huge Form?
11.2: What was His Mouth? What was His Arms? What was His Thighs? And what was His Feet?
ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद् बाहू राजन्यः कृतः ।
ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥१२॥
Braahmanno-Asya Mukham-Aasiid Baahuu Raajanyah Krtah |
Uuruu Tad-Asya Yad-Vaishyah Padbhyaam Shuudro Ajaayata ||12||
Meaning:
12.1: The Brahmanas were His Mouth, the Kshatriyas became His Arms,
12.2: The Vaishyas were His Thighs, and from His pair of Feet were born the Shudras.
12.1: The Brahmanas were His Mouth, the Kshatriyas became His Arms,
12.2: The Vaishyas were His Thighs, and from His pair of Feet were born the Shudras.
Now, what else it states in future
verses?
चन्द्रमा मनसो जातश्चक्षोः सूर्यो अजायत ।
मुखादिन्द्रश्चाग्निश्च प्राणाद्वायुरजायत ॥१३॥
Candramaa Manaso Jaatash-Cakssoh Suuryo Ajaayata |
Mukhaad-Indrash-Ca-Agnish-Ca Praannaad-Vaayur-Ajaayata ||13||
Meaning:
13.1: The Moon was born from His Mind and the Sun was born from His Eyes,
13.2: Indra and Agni (Fire) were born from His Mouth, and Vayu (Wind) was born from His Breath.
नाभ्या आसीदन्तरिक्षं शीर्ष्णो द्यौः समवर्तत ।
पद्भ्यां भूमिर्दिशः श्रोत्रात्तथा लोकाँ अकल्पयन् ॥१४॥
Naabhyaa Aasiid-Antarikssam Shiirssnno Dyauh Samavartata |
Padbhyaam Bhuumir-Dishah Shrotraat-Tathaa Lokaa Akalpayan ||14||
Meaning:
14.1: His Navel became the Antariksha (the intermediate Space between Heaven and Earth), His Head sustained theHeaven,
14.2: From His Feet the Earth (was sustained), and from His Ears the Directions (were sustained); in this manner all theWorlds were regulated by Him.
मुखादिन्द्रश्चाग्निश्च प्राणाद्वायुरजायत ॥१३॥
Candramaa Manaso Jaatash-Cakssoh Suuryo Ajaayata |
Mukhaad-Indrash-Ca-Agnish-Ca Praannaad-Vaayur-Ajaayata ||13||
Meaning:
13.1: The Moon was born from His Mind and the Sun was born from His Eyes,
13.2: Indra and Agni (Fire) were born from His Mouth, and Vayu (Wind) was born from His Breath.
नाभ्या आसीदन्तरिक्षं शीर्ष्णो द्यौः समवर्तत ।
पद्भ्यां भूमिर्दिशः श्रोत्रात्तथा लोकाँ अकल्पयन् ॥१४॥
Naabhyaa Aasiid-Antarikssam Shiirssnno Dyauh Samavartata |
Padbhyaam Bhuumir-Dishah Shrotraat-Tathaa Lokaa Akalpayan ||14||
Meaning:
14.1: His Navel became the Antariksha (the intermediate Space between Heaven and Earth), His Head sustained theHeaven,
14.2: From His Feet the Earth (was sustained), and from His Ears the Directions (were sustained); in this manner all theWorlds were regulated by Him.
The main objection and
the argument that this Suktam was interpolated by the upper caste Brahmins was
this. From my face Brahmin was born, from shoulders the Kshatriya, from thighs
the Vysya and from feet the Sudra.
If you go further, the
Lord states
“The moon
takes birth from the Purusha's mind and the sun from his eyes. Indra and Agni descend from
his mouth and from his vital breath, air is born. The firmament comes from his
navel, the heavens from his head, the earth from his feet and quarters of space
from his ears.[3] Through this creation, underlying unity of
human, cosmic and divine realities is espoused, for all are seen arising out of
same original reality, the Purusha.”
Shudras are
born from the feet of The Lord and so too the Earth. What sustains us with all
the requirements for a happy living? Is it the unknown Heaven or the known
Earth that bears the burden of humanity? That said, the other elements like
Agni, Vayu etc., too are needed but without Earth, why do we need all these?
Right
interpretation of the text of the hymn clearly enunciates one undeniable fact.
That like the Earth, the Lord intended the Shudras as the main sustaining force
of humanity. Let us explain it in the mundane language. A Brahmin attains
j~nana, Kshatriya fights, Vysya sells the needed goods, but what is the use of
j~nana, if you are not secure, what is the use of security if you can not buy
the needed essentials, what is the ultimate use of all the three if someone who
works hard to produce the needed goods is not there. If a man is without feet,
what can he do by having all the three other qualities? So, who occupies the
prime place in the God’s creation, the Shudra or the sustainer of all the other
three? But, again the Shudra requires guidance from the j~nana of Brahmin,
security through bravery of the Kshatriya and someone to market his products in
the form of a Vaishya. But he forms the crux of sustenance like the Earth that
sustains us with the help of other elements.
This argument
may look mundane from a philosophical point of view, but I feel no God who is
the Parent of humanity would like to see one section of his own creation as
sub-serving the other section and the other section, a higher section and so on.
In the Higher Order of the Universe a moth living for 30 minutes, post seeing
the light of the day to the longest living animal have the same value in God’s
view. Or else he would not have created a moth without a purpose to serve the
Earth. The barriers are created by us and were used by so called upper caste
zealots then and the so called Human Rights zealots now, who make a living by
keeping the society ignorant of our rich cultural heritage and our richest
language.
THE IGNORANT LAW MAKERS:
Even as I was
closing the first part and going into the origin, importance and value of
Sanskrit in present day life, a funny anecdote took place in the House of
Elders in India. A self-professed Gandhivadi, who was ignorant Gandhi relied
only on Alternate Medicine, brought one bottle of an Ayurvedic formulation
named “PUTRA JEEVAK” and started a commotion in the house that Yoga Guru Ramdev
was a male chauvinist, who produced medicine for birth of male child. Ramdev
Ashram never propagated it, nor was it mentioned on the bottle anywhere, that
it was so. Member after member, from psedo secular parties expressed surprise,
shock, anguish and what not that Ramdev was discouraging female birth. Later,
Ramdev clarified it was the original botanical name of the medicinal plant from
which it was prepared and that in Sanskrit “Putra Jeevan” represents birth of
child, both male and female. This strengthens the argument that Sanskrit must
be taught from primary stage, as it crops up daily in our life and not knowing
meaning of simple words will be fodder to the Media and NGOs funded by
Missionaries. At least 20-25 years from now, this kind of Gandhi vadis will not
be there to make mountains out of mole hills.
********************
I had to
dwell upon a subject deviating from the main topic only to show that Sanskrit
was never a Brahminical language as is being wrongfully projected by vested
interests nor is it now, more so, with the whole concept of Varna Dharma
changing with 99% of us being Shudras or workers and it is essential to teach
Sanskrit from early ages so that our culture is let known to the world. It is a
rich culture, not less to any other.
ORIGIN OF SANSKRIT:
Sanskrit (/ˈsænskrɪt/; संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam [səmskr̩t̪əm] or simply संस्कृत saṃskṛta, originally संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, "refined speech") is the
primary liturgical
language of Hinduism, a philosophical
language in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and a literary
language that
was in use as a lingua franca in the Indian cultural zone. It
is a standardised dialect of the Old Indo-Aryan language,
originating as Vedic
Sanskrit and
tracing its linguistic ancestry back to Proto-Indo-Iranian and Proto-Indo-European. Today
it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled
languages of India and is an official
language of the state of Uttarakhand. Sanskrit holds a prominent position in Indo-European studies.
The corpus of Sanskrit literature encompasses a rich tradition of poetry and drama as well as scientific, technical, philosophical and dharma texts. Sanskrit continues to be widely
used as a ceremonial language in Hindu religious rituals and Buddhist practice
in the form of hymns and mantras. Spoken Sanskrit
has been revived in some villages with traditional institutions, and there are
attempts at further popularisation. (sic.) (Source Wiki)
The
Sanskrit verbal adjective sáṃskṛta- may be
translated as “highly elaborated".
(cf. Norwegian 'sammen skjær', Afrikaans 'saamskaar'). (Source: Wiki)
The Sanskrit, the classical form was
used in Manu Smriti etc., and the elaborated language was used in religious
practices by Brahma J~nanis. The natural, ordinary language ‘Prakryta’ was used
by common folk.
The
pre-Classical form of Sanskrit is known as Vedic Sanskrit with the language of the Rigveda dating back to as early as the
early second millennium BCE.This qualifies Rigvedic Sanskrit as one of the
earliest members of the Indo-European
languages which includes English and most European languages, German included?.
Sanskrit, as defined by Pāṇini, evolved out of the
earlier Vedic form. The end of the Vedic period is marked by the composition of
the Upanishads, the early Sutras being Vedic, too, both in language and
content. (Source: Wiki and other literature on the subject)
CLASSICAL SANSKRIT VERSUS
THE COMMON LANGUAGE:
It is known across globe that languages undergo imminent
change as the society evolves into modern ages, each as per the changes brought
about. Thus, English too underwent change with advent of internet with words
“google” finding their way into lexicons and short messaging changing the very
format of language. So too, Sanskrit and many Indian languages changed in form
and format.
A
significant change of post-Vedic Sanskrit is found in the Sanskrit of the Hindu Epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The deviations are considered
to be on account of interference from Prakrits. Traditional Sanskrit scholars call such
deviations “ṛṣis,
the traditional title for the ancient authors.
In the
2001 census
of India, 14,135 people reported Sanskrit as their native language.[ Since the 1990s, movements to spread spoken
Sanskrit have been increasing.
Indian
newspapers have published reports about several villages, where, as a result of
recent revival attempts, large parts of the population, including children, are
learning Sanskrit and are even using it to some extent in everyday
communication:
1.
Mattur, Shimoga district, Karnataka
2.
Jhiri, Rajgarh district, Madhya Pradesh
3.
Ganoda, Banswara district,
Rajasthan
4.
Shyamsundarpur, Kendujhar district, Odisha[
(sic)
Please
note these are all backward areas as per Indian standards. As I said earlier,
if there is flair and we feel it fair nothing comes in the way of learning a
language and communicating in it, Indian or alien. More than 3000 Sanskrit
works were published since independence, the language being no less
authoritative than the Vedic Language but with needed changes as per changing
ages.
Sanskrit
is used extensively in the Carnatic and Hindustani branches of classical music
In Mainland China, musicians such as Sa Dingding have written pop songs in Sanskrit.[ (sic.)
Over 90
weeklies, fortnightlies and quarterlies are published in Sanskrit. Sudharma, a daily newspaper in Sanskrit,
has been published out of Mysore,
India, since the year 1970, while Sanskrit Vartman Patram and Vishwasya
Vrittantam started in Gujarat during the last five years
In
symbolic terms the language is used in India, Nepal as follows.
Republic
of India: Satyameva Jayate meaning: Truth alone triumphs.
Nepal: Janani Janmabhoomischa Swargadapi Gariyasi meaning: Mother and motherland are
superior to heaven.
Many of
India's and Nepal's scientific and administrative terms are named in Sanskrit. DRDO has named the five missiles (ballistic and
others) that it developed Prithvi, Agni, Akash, Nag and Trishul. India's first modern fighter
aircraft is named HAL Tejas.
It is
also popular amongst the many practitioners of yoga in the West, who find the language helpful
for understanding texts such as the Yoga
Sutras.
**********************************************
Part 3
The term "Sanskrit" was not thought of as a
specific language set apart from other languages, but rather as a particularly
refined or perfected manner of speaking. Knowledge of Sanskrit was educational
attainment in ancient India. Sanskrit, as the learned language of
Ancient India, thus existed alongside the vernacular Prakrits, also called Middle Indic dialects. However, linguistic change led to
an eventual loss of mutual
intelligibility.
Many Sanskrit dramas also indicate that the language coexisted
with Prakrits, spoken by multilingual speakers with a more extensive education.
Sanskrit speakers were almost always multilingual.
That
Sanskrit is a dead language as suggested by some scholars was refuted thus by
the others.
“On a
more public level the statement that Sanskrit is a dead language is misleading,
for Sanskrit is quite obviously not as dead as other dead languages and the
fact that it is spoken, written and read will probably convince most people
that it cannot be a dead language in the most common usage of the term.
Pollock's notion of the “death of Sanskrit” remains in this unclear realm
between academia and public opinion when he says that “most observers would
agree that, in some crucial way, Sanskrit is dead.”
—Hanneder (sic.)
The CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) of
India, along with several other state education boards, has made Sanskrit an
alternative option to the state's own official language as a second or third
language choice in the schools it governs. In such schools, learning Sanskrit
is an option for grades 5 to 8 (Classes V to VIII). This is true of most
schools affiliated with the ICSE
board, especially in those states where the official language is Hindi. Sanskrit is also taught in
traditional gurukulas throughout India.[53]
In the West
St
James Junior School in London, England, offers Sanskrit as part of the
curriculum. In the
United States, since September 2009, high school students have been able to
receive credits as Independent Study or toward Foreign Language requirements by
studying Sanskrit, as part of the "SAFL: Samskritam as a Foreign
Language" program coordinated by Samskrita
Bharati.
As per
1991 census, India had around 45,000 fluent Sanskrit speakers. Though efforts
were made to propagate the language from 1947, the politics of minority versus
majority, vote bank politics by political parties in India saw that Sanskrit
did not find proper place in the school/college curricula.
One
main reason is the objection raised by half educated liberals, who dubbed it as
Brahminical, depending on wrong interpretation of our scriptures like The
Purusha Sukta or Manu Smriti. Instead of considering it as the evolving of
civilization and culture as need based and instead of considering the socio
economic conditions of those ages, the zealots argue that even in modern
society where constitutional guarantees are extended to the deprived sections
of populace, the mere teaching of a language rich in culture, that amalgamates
the various Indian Languages into one thus bringing unity in diversity, that
improves the phonetic skills of the learners and speakers effectively thus
making India compete with the world, that contains rich heritage of scriptures
that teach medicine, Yoga, moral values and way of living a cultured life that
the West is aping now and getting benefitted.
No religion in the world imposes by scriptures that their writ
run large. In all religions there are zealots that try to interpolate religion
with fanaticism. Bible or Ten Commandments did not give a sovereign right on
the Christian majority British to ruthlessly rule almost a billion population
by high handed means until they suffered huge economic crisis in the World War
2, leaving behind a plethora of freedom fighters that enjoy privileges even
today. But, if the British enter India as traders, settle as rulers, impose
their religion, their language, their culture on illiterate masses, keep them
poor and illiterate while courting a few gullible high society people, impose
on us a bureaucracy that over the times
changed to bureau crazy, if they leave India shattered and battered but leaving
behind the legacy of their language and their religion that enjoy minority
status, still seek special sops time and again and special privileges under
constitution and go on converting poor people masquerading that their religion
was reason for their poverty, at the same time claiming reservations from poor
among their own religion, our liberals have no grouse. It is all in the game.
The Koran did not dictate that Islamists invade other nations,
ruin their Temples of Gods, kill men, rape women if they refused to convert to
their religion, impose their language, culture and religion by force on the
gullible public, it is not objectionable to the liberals.
The above two episodes represent the bloodiest period of our
history. It is not the fault of their religion, their culture or their
language. It was the individual ambition of over zealots that perpetuated
destruction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya or Somnath Temple in Gujarat or
Jalliyanwallahbagh type massacres. We tend to forget all this as part of tragic
history.
But if a few overzealous land owners masquerading as upper caste
Hindus purportedly imposed their will on illiterate and poor masses in the name
of caste or creed and kept them at the lower strata of society, we remember
this as hundreds of years of oppression. Even after, the bloodless suppression
was proposed to be set right by necessary laws and strict punishments to
violators, these liberals argue that as simple as teaching a language of India
will again bring back the olden days. They are not bothered of another possible
bloody alien invasion and oppression like the overzealous British or Islamists.
We are seeing what changes are taking place between two major religious groups
in the world. God wills, such things cannot happen to India as we are more
united and better guarded but for a few voices of disgruntled elements that, in
a way, were responsible for the present plight of India.
Learning any language is an additional asset. Learning Sanskrit
is the Gift of God as the language is the mother of all Indian, Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian languages. (except a few South India languages that claim
independence from Sanskrit but still carry a few Sanskrit vocabulary and where
prayers are still conducted in Sanskrit besides the local dialect).
A very recent study published in Times of India suggests
otherwise but the theory has no takers nor has any relevance. The study, inter
alia, states thus.
“A study
published in today's Science magazine puts forward evidence
that they originated in a language spoken in Anatolia, part of modern Turkey, 8000 to
9500 years ago. The language spread and changed over the millennia and exists
today in these different forms.”
We can
ignore the study and consider Sanskrit as the Mother of all languages. Besides
most of the Indian languages that have borrowed words from Sanskrit, even many
European languages have words derived from the Divine Language.
As
example, I will give a few words collected from various sources.
|
Root
Sanskrit Word
|
Median
Word in Latin(L) / Greek(G) / Arabic(A)
|
Derived
English Word
|
|
Gau
(meaning Cow)
|
Bous (G)
|
Cow
|
|
Matr
(meaning Mother)
|
Mater (L)
|
Mother
|
|
Jan
(meaning
Generation)
|
Genea (G)
|
Gene
|
|
Aksha
(meaning Axis)
|
Axon (G)
|
Axis
|
|
Navagatha
(meaning Navigation)
|
Navigationem
(L)
|
Navigation
|
|
Sarpa
(meaning Snake)
|
Serpentem
(L)
|
Serpent
|
|
Naas (means
Nose)
|
Nasus (L)
|
Nose
|
|
Anamika
(means Anonymous)
|
Anonymos
(G)
|
Anonymous
|
|
Naama
(means Name)
|
Nomen (L)
|
Name
|
|
Manu (means
First Human)
|
??
|
Man/Men/Human
|
|
Ashta
(meaning Eight)
|
Octo (L)
|
Eight
|
|
Barbara
(meaning Foreign)
|
Barbaria
(L)
|
Barbarian
|
|
Dhama
(meaning House)
|
Domus (L)
|
Domicile
|
|
Danta
(meaning Teeth)
|
Dentis (L)
|
Dental
|
|
Dwar
(meaning Door)
|
Doru
|
Door
|
|
Dasha
(meaning Ten)
|
Deca (G)
|
Deca
|
|
Madhyam
(meaning Medium)
|
Medium (L)
|
Medium
|
|
Kaal
(meaning Time)
|
Kalendae
(L)
|
Calendar
|
|
Kri
(meaning To Do)
|
Creatus (L)
|
Create
|
|
Mishra
(meaning Mix)
|
Mixtus (L)
|
Mix
|
|
Ma (meaning
Me/My)
|
Me (L)
|
Me
|
|
Pithr
(meaning Father)
|
Pater (L)
|
Father
|
|
Bhrathr
(meaning Brother)
|
Phrater (G)
|
Brother
|
|
Loka
(meaning Place)
|
Locus (L)
|
Locale
|
|
Maha
(meaning Great)
|
Magnus (L)
|
Mega
|
from Sanskrit अहिंसा ahimsā,
which means "not injuring anything, do not harm anyone".[1]
through German: Anilin, French: Aniline and
Portuguese: Anil from Arabic النيل al-nili and Persian نیلا nila, ultimately from Sanskrit नीलीnili.[4]
from Sanskrit which
refers to a male genital piercing where
a barbell passes through the penis. Mentioned in Indian literature in theKama
Sutra
from Latin Ariana,
from Greek Ἀρεία Areia, ultimately from Sanskrit
आर्य Arya-s "noble,
honorable".[5]
Ashram
ultimately from Sanskrit आश्रम āśrama,
a religious hermitage.[7]
from French aubergine, in Catalan alberginera,
via Arabic (باذِنْجان al-badinjan)
and Persian (بادنجان badin-gan)
ultimately from Sanskrit वातिगगम vātigagama,[9] meaningaubergine
or eggplant in American English.
from Sanskrit अवतार avatāra,
which means "descent", an avatar refers to the human incarnation of
God during times of distress on earth. Thus, Krishna and Rāma were
both avatars of Vishnu,
who also manifested himself as an avatar many other times, ten of which are
considered the most significant.[10]
from Sanskrit आयुर्वेद āyurveda,
which means "knowledge of
We can quote from other languages too, likewise. I am avoiding
Indian language reference as we all very well know the words and their origin.
**************************
We already lost 67 years of valuable time in teaching our
ancestral language to our own populace, bogged down by unnecessary controversies
like caste or religion. No caste or religion is barred from learning any
language. We opposed forcible imposition of English and Hindi but are
benefitted in making nation one and also standing tall in the world, by
learning the languages. Learning Sanskrit would only have unified the nation
more as most of the local dialects have derived words from the Mother Language.
If Sri Baga Reddy, a Telugu speaking Hindu can learn and speak chaste Urdu,
though there was an option to learn Telugu, why not all of us learn Sanskrit
from Primary level? We lost it. Let the posterity not lose further.
So, the Government of the day, claiming to be nationalistic
should initiate debate with various cross sections of society, convince them,
arrive at an acceptable solution and make it mandatory for all Indians to learn
Sanskrit from Primary level. Let it not be optional at 12th class
level to score a few more marks and be forgotten. Let Sanskrit unify India
under one umbrella. As Sanskrit is part of the languages in the Schedule of
Constitution, I feel, no exemption need be given to any majority or minority
institutions, except those protected under Constitution by their Personal Law.
There is no need to amend Constitution for this specific purpose unless it is intended
to be amended to bring Common Civil Code to all Indians.
Those who already crossed Primary level, the High school
students may be given option of choosing Sanskrit or subjects like History,
Geography, Social studies etc, that have only limited use in knowledge and the
spread of internet helps to study these subjects without guidance from
teachers. Those who want to make a profession out of these subjects will opt
and learn.
For students at college level, the present system of third
optional subject can be continued. Our aim should be to see that we have a
constitution in Sanskrit in the next quarter of a century and use the language
as extensively as possible and teach the world its rich heritage and spread the
same worldwide. There is nothing religious about it and nothing irreligious in
making it mandatory. It is for the benefit of posterity of all religions.
Vande
Mataram- Jai Hind
These two Parts were published by Andhra Cultural Portal.Org. in their Portal. I am repeating the same for those who did not read there.
Third part will simultaneously appear on my blog post and on the portal this week.
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