संस्कृत तथा संस्कृति – एक विनम्र निवेदन – UPDATED

Translated to Nepali:
प्रिय मित्रहरु !
तपाँईहरुलाई थाहा नै छ होला की भारतको जन गणना अब अन्तिम चरणमा छ । यो महिनामा जन गणना अधिकारी पुनः तपाँईहरुको धरधरमा आएर जानकारी को पुष्टि गरेर पञ्जीकरण गर्नेछन् ।
यो जानकारी दिँदा समयमा आफ्नो मातृभाषाको साथसाथमा “ज्ञात भाषाहरु” मा संस्कृत भाषाको उल्लेख गर्न न भूलौं । विचार गर्नुहोस ! हामी आफ्नो दिनचर्यामा संस्कृत भाषाको प्रयोग धेरै पटक गर्छै – प्रातः ईश्वर-स्मरण अथवा मन्त्रोच्चारदेखि सायं-कालीन आरतीको समय सम्म । यस्को अतिरिक्त महाशिवरात्रि, कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी, नवरात्रि र गणेशोत्सव जस्ता अनेक अवसरमा पर मङ्गलमयी मन्त्र तथा श्लोकहरु पठनमनन गर्छैं ।
संस्कृत भाषालाई जीवित राख्ने काम हाम्रो हातमा छ । पहिलाको जन गणना सर्वेक्षणमा संस्कृत जानेहरुको की सङ्ख्या घटेर केवल केहि सहस्त्र मात्र भयो । हाम्रो आशङ्का के छ भने यो कारणले संस्कृतलाई “मृत भाषा” घोषित गर्न पनि सक्छन् । भाषा मृत घोषित भएपछि यस्को संवर्धन तथा विकास हेतु केहिपनि प्रकारको निधि दिईदैन – र सरकार पनि यस्को प्रचारप्रसारमा सहायता गर्दैन । यस्तो स्थितिमा यो प्राचीन, पवित्र र भारतीय संस्कृतिको आधारशिला रुपी दैव भाषा सधैकोलाई इतिहासको पृष्ठभूमिमा लुप्त हुनेछ ।
हाम्रो अनवरत प्रयत्नले यो भाषालाई जीवित रख्न सक्छैं ।आज संस्कृतको यो अवस्था हुनुमा हामि सबै उत्तरदायी छौं । परन्तु अहिले पनि समय छ । सम्भव भएसम्म यो भाषाको प्रयोग गरौं र आफ्नो परिवार तथा मित्रगणमा यस्लाई प्रोत्साहना दिउँ र यो सन्देश अधिकाधिक भारतीयहरुसम्म पुर्‍याउन प्रयत्न गरौं । धन्यवाद ।

Note: Please use Devanagari Danda Purna Virama (।) instead of pipe(|) for sentence ending in Hindi and Marathi as I have used in Nepali.

*** COMMENT EDITED ***

Shallow Joke park asks –

> Why struggle to keep a dead language alive?

“The world is a dangerous place not because of people who do evil, but because of good people who look on and do nothing about it” — Albert Einstein

and I bet Shallow Joke Park is ignorant of these…

“When I read the Upanishads, I found a profundity of world view that made my Christianity seem like third grade.” ~ Huston Smith

“India was the Motherland of our race and Sanskrit the Mother of Europe’s languages.India was the Mother of our Philosophy, of much of our Mathematic’s, of the ideals emboded in Christianity …of Self-Government and Democracy, In many ways Mother India is the Mother of us all..” ~ Will Durant

Click here for more words of wisdom
http://www.hinduwisdom.info/quotes1_20.htm

*** NOTE by MODERATOR ***

Pl link directly to websites and pl keep your comments short. Thanks

Translation into Telugu!

ప్రియమైన మిత్రులారా,

భారతీయ జనగణన చిట్టచివరి దశలో ఉందని, గణనాంక అధికారులు మరొక్కసారి మిమ్ములను కలిసి మీ వివరాలను తెలుసుకొని నమోదు చేస్తారన్న విషయం మీకు తెలిసే ఉంటుంది.

భాషలకు సంబంధించిన సమాచారాన్ని నింపుతున్నప్పుడు, ‘ఇతర భాషల ‘ వివరాలలో ‘సంస్కృతాన్ని ‘ చేర్చడం మరచిపోకండి. మన దైనందిన జీవితంలో సంస్కృతానికి వాడుకలేదన్నది మనలో చాలామందికి ఉన్న అపోహ. కానీ, మనమొక్కసారి ఆలోచిస్తే, ప్రొద్దున్న చేసే ఈశ్వర ప్రార్ఢన నుంచీ సాయంత్రం సంధ్యా దీపాన్ని వెలిగించే వరకూ రోజులో మనం ఎన్నోసార్లు సంస్కృతాన్ని ఉపయోగిస్తున్నాము. సంస్కృత మంత్రాలు, శ్లోకాలు, మహాశివరాత్రి, జన్మాష్టమి, నవరాత్రి వంటి పండుగలన్నింటిలో స్మరించుకుంటూనే ఉంటాము.

మన సంస్కృత భాషని రక్షించుకోవడం మన చేతులలో ఉంది. క్రిందటి గణనాంక వివరాల ప్రకారం, ఈ దేవ భాషని మాట్లాడే వారి సంఖ్య వెయ్యి లోపే ఉంది. ఈ విధంగా సంఖ్య తగ్గడం ద్వారా, సంస్కృత భాషని మృత భాష గా ప్రకటించే పరిస్థితి కనబడుతోంది. ఇదే జరిగితే భాషాభివృధ్ధికై ప్రభుత్వం నుండి వచ్చే నిధులు, గ్రాంట్లు నిలిచిపోతాయి. ప్రాచీనమైన, పవిత్రమైన, మన భారతీయ సంస్కృతికి మూలాధారమైన మన దేవ భాషని శాశ్వతంగా కోల్పోతాము.

ఈ విధంగా జరగకుండా చూసుకోవలసిన బాధ్యత మనందరిపైనా ఉంది. సంస్కృత భాషకి ఈ గతి పట్టడానికి మనందరమే కారణము. కానీ ఇంకా సమయం మించిపోలేదు. అమృతతుల్యమైన మన భాషని వీలైనంతగా వినియోగిద్దాం, ఈ సందేశాన్ని మన స్నేహితులకూ, హితులకూ, కుటుంబ సభ్యులకూ అందిద్దాం.తద్వారా మన అత్యంత ప్రాచీనమైన భాషని కాపాడుకుందాం.

నమో భారతం, నమో సంస్కృతం.

BJP

It might be for you a dead language not for many. Did not you read Hindus still recites Sanskrit every day in their prayers and many local languages contains Sanskrit words.

I understand from your past comments and writings, you have so much sentiments attached for terrorist and terrorism and busy to keep them alive in your writings. Is it fine?

@Shantanu

Looking forward to it 🙂

@Indian

Reciting slogas doesn’t mean we can speak the language. I myself can recite dozens of slogas in Sanskrit since I was taught it in school. It doesn’t mean I understand anything. It’s meaningless sounds to me.

We use Latin and Greek in most English words. Does that mean those languages are still alive?

“It doesn’t mean I understand anything. It’s meaningless sounds to me.”

And it follows that since I (BJP) didn’t spend any time or effort in actually learning a language and understanding the words in school, others, too, did the same and it should be meaningless to them too. If I don’t find the language beautiful, then others, too, shouldn’t find any beauty in it and stop having sentimental feelings towards it. Instead of either supporting such an endeavor, or at a minimum, following a “live and let live” policy – since non-academics learning and popularizing Samskritam does me no harm – I have to be inimical towards such efforts.

All the people who organized and participated in this are, according to BJP, idiots who should spend their time in other worthwhile pursuits instead of popularizing a “dead” language.

Here are the facts for using Sanskrit as a Computer language for next gen computers.
http://vedicsciences.net/articles/sanskrit-nasa.html
http://www.libervis.com/topic/sanskrit_as_an_object_oriented_language

It seems we all need to learn Sanskrit soon. It is going to be a main stream language of India.

||namO Bhaartam, namO Sanskritam||

@Shantanu,
Great effort.

About the comments: classic liberal arrogance at display. We can not learn a language because he thinks that it is dead. Lovely!!! Muscular liberalism just arrived, ladies and gentlemen.

Yeah, false language like its false despicable idols!!

સંસ્ક્રુત અને સંસ્ક્રુતિ – એક નમ્ર નિવેદન

પ્રિય મિત્રો,

આપણા બધાને જાણકારી છે, કે ભારત મા વસ્તી ગણત્રી આખરી તબ્બકામાં છે. આ મહિનામાં વસ્તી ગણત્રીના અઘિકારી ફરી પાછા તમારા નિવાસસ્થાને આવીને તમારા પરિવારના સદસ્યની નોંધણી કરશે.
ભાષા સંબંધિત જાણકારી આપતી વખતે “વસ્તી ગણત્રી પત્રકમાં” આપ આપણી માતૃભાષાની સાથે-સાથે “અન્યભાષાઓમાં” સંસ્ક્રુત ભાષાનુ ઉલ્લેખન કરવાનુ ન ભૂલશો. વિચાર કરિએ તો આપણે આપણી દિનચર્યામા સંસ્ક્રુત ભાષાનુ ઘણી વાર ઉપયોગ કરીએ છે. જેમકે સવારે અને સાંજ ભગવાન પાસે દીવો અને પ્રાર્થના કરતી વખતે, તેમજ શ્લોક અને મંત્રોના ઉચ્ચારણમાં પણ સંસ્ક્રુત ભાષા જ બોલીયે છે. મોટા ભાગના મુખ્ય તહેવારો જેવાકે મહાશિવરાત્રી, જન્ષ્મટમી અને નવરાત્રી સાથે સંસ્ક્રુતભાષા તથા સંસ્ક્રુતી જોડાયેલ છે.

સંસ્ક્રુત ભાષાને જીવંત રાખવી એ આપણા હાથમાં છે. પાછલી જનગણત્રીના પરિણામમાં સંસ્ક્રુત ભાષા જાણનારની સંખયા હજાર થી પણ ઓછી જોવા મળી હતી. એના પરિણામ સ્વરુપે સંસ્ક્રુત ભાષા “મૃત ભાષા” ઘોષિત થવાની શક્યતા ધરાવે છે. તેથી સંસ્ક્રુત ભાષાના વિકાસ અને પ્રચાર અર્થે મળતી તમામ સરકારી અને આર્થિક સુવિધાઓ મળતી બંધ થવાની સંભાવના રહે છે. અવિ સ્થિતિમાં આ પ્રાચીન, પવિત્ર અને ભારતીય સંસ્ક્રુતિની આધારશિલા-રૂપી દૈવી ભાષા સદેવ માટે ઇતિહાસની પ્રુષ્ટભૂમી પરથી લુપ્ત થઇ જશે.

આપણા અનાવરત પ્રયાસથીજ આ ભાષાને જીવંત રાખી શકાસે. આજે સંસ્ક્રુત ભાષાની આવી અવસ્થા માટે આપણેજ જવાબદાર છે. હજી પણ સમય છે. જ્યારે પણ સંભવ થાય ત્યારે સંસ્ક્રુત ભાષાનો ઉપયોગ કરવો અને પરિવાર તથા મિત્રજનો ને સંસ્ક્રુત ભાષાનો ઉપયોગ કરવા માટે પ્રોત્સાહિત કરવુ. આ સંદેશ દરેક ભારતીય સુધી પહોંચાડવાની નમ્ર વિનંતિ.

ધન્યવાદ,

|| નમો ભારતમ્, નમો સંસ્ક્રુતમ્ ||

@Neil @Kaffir

I’m hardly “forbidding” anyone to learn Sanskrit. That would be impossible. This is a blog and I’m giving my opinion about the lack of value in learning Sanskrit. That’s the purpose of the comments section. Nowhere have I said that others shouldn’t learn it so there’s no need to get defensive!

@BJP

Why do you keep reiterating about the lack of value in learning Sanskrit ? If a few years from now, Computer Scientists develop a compiler based on Sanskrit , will you suddenly discover its importance ? If the Western Nations decide it introduce in their schools , will you then acknowledge its importance ? And how do you suppose one should the read great texts like Vedas,Puranas, Mahabharata or the Ramayana, only in their translated forms ? Oh , but wait, I guessing, reading those texts would also be a waste of time, in any language, right ?

If I, as an Indian, do not take pride in my heritage, do not try to preserve it, and do not learn anything from the wealth of knowledge my ancestors left behind, then living , has no “value” for me.

“We use Latin and Greek in most English words. Does that mean those languages are still alive?”

@Bhagwad : Are you implying that Greek is a dead language? What is the language spoken in Greece and Cyprus?

@Jayant: Good point! A few years back, even I had the notion that Greek is not in use or spoken, until I happened to know some Greek colleagues! Their language still thrives…it gives me hope.

@BJP: Look at your own replies and decide for yourself!
Anyway, do you agree that others can have a different view about the usefulness or lovability of Sanskrit, and that factor itself is reason enough for them to promote the language?

Some here seem to have gotten the idea that I’m trying to tell others not to learn Sanskrit. If I was, then you should just laugh at me instead of getting so defensive. No one can tell you what to learn!

Anyone can learn Sanskrit as a hobby. I myself have bought a book on learning it though I never really got down to it. But when you want to make it public policy, then it’s not me who’s telling people to use Sanskrit, but the other way around.

When you seek public funds and try and institute a national policy for Sanskrit, it’s you who are forcing others to learn a language which they would not normally learn since they can’t find enough people to communicate with!

@ संदीप नारायण शेळके (#26)
In census 2001 Sanskrit knower count was 10K only. What was the count in 1981 and 1991 or before that?
Look at here, page 6. It gives you 1991 census data.

@Park (#29),
When you seek public funds and try and institute a national policy for Sanskrit, it’s you who are forcing others to learn a language which they would not normally learn since they can’t find enough people to communicate with!
Pretty libertarian, huh!!! Nobody had to seek funds, the language has been recognized as part of our heritage and it’s part of our education according to multiple laws including the ones that recommend “three language” formula in education ( such as National Policy of Education, 1968).Since there exists Indians who can speak, read and write such a language, for their sake it makes sense for the government to allocate funds to teach it. Otherwise a department like DOL would not exist.
I know that liberals have “progressive” (which I have come to understand as anti-native, anti-nationalist and pro-western) opinions about anything under the sun, but when you put such opinion in a public forum and expect public to appreciate it, do ensure that it is not a half-baked bread that can easily be burned by news such as this, this, this, this, this, this and arguments such as this and this.
I could have given more but in the interest of space, that is all I can offer. But do not let these stop you, since when liberals let a fact stand in the way of their opinion?
Heck, we are missing another liberal “kula-tilaka” who would come and advise us about how to shove our linguistic heritage. Oopsss, was that a “cheap and disgusting” comment?

“When you seek public funds and try and institute a national policy for Sanskrit, it’s you who are forcing others to learn a language which they would not normally learn since they can’t find enough people to communicate with!”

LOL. Only in your twisted logic will “promoting a language connected with one’s heritage” be equated with “forcing others to learn a language.”

Carry on with your laughable aseertions and keep making a fool of yourself.

::sorry for typos in the last comment…was in a great hurry..Plz read it as follows::

Dear All,
Beyond a point, it’s simply a wastage of our energy to reply to the illogical, laughable comments from people like Park, their hatred makes them so blind that they cannot see what they don’t WANT to see. They don’t deserve an iota of attention after they have made it clear that they are not going to listen to you-come what may! Let’s get back to the topic and think of ways by which we can personally help Sanskrit become more mainstream.

An article in the New York Times today about the benefits of English becoming the de facto language in India.

We must look at things from a practical point of view. If your child is given a choice between being fluent in English or Sanskrit, which would you choose for them?

Of course, one can always learn both…but an English medium school will obviously lay greater emphasis on English and a Sanskrit school (if one exists) will clearly lay more emphasis on Sanskrit.

So which medium school will you guys send your children to?

@Park,
So which medium school will you guys send your children to?
Please allow me to indicate that if you think language proficiency depends on which medium you studied in then you indeed are deluded enough to be called a liberal. I am proficient in my native Bengali, Hindi, English. I also know some Sanskrit and had a certified proficiency in Japanese. I studied in Bengali medium till my higher secondary stage. Apparently, my language proficiencies have nothing to do with my educational medium. It is your delusion which forces you to think that learning a language depends on education medium.

I saw the article in NYT by that pompous editor of Open magazine. Apparently, English is the only language he is comfortable in so he would find his solace in Hindi songs being written in English. It is also the true that opening English line would not be understood by 85% of the mass of this great country but Katrina Kaif in a thin bed sheet would be appreciated by them.

English is a language that needs to be understood by those who hope to talk to the outside world so that they can succeed in their profession. It is the delusion of urban over-anglicized liberals who think that English is a solution to every problem in India. Eighty percent of the country does not care. Some among them are only interested to pick up Sanskrit because their native language has a good percent matching with Sanskrit (and none with English). Bottom line? No one should be forced to learn any language other than their native language. Anyone should be able to learn English or Sanskrit if that is their desire to do so.

@Aaryan

Where does dignity come in? A language is just a language – no need to attach any other meaning to it. If Sanskrit helps people communicate better with each other than in English, people will speak it. Otherwise not.

In my view the problem is that people get emotional about things which have no meaning attached to them. English vs Sanskrit…who cares? Just speak that which is more useful.

“In my view the problem is that people get emotional about things which have no meaning attached to them. English vs Sanskrit…who cares? Just speak that which is more useful.”

Translation:
Other people shouldn’t get emotional. Only I (BJP) am allowed to get emotional over other people “attaching a meaning to a language.”

Only my meaning and whatever I apply it to, has relevance. If others attach a meaning which disagrees from my meaning (“usefulness”), I feel threatened. As a liberal, not only do I lack the capacity to take joy in the efforts of others to popularize a language (which does not threaten anyone as it is not a zero-sum game), I get downright inimical.

@Kaffir

You seem to know my mind better than I do – and after just reading my comments on websites! Normally this would be called ESP, but perhaps power mental capabilities might also cause this phenomena 😀

If you have neither, it would be more appropriate to talk about what I’ve actually said instead of trying to address what you think I’m thinking. It’s easier that way don’t you think?

Incidentally, while you’ve been labeling me all this while as a liberal, I’ve been writing on my blog about how I’m not a liberal! This is what happens when you assume things about people that have not actually been said.

Based on our interactions before, I know you’re now going to accuse me of doing the same, so I’ll just as you beforehand to point out some actual things I’ve said that make assumptions about people etc before you do so. Good luck 🙂

@BJPark: You didn’t answered my question –
If you are given a choice to live an ambiguous v/s unambiguous life, which one will you choose?

||namO Bhaartam, namO Sanskritam||

@BJP, you’re correct. You’re not a ‘liberal’ as the term is generally understood, though you exhibit all the characteristics of an ‘Indian liberal.’

A liberal, when faced with numerous facts that show his assertions to be wrong, would be open to a different viewpoint, instead of stubbornly clinging to his stupid assertions which were formed based on half-baked ideas while in school.
___

@Morris, you’re correct. I had echoed the same views as you did in an earlier post wrt people like BJP who are simply looking for attention, and I should have listened to my own advice.

@BJP, I don’t visit your blog, and I don’t care if you write a book denying your liberalism. As far as I’m concerned, you exhibit all the characteristics of an Indian liberal with your hatred of anything to do with Hinduism and Indian heritage. Funny when the shoe is on the other foot w.r.t. labeling people, eh? 🙂

@BJP, I don’t have the time to spoon-feed you any answers. You’re ostensibly a smart dude – figure it out.

@BJP, my last comment to you.

Discussion implies an openness of the minds and a willingness to look at facts in a fair manner. So far, on this post (let’s leave aside other posts), you have failed to demonstrate either quality even when numerous facts have been very patiently presented to you and the faulty logic of your assertions has been clearly shown to you. If you scroll up and actually read what people have written, you will find your answers as to why learning Sanskrit is important and why it is not a dead language.

Then you try and paint yourself as a victim. Try your friend Shri Deodhar instead to listen to your sob story of how some Hindutva dude called you names instead of discussing your ideas.

And you don’t come here to discuss – you come here to bait, and to impose your half-baked ideas (an excellent example is your opening comment on this post) instead of listening to other people’s views and why those views are important – this has been demonstrated numerous times. I haven’t seen you show – as yet – a willingness to listen or acknowledge a view different than yours. All you do is blow your own bugle of “humanity”, “rationalism” and “universal citizenship” – as if Hinduism is incompatible with, or lacking in those values, and you try to downplay any positives in Indian heritage or Indian history. Anyway, I wish you all the best and no ill-will, but you’re simply wasting your time and the time of others with your “questions/comments” which could very well be answered if you chose to read with an open mind, or asked your questions with a healthy curiosity. First empty that overflowing cup.

@Kaffir

I’ve certainly replied to any statement about Sanskrit that I feel is relevant. Others I don’t because I think they’re not important.

For example, it’s true that Sanskrit is a highly structured language which makes it easier than say English for a computer to process. But this post is about humans and it’s entirely irrelevant whether or not researchers use Sanskrit for computing.

I thought that was obvious. There are so many people replying to me that I hardly have the strength to address every single one. I just address the important ones. Wouldn’t you do the same?

So stop demonizing me and approach the discussion in good faith. Unfortunately you obviously have a personal agenda here. You don’t read what I write (you openly say you refuse to read relevant links on my blog – as if that somehow harms me!) and shows you’re not really interested in a discussion, but just personal vilification.

I don’t know why I keep hoping that you’ll come around and have a reasonable polite conversation. Still I guess one must always give others the chance to change.

@Kaffir

Far from labeling people right wing, I actively sought out alternatives which people are comfortable with.

That’s quite the opposite of labeling. Instead of being happy that I’m not making assumptions, you don’t even understand that I’m trying to give you the benefit of the doubt.

I’ve even told commenters on my blog not to use “right wing” as an insult. I hope one day Shantanu will warn you about using personal attacks on his blog. You richly deserve it.

But of course, you won’t read anything I’ve written (your own words) so it’s convenient to make assumptions about me with absolutely zero data – and you’re proud of it! I don’t think you realize how incredibly churlish you sound. I hope one day you meet someone like yourself to argue with.

But I don’t like to give up on people. Feel free at any time to engage in a meaningful debate based on ideas and opinions without getting personal. I’m sure you can do it one day if you’re really interested.

It’s easy to hate. It takes maturity to separate the person from the debate. So far, you haven’t shown that quality. I hope to be proved wrong one of these days.

@BJP: I should appreciate your tenacity.
I asked the Q in regard to both as an Indian (if you do) and as a Humane (not human – if you do).
We know that Sanskrit language is one of the root and by understanding it we can better understand India and decipher it to restore back to its glory. The same way where archaeologists learn the ancient scripts to decipher the holy grail.
Why? This is the same question as why the Bhishma, Drona and Karna (the great warriors) sided with Kauravas (adharma) and only Krishna with Pandavas (dharma).

||namO Bhaartam, namO Sanskritam||

Just wanted to share a few links for downloading Sanskrit books/manuscripts:

http://sanskritdocuments.org/ : contains links to a large number of documents including scanned copies of Sanskrit Vyakaran etc.

NCERT Sanskrit Textbooks: From Class VI Onwards (thinking of spending a few weekends to brush up the basics 🙂 )
http://ncert.nic.in/NCERTS/textbook/textbook.htm
Can anybody tell us in which class is Sanskrit introduced in CBSE schools? Seems they begin from VI, whereas when I was in school, it used to be introduced from class III/IV onwards, if my memory is not failing me!

One direct advantage that studying Sanskrit in school provided me was a decent grasp on Hindi and Bangla both (even though I couldn’t study Bangla after Class IV). I remember when I was in high school, while reading the short-biographies, that most of the celebrated poets of Hindi had at least MA degrees in Sanskrit as well. And today, when sometimes I write Hindi poetry, I feel my expressiveness wouldn’t have been the same if I didn’t have the chance to study and appreciate Sanskrit and really “see” the relation between Sanskrit and the derived languages!

@Neil and AAryan

Thanks for links and sharing your experiences. Lets start with using Sanskrit proverbs in daily life with friends and families.

Also few decades back for many English was not a comfortable language and people disliked it. But today many are learning(forced to learn) by taking classes and enrolling in English Schools.

The same way Sanskrit too can be learned at least here there is no force.

Incidentally how old is this Sanskrit movement?

Why only Sanskrit? What about other classical languages? Or is it only Sanskrit that is threatened by extinction? (It would not be a bad idea to ask why) What about the languages whose scripts have been replaced by Devanagari? What about the original local scripts of Sanskrit? No point bothering about them I suppose.

What is this bond (real or imagined) that the masses have with the Sanskrit language? Has it always been there? Were all and sundry familiar with it and used it outside of scholarly and aristrocratic circles?

It would be better for the author to go beyond a superficial study of the language’s historical significance before espousing its cause.

@CC,

So why do you insist on disparaging the usefulness of this language?

Because he needs to create controversy to show that he blogs too.

Mr. Park,

Sanskrit is useful to me in my daily life. I read and recite shlokas whenever I find time and I also recite mantras with friends and family members when conducting festivals. I also read the Bhagawad Gita in Sanskrit. As you can see, this ability has not diminished my capacity to type out this blog post or to converse in English with whoever speaks it.

Therefore I do not wish to see the language die out. It is not because I’m sentimental, but because I don’t want to see a part of my heritage relegated to museums and dictionaries.

Also, I was never forced by anyone to learn Sanskrit. I have acquired my education from a State Board of education and Sanskrit was one of the optional languages during middle and high school. I chose it on my own regard.

Sanskrit has obviously influenced most Indian languages and it is because I know Sanskrit that I easily picked up fluent Hindi and to an extent Marathi and Telugu too. And it is because I’m fluent in so many Indian languages that whenever I travel to different cities, I relish speaking to the locals and getting a taste of the culture. I can get by with English of course, but that would indeed be dull.

Just as there are people like you who don’t see the need for Sanskrit, there are just as many if not more that have a sincere love and respect for the language.

So exactly what is your objection to future generations learning Sanskrit if they want to?

-CC

@Park (#70),
Nice to see you keeping your delusions going on.

Depends on what is meant by usefulness no? If the use of language is to communicate, then by definition Sanskrit is less useful than either Hindi or English

1) It depends on who you want to communicate with. There are other commenters who repeatedly wrote in plain English that they are not against English, they are just in favor of allowing others who want to learn Sanskrit. Clearly, you have not understood them; does that mean English is not useful for you?
2) Since when something needs to be eliminated because it is less useful? Many people thinks that a degree in History/Literature is less useful when searching for a job, does that mean that those degrees need to be eliminated? Would parents in their old age need to be eliminated because they are less useful? The biggest problem with the world-view of liberals like you is your perceived self-importance that convinces you that you are right and everybody else is wrong.
3) Contrary to what you have been told, adding a smiley to a comment does not make it light, it only shows your lack of confidence about your own standing.

Also, a lot of people who agree with me won’t comment on this thread. Just read the entire section and you’ll see that those who express a different opinion are personally attacked, treated with suspicion and abused. Why would anyone else comment?

1) Ahhh, the sweet joy of claiming victim-hood….the last refuge of a cornered side. Know what? Some of us learned that from another liberal who usually appears here to donate pearls of “personal abuse”. Next thing we want to pick up from liberals? The technique of claiming victim-hood.
2) So, let us say that there are others who wanted to comment but elected you to elaborate their stance on this blog. Is that true? Is “personal abuse” even viable weapon to stop liberals from supplying half-baked opinions on virtually anything under the sun? Since when? It sure did not stop you. Also before you claim martyrdom would you mind showing us the certificate of being elected please? Ooopsss, that was probably a personal abuse!!!

If you really desire to have a discussion beyond your own group (who will agree with you anyway), one must learn to be polite, not get personal, not get angry and stick to the topic instead of commenting on other people’s character. Only then will someone feel comfortable expressing an opinion that goes against what the regular blog readers feel.

Character assassination? Now, help me understand something here: would an unsubstantiated comment like ‘vigorously pro-Hindu and anti-Muslim’ qualify for “polite, non-personal and relevant” comment about someone you do not know directly? Or certain blog-post of a certain “polite non-personal” blogger attaching “far right wing” tag to a group of people who happen to disagree with the blogger qualify for “polite” disagreement? Would the “not being angry” behavior call for labeling a senior well-respected blogger as “intolerant” on twitter?
You would do well to remember that your online profile is not defined by the claims you make but what you write. You will get what you give …. in equal quantity. I am a person who is well known to have made very sarcastic comments about liberals in liberal sites and what I got back is heap of abuse (not even sarcasm, such a pity). I have a very clear idea about the very low standard against which liberals measure their own tolerance while preaching tolerance to others and labeling others as intolerant. Climb down from the throne of high sanctimony and talk with clearly articulated points and people will listen to you.

Otherwise it’s just an echo chamber populated only with those who agree with the author’s post. It’s a self selecting mechanism. You shouldn’t feel thrilled that everyone is in agreement!

Believe me, I can estimate the necessity of “thrill” of generating a use-less controversy in someone else’s blog specially when your own is visited by only a few. Every year, we have few such examples here and there. Your desperate attempt at generating “thrill” would yield the same consequence.
Finally, look at the heading of this blog post. Do you know the meaning of the words “एक विनम्र निवेदन”? If you really understand what he is trying to say here, you would not come here to feel the thrill of generating a use-less controversy.

twistleton wrote:

“Why only Sanskrit? What about other classical languages? Or is it only Sanskrit that is threatened by extinction?”

__

Has anyone stopped you from promoting other classical languages of India? Make your case and if there’s merit, people will support it.

twistleton, it’s “obvious” only because enough people care and take action.

Your illogical argument seems similar to what I hear from many others regarding Sanatan Dharm – “Don’t do anything/don’t be concerned about Sanatan Dharm because it has survived for 5000 years and will continue to do so.”

As if it survived because of some divine intervention and not because people acted and took steps that ensured its survival, and resisted those who were inimical towards it.

धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः

@Sandeep: Isn’t it strange that people like Park get holed up into pits of darkness when Arabic- a language totally irrelevant and useless for India gets promoted by vote-bank worshipping UPA!!!

This is a topic that touches me very deeply. As a fairly religious person, I can tell you that not being able to understand Samskrita is one of the biggest limitations I see in truly benefiting from the chanting and singing of the beautiful Vedic hymns such as Sri Rudram Chamakam and numerous others. Vedic hymns are one of the best gifts of God to creation. Notice that I am not just inferring mankind by “creation”, for I feel no creature, including humans, can stay unaffected by listening to or chanting a hymn such as Naaraayana Sukta or Sri Rudram Chamakam in the right manner with correct intonations, and of course, with a soul full of Bhakti and the spirit of a seeker of true knowledge.

As for Bhagwad’s assertion of Samskrita being a dead language, and not of particularly any use, I must say – to each their own. I consider myself unfortunate that I do not understand Samskrita because when I sing something like Naaraayana Sukta that describes Naaraayana beyond all quantifiable physicality, I have to rely on a foreign source for its interpretation to be able to further contemplate its embodied deep meaning. That acts as a barrier. It is hard to explain, but my advise to Bhagwad is – please don’t preach when you have no faith.

Samskrita is the only way to directly interpret the knowledge that God has so mercifully revealed to us in the Shrutis, and Smritis. Contemplation succeeds this interpretation. There. You have one of the best reasons why Samskrita should be taught in schools, and taught properly (not the half-baked way I was taught for 3 years in my school). It enables direct access to and interpretation of a vast body of knowledge.

Kudos for this great initiative! Herewith a Malayalam translation of the appeal (if it is not too late!).
——————–
സംസ്കൃതം അധവാ ഭാരതീയ സംസ്കാരം! ഒരു വിനീതമായ അഭ്യര്ഥന! (Heading)

Text:

പ്രിയ സുഹൃത്തുക്കളേ,

നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കറിയാവുന്നതുപോലെ, ഭാരതത്തിലെ 2011-ലെ ജനസംഖ്യ കണക്കെടുപ്പ് (സെന്‍സസ്) അതിന്റെ അവസാന ഘട്ടം പൂര്‍ത്തീകരിക്കുകയാനല്ലോ. സെന്‍സസ് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥര്‍ നിങ്ങളുടെ വിവരങ്ങള്‍ പുനപരിശോധിക്കാനും രേഖപ്പെടുത്താനുമായി നിങ്ങളെ വീണ്ടും സന്ദര്‍ശിക്കും.

വീട്‌ വിവര പട്ടികയില്‍ അറിയാവുന്ന ഭാഷകളെപറ്റി എഴുതുമ്പോള്‍ മാതൃഭാഷയൊഴികെ അന്യഭാഷകളുടെ കോളത്തില്‍ “സംസ്കൃതം” ചേര്‍ക്കാന്‍ ദയവായി മറന്നുപോകരുത്‌. ഒരു നിമിഷം ചിന്തിച്ചുനോക്കിയാല്‍ മനസ്സിലാകും ദിവസവും നമ്മളെല്ലാം പല പ്രാവശ്യം സംസ്കൃത ഭാഷ ഉപയോഗിക്കാറുണ്ട്‌ എന്ന് – രാവിലെ എണീറ്റ്‌ ഉടന്‍ ദൈവത്തോടു പ്രാര്‍ഥിക്കുന്നത്‌ തൊട്ട്‌ വൈകീട്ട്‌ വിളക്ക് കത്തിച്ചു തൊഴുന്നത്‌ വരെ. പോരെങ്കില്‍ സംസ്കൃത മന്ത്രങ്ങളും സ്തോത്രങ്ങളും തീര്‍ച്ചയായും നമ്മുടെ ദൈനംദിന ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ ഒരു ഒഴിച്ച്‌ കൂടാനാകാത്ത ഭാഗമാനല്ലോ, പ്രത്യേകിച്ചും നമ്മുടെ പവിത്രകര്‍മ്മങ്ങളിലും നവരാത്രി, അഷ്ടമിരോഹീണി, മഹശിവാരാത്രി തുടങ്ങിയ വിഷിഷ്ട ദിവസങ്ങളിലും.

സംസ്കൃത ഭാഷയുടെ നീലനില്‍പ് തന്നെ നമ്മുടെ എല്ലാരുടെയും കൈകളിലാണ്‌. കഴിഞ്ഞ ജനസംഖ്യ കണക്കെടുപ്പ് പ്രകാരം ഭാരതത്തില്‍ സംസ്കൃത ഭാഷ അറിയാവുന്നവര്‍ തുലോം വരളം ആയിരുന്നു – ഏതാണ്ടു 1000-ല്‍ താഴേമാത്രം! അതാവര്‍ത്തിച്ചാല്‍ ഒരുപക്ഷേ സംസ്കൃതത്തെ ഒരു നിര്‍ജീവമായ ഭാഷയായി ഘോഷിച്ചേക്കാം. അങ്ങനെ സംഭവിച്ചാല്‍ സംസ്കൃതത്തിനു ഗവര്‍ന്മെന്റ് അംഗീകാരവും മറ്റുഭാഷകാളെപ്പോലെ à´ˆ ഭാഷയുടെ പ്രചാരണത്തിനും ഉന്നമനത്തിനും ആയി നല്‍കുന്ന സാമ്പത്തിക പിന്തുണയും നഷ്ടപ്പെടും. അതോടെ പുരാതനവും വിഷിഷ്ടവും ആയ à´ˆ ഭാഷ എന്നെന്നേക്കുമായി നമുക്ക് നഷ്ടപ്പെട്റുപോകും.

അങ്ങനെ ആകാതിരിക്കുവാന്‍ നമ്മള്‍ ശ്രമിക്കണം. സംസ്കൃതത്തിന്റെ ഇന്നത്തെ സ്ഥിതിക്ക്‌ നമ്മള്ലെല്ലാം തന്നെ കാരണക്കാരാണ്‌. വിദ്യഭ്യാസസമ്പന്നരുമ് പുരോഗമനചിന്തക്കാരും ആയ നമ്മള്‍ ഇംഗ്ലീഷിനേയും ഹിന്തിയേയും പിന്തുണക്കുമ്പോഴും സംസ്കൃതത്തെ മറന്നുപോകുന്നു, ഒപ്പം സെന്‍സസ് പോലുള്ള കണക്ക്കളില്‍ എണ്നങ്കങള്‍ക്കുള്ള മഹത്വം നമ്മള്‍ മനസ്സിലാക്കുന്നില്ല.

ഇപ്പോഴും ഒന്നും നഷ്ടപെട്ടിട്ടില്ല; ഇനിയും സമയമുണ്ട്. അറിയാവുന്ന അന്യഭാഷകളുടെ കോളത്തില്‍ “സംസ്കൃതം” ചേര്‍ത്ത്‌ ഭാരതീയ സംസ്കാരത്തിന്റെ തന്നെ പ്രതീകം ആയ à´ˆ ഭാഷ സംരക്ഷിക്കാന്‍ സഹായിക്കൂ.

ജയ്‌ ഭാരതം! ജയ്‌ സംസ്കൃതം!!

we, thousands of bangladeshis, want to learn sanskrit in Bengali/bangla medium. Please, let us learn sanskrit in bangla medium.