Recently, during the ongoing budget session of Parliament, an unnecessary debate arose over the inclusion of Sanskrit as a language for simultaneous interpretation. It brought to light a pressing issue—very few people in Bharat understand Sanskrit. Somewhere along the path of our great civilisation, we have faltered in educating our young minds about the importance of protecting and cherishing our cultural roots.
Language is a living, evolving entity that grows alongside society. It is a living repository of human thoughts, experiences of civilisation, vibrant archive of the teachings of ancient scholars and their philosophies. Language ensures that the accumulated knowledge of the civilisation is passed on through every spoken word and written text.
Imagine a world where the mastery of the English language has been forgotten. In such a time, the delicate beauty of Shakespeare’s prose would lose its emotional resonance. Tolkien’s sprawling vision of ‘middle-earth’ would fade into insignificance. Likewise, the profound scientific insights of legends like Darwin and Stephen Hawking would become utterly incomprehensible.
Imaging: Deni lal
Loss of a language not only strips away centuries of art, literature and scientific achievement, but also severs the connection with our shared cultural and intellectual legacy.
Sanskrit is one of the world’s oldest languages and is a timeless pillar of culture and intellectual heritage.
With intricate grammar and poetic beauty, Sanskrit has preserved centuries of spiritual, philosophical and scientific wisdom. Almost all of the languages which are commonly used in the Indian subcontinent have been derived from or shaped by Sanskrit. Embracing Sanskrit not only connects us with our ancestral legacy but also enriches our culture and intellectual landscape.
Loss of Sanskrit would mean silencing the philosophical majesty and spiritual wisdom of Vedas and upanishads. Epics like the Mahabharat and the Ramayan would dissolve into insignificance—their layered meaning locked away behind the veil of forgotten language.
Ancient knowledge locked in ancient treatises on mathematics, astronomy, and medicine would be lost forever without the linguistic key to unlock their wisdom. The teachings of Bhagavad Gita, composed in Sanskrit, hold deep wisdom and nuance that mere translation cannot convey. Each verse, imbued with layers of symbolism and rhythm, resonates with a depth that only the understanding of original language can express.
Translation, into any language, always diminishes the original work due to loss of context and emotions, reducing the divine teaching to mortal summaries.
The Narendra Modi government recognises the importance and significance of the intellectual legacy of Sanskrit. It has reintroduced Sanskrit in various school and university curriculum. Under the Digital India initiative, efforts are underway to digitise ancient Sanskrit manuscripts and texts—safeguarding them and encouraging their studies in the future. Efforts are being made at various level to provide encouragement to the study and use of Sanskrit by promoting various establishments like the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan and Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth.
Ultimately, the onus of preserving this divine language falls upon us. Our ancestors entrusted us with a treasure trove of spiritual insight, philosophical depth, and poetic brilliance that has shaped the identity of Bharat for millennia.
It is our solemn responsibility to embrace, cherish, and promote Sanskrit, ensuring that its profound teachings continue to inspire and guide us as we navigate the challenges of the modern world.
Bansuri Swaraj is the Lok Sabha member from New Delhi.