Revive Sanskrit

There is a Sanskrit aphorism, "prithivyam trini

ratnani / jalam annam subhashitam" (there are three
precious treasures on earth: water, foodgrains, and
apt quotations). To these three riches can be added
the fourth known as Sanskrit: the vast ocean of
wisdom and knowledge.
Sanskrit is the symbol and heart of India. It is the
most precious possession of India. As per Sir Monier
Monier-Williams (1819-1899), famous for his Sanskrit
English dictionary, "India's national character is cast in
a Sanskrit mould and in Sanskrit language. Its
literature is a key to its vast religious system. Sanskrit
is one medium of approach to the hearts of Indians."
Till a few centuries ago, glorious Hindu religion,
culture and philosophy used to stretch from Gandhar
(modern day Afghanistan) to Indonesia. And Sanskrit
language was the instrument for this prominence. But
repeated Muslim invasions of Indian subcontinent
brought destruction of many prestigious centres of
learning leading to decline of Sanskrit.
Sanskrit and Macaulayan education
Literally meaning "refined and sanctified", and priding
itself as cultured, Sanskrit is acclaimed as the best,
sweetest and divine language (bhashasu mukhya
madhura divya geervaan bharati). Sanskrit is the
divine language revealed through the sages
(Sanskritam naam daivi vaak anavyakhyata
maharshibhihi). But though excepting Tirukkural
which is in Tamil, almost all Hindu scriptures like
Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana and Mahabharata are
written in Sanskrit, Sanskrit has been driven out of
Indian schools and colleges by Macaulay's education
introduced in India in 1835.
Macaulayan education downgraded Indian languages
including Sanskrit and replaced them with English.
This education was introduced to de-Hinduize Hindus
as is evident in Macaulay's following letter dated
October 12, 1836 to his evangelist father,
"Our English schools are flourishing wonderfully; we
find it difficult to provide instruction to all. The effect
of this education on Hindus is prodigious. No Hindu
who has received an English education ever remains
sincerely attached to his religion. It is my firm belief
that if our plans of education are followed up, there
will not be a single idolater among the respected
classes 30 years hence. And this will be effected
without our efforts to proselytize; I heartily rejoice in
the prospect."
De-Hinduized by Macaulayan education, and brain
washed by Macaulayan media, most of Hindu
intellectuals, MBAs, business persons, doctors,
lawyers, chartered accountants, engineers, teachers
and the rest are self-alienated and do not know
Sanskrit, and do not know much about Hindu religion
or heritage, or about Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana,
Mahabharata or Tirukkural.
India was expected to discard Macaulayism after the
British left in 1947. On September 10, 1949, Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar even sponsored an amendment making
Sanskrit as the official language of India. But the said
amendment was defeated in the Constituent
Assembly. However, Sanskrit was included in the
Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution.
But shockingly, Macaulay's missionary-oriented
colonial education and neglect of Sanskrit is still
gripping Independent India. After banishing Sanskrit
from Indian schools and colleges, Macaulayists call
Sanskrit 'the dead language'.
Sublime thoughts in sublime language
Sanskrit contains sublime thoughts in sublime words.
All the Vedas, Upanishads, Aadi Kavi Maharishi
Valamiki's Aadi kavyam Ramayana with 24,000
stanzas, Mahabharata, the longest poem in the world
with over 1,00,000 stanzas, eighteen Puranas and
several other holy books are all written in Sanskrit.
Mahabharata also contains Bhagavad Gita. A verse of
Mahabharata proclaims that what is found in
Mahabharata may appear elsewhere but what is not in
Mahabharata would be found nowhere.
To understand and appreciate beauty of Vedas,
Sanskrit provides six Vedangs: Shikhsha (phonetics),
Vyakarna (grammar), Chhanda (metre), Nirukta
(etymology), Kalpa (religious practice) and Jyotish
(astronomy).
Mention is made here of a few Vedic gems.
Mata bhumih putro aham prithivyaha (earth is our
mother and we are its children); kevalagho kevalaadi
(one who eats alone, eats sin); apritito jayati sama
dhanani (only the forward march achieves success);
tasya bhasa sarvam idam vibhati (His radiance
pervades entire universe); satyam vad dharmam char
(speak the truth, be righteous); sarve janah sukhino
bhavantu (may every one be happy). And the list is
endless.
Immortal Sanskrit literature
Sanskrit has the oldest and richest literature in the
world.
First Mantra of Rig Veda (1.1.1) is the first known
poem in the world. English language prides having
just one Shakespeare. Sanskrit has got thousands of
Shakespeares. It is pitiable that the educated Indian
knows nothing about them or about Sanskrit.
Sanskrit contains both sacred and temporal writings.
After Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana and
Mahabharata, Sanskrit magnificence continued
through Bhasa, Kalidas, Bharavi, Magh, Bana,
Kalhana, Adi Shankracharya, Chanakya and many
others like Bhartirihari and his famous Shatkas.
Bharat's Natyashastra and timeless Sanskrit dramas
also adorn Sanskrit firmament. Vishnu Prabhakar's
didactic fable Panch Tantra guides humans to this day.
Panini's Ashtadhyayi is a timeless treatise of Sanskrit
Grammar.
Sanskrit contains vast knowledge also about
astronomy, astrology and mathematics. And
Aryabhatt's Aryabhattiyam can be cited in this regard.
Sanskrit also has Ayurveda (medical science) and
Dhanur Veda.
And philosophy begins with the hymns of Rig Veda.
Sanskrit explains all the six traditional systems of
philosophy viz. Nyayah, Vaisheshikam, Sankhyam,
Yogah, Mimansa and Vedant. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras
are still acting as the lodestar for many travellers of
life. These Yoga Sutras describe eight steps to achieve
victory of mind over matter. And they are: Yama,
Niyama, Asana, Pranayam, Pratyahar, Dharana,
Dhyan and Samadhi.
Sanskrit also describes modern scientific tools
discovered by Indian scholars thousands of years ago.
Concept of shoonya (zero), concept of earth revolving
around the sun, concepts of gravity, gyaamiti
(geometry), triknomiti (trignometry), infinity, concept
of time ranging from Krati (one 34,000th of a second)
to kalpa (1000 maha yugas i.e. billions of years),
decimal system: All this knowledge, and much more,
is written in Sanskrit.
An impeccable language
Sanskrit is a scientific and systematic language with a
perfect grammar. It is computer compatible.
As per Sir William Jones (1746-1794), Sanskrit is
"more perfect than Greek, more copious than Latin,
and more exquisitely refined than either". Sanskrit is
independent, and is not derived from any other
language. Sanskrit easily explains complex thoughts in
a simple manner. The single theme of 'sublime'
permeates Sanskrit literature.
Besides being rich in words (for instance, Sanskrit has
got over a hundred synonyms for the word 'water'),
Sanskrit is the language of the heart. It has got exact
words to describe various human emotions. As per
NASA, Sanskrit is "the only unambiguous language on
earth". Even translated Sanskrit works have won
admiration of scholars all over the world.
Sanskrit will revive Bharat's glory
Macaulayan education has banished Sanskrit from
schools and colleges dubbing it as a dead language.
But death of Sanskrit means death of Hindu religion,
Hindu Sanskriti (culture), Hindu heritage and Hindu
identity.
The language which has all along sustained us cannot
be allowed to fade away. Sanskrit must be revived
and taught in schools and colleges since its survival is
a must for survival of Hinduism and for rediscovery of
hidden treasures of Bharat Varsha.
As per eminent historian Will Durant (1885-1981),
"Civilization is not something inborn or imperishable;
it must be acquired anew by every generation, and
any serious interruption in its financing or its
transmission may bring it to an end."
Mere ritual celebration of 'Sanskrit Day' on Shravani
Poornima every year cannot revive lost Sanskrit glory.
Only concrete action can restore Sanskrit and enable
the present and future generations to know their rich
legacy. Mere pious platitudes will not help since even
Gods do not help inactive people. As per Rig Veda:
4.33.11, "Na ruteh shrantasya sakhayay devaha"
(Gods do not help inactive people).
JG Arora, The writer is ret'd commissioner of
Income Tax
(from the website:
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20060303/0303302.htm )
http://www.languageshome.com/English-Manipuri (desciption:
Learn Manipuri)

========================================

Link to this page: http://docs.google.com/View?

id=ddwdknrt_387hq6ww6cx