The Union Home Minister's statement about Sanskrit being the "mother of nearly all Indian languages" and the most "scientific language in the world" highlights a movement to revive India's heritage. This raises questions about the role of classical languages in modern India and how to approach such initiatives.
Sanskrit has significantly influenced numerous Indian languages, especially Indo-Aryan languages like Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, and Gujarati. It also contributed to Dravidian languages like Kannada and Telugu through vocabulary. Sanskrit is generally viewed as the "mother" of all Indian languages, considering the historical evolution of different languages.
The government's efforts to mainstream Sanskrit through curriculum development and scholarships are a significant policy shift. These initiatives aim to preserve and promote linguistic heritage. The 'Ashtadashi' scheme and financial support for rare texts signal a practical approach to reviving scholarly interest.
Shah's emphasis on Sanskrit's "scientific" nature aligns with scholarly admiration dating back to European linguists. Panini's Ashtadhyayi is a masterclass in linguistic analysis. However, promoting Sanskrit should not dismiss modern science and contemporary global languages.
Sanskrit can be valuable in areas like computational linguistics, AI, and philosophy. It should complement, not replace, modern education. Sanskrit holds the potential to be utilized in strategically significant domains linked to national security.
For Sanskrit to become a living language, it must break free from elitism and ritual use. Efforts should be put in to create digital tools, mass media content, and technological applications in Sanskrit to modernise its appeal. The revival of Sanskrit, if pursued with cultural sensitivity, academic rigour, and technological innovation, can serve as a bridge to India's vast intellectual traditions.
Reviving Sanskrit should not be about linguistic hegemony but about cultural enrichment and intellectual empowerment for all Indians. The challenge lies in promoting Sanskrit inclusively, respectfully, and intelligently.