'Samskrita Bharati has done excellent work over 4 decades': Anurag Thakur at Delhi inauguration event
New Delhi, April 20
BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Monday lauded the contribution of Samskrita Bharati at the inauguration of its central office in Delhi, calling its efforts over the past four decades "commendable and noteworthy".
Addressing the media, Thakur said, "Sanskrit Bharati has done excellent, commendable and noteworthy work across the country over the past four decades. The more it is praised, the less it seems...I have full faith that Samskrit Bharti will forward their work to every village. The people who know Sanskrit will get more opportunity through this to know more, that's why many congratulations to Samskrita Bharati."
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasised the importance of learning Sanskrit, describing it as the "very soul" of India and an essential element of the country's civilisational continuity.
Akhil Bhartiya Prachar Pramukh Shreesh Deo Pujari underlined the growing support for Sanskrit, stating, "There is support from society, and in many places, support from governments as well -- whether state governments or the central government -- because of which an environment is being created. There is now an emphasis on direct learning, especially for the new generation, because after achieving a career, they have no further life goals. That goal can be achieved only by studying Sanskrit, scriptures, and subhashitas; otherwise, their life will pass merely in eating, enjoying, and consumption."
Leader and International Patron of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, Dinesh Chandra, made a strong pitch for elevating Sanskrit's status, saying, "Sanskrit should be the national language. Indraprastha was developed through the hard work of the Pandavas, so on that basis, the name Indraprastha should be considered..."
He added, "Sanskrit is considered the original language of the world. Many Indian and global languages have originated from Sanskrit... Samskrit Bharati aims to promote Sanskrit worldwide. From foundational texts like the Vedas to other classical works, knowledge is preserved in Sanskrit."
Academic leaders also highlighted the relevance of Sanskrit in education and knowledge systems.
Vice Chancellor of SLBS National Sanskrit University, Murli Manohar Pathak, said, "Sanskrit in education is very important because while we pursue material progress, if we do not preserve our moral values, humanity cannot remain secure..."
Similarly, Vice Chancellor of Central Sanskrit University, Srinivas Varkhedi, noted, "Sanskrit is not just a language; it is a bridge and a source of our knowledge tradition. In today's age of knowledge, Sanskrit holds great significance..."
The inauguration highlighted ongoing efforts to promote Sanskrit not only as a classical heritage but also as a vibrant and relevant language for future generations.
Earlier in the day, the RSS chief inaugurated the central office of Samskrita Bharati in Delhi, an organisation dedicated to promoting Sanskrit as a living and widely used language. The event highlighted ongoing efforts to encourage the use of Sanskrit as a modern medium of communication.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While preserving cultural heritage is important, I hope the focus remains on making Sanskrit accessible and practical. Learning should be about enriching minds, not just fulfilling a political or ideological goal. The emphasis on moral values is a good point.
As a language teacher, I see value in Sanskrit. Its grammar is scientific and can improve cognitive skills. But calling it the "national language" is impractical in a diverse country like India. Let's promote it as a rich classical language, not impose it.
Good to see support for Sanskrit. But what about job opportunities? If they can link Sanskrit learning to careers in research, technology (like computational linguistics), and education, more young people will be interested. Otherwise, it remains a niche interest.
Interesting to see this perspective. In the West, Latin and Ancient Greek are studied for similar reasons—to understand foundational texts. Sanskrit certainly holds that key for Indian civilization. Hope the outreach is inclusive.
My child is learning Sanskrit shlokas in school and enjoys the rhythm. If taught in a fun, interactive way and not forced, it can be a beautiful addition to education. The focus should be on joy of learning, not just preservation.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.