As the nation rejoiced in festivities on Thursday as India marked its Independence Day, Rakshabandhan and Sanskrit day, PM Narendra Modi certainly stole the spotlight with his concise and thoughtful speech at the Red Fort, along with which the Prime Minister also wished the nation in Sanskrit celebrating the Sanskrit Diwas which falls on Shraavanapoornima, or the Poornima day of Shraavana month.
सर्वेभ्यः देशवासिभ्यः संस्कृतदिवससन्दर्भे मम कोटिशः शुभकामनाः। अस्माकं गर्वः अस्ति यत् विश्वस्य सर्वाभ्यः प्राचीनतमासु भाषासु अन्यतमा संस्कृतभाषा अस्माकं प्राचीनतमस्य रिक्थस्य प्रतीकभूता अस्ति। एषा ज्ञानविज्ञानयोः भाषा, संस्कृति-संस्कारयोः च भाषा अस्ति।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2019
संस्कृतभाषां ये महात्मानः ऋषयः मुनयः ज्ञानिनः च स्वीय-तपस्यया सिक्तवन्तः तां विश्वस्य वैज्ञानिकतमां भाषां कृतवन्तः च तेषां सर्वेषाम् अस्मिन् अवसरे नमनं करोमि। सहैव तेषां सर्वेषां भाषाविदां हार्दिकम् अभिनन्दनं करोमि ये संस्कृतस्य विकासाय स्वीयं बहुमूल्यं प्रदानं कुर्वन्तः सन्ति।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2019
“My best wishes to the nation on occasion of Sanskrit day, we are proud that Sanskrit is the most ancient languages in the world and also a symbol of our civilization. This is a language of knowledge, science, culture and ethics,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
PM Narendra Modi added, “I also pay my respects to all the mahatamas, rishis and munis who have cultivated this language and also gave it its scientific nature. I also thank all the linguists who are giving their invaluable time for further development of Sanskrit.”
This message by Prime Minister Modi not only conveyed greetings on the auspicious day but this is also in line with the efforts of the Centre to revive India’s culture and heritage of which the revival of Sanskrit is a part, without being tied down by the so-called secular compulsions.
The efforts to preserve and study Sanskrit have largely been kept on the back seat by past Indian government because of the so called secular dogma attached to the promotion of Indic Culture. Nonetheless PM Modi’s message clearly indicates towards the seriousness with which this government has been tackling the challenge. This message by the Prime Minister is also sure to further spark the curiosity of youth around the world to explore the intriguing world of Sanskrit.
Earlier, the BJP had also proposed to provide 100 fellowships to researchers and scholars across India to promote Sanskrit. “With focused efforts on promotion of Sanskrit, we will ensure that the teaching of Sanskrit is expanded and popularized at the school level. We will also provide 100 Panini fellowships to researchers and scholars across India to promote research in Sanskrit.” (BJP Sankalp Patr)
These fellowships are also sure boost the ongoing research in Sanskrit and promote the language in which some of the oldest texts in the world are written. Ultimately unlocking the huge knowledge potential which has been on the back burner for long
Under the Narendra Modi Government, India has been witnessing accelerated efforts towards the preservation of the Indian cultural ethos. With steps like the introduction of the Bharatiya Siksha Board which have been aimed to into the mainstream the long neglected Vedic education in India, the Narendra Modi Government has taken a number of steps to tap in the huge potential behind Indic knowledge systems.
It must also be noted that in 2016, the Modi government had also unveiled an ambitious 10-year plan to revive the beautiful ancient language, Sanskrit. With this ambitious plan, the government aims to expand the presence of the language and take it to IITs, NITs, IISERs and other science, commerce colleges across India. The language which is traditionally taught as an optional subject in schools will become far more popular with the youth when it is also taught at the undergraduate level. Probably, for the first time, a government at the centre has worked out a proper framework for restoring the ancient language in all its glory.
Finally, after decades of perpetual neglect, Sanskrit will get the respect and research which it truly deserves. Steps to revive and promote Indian cultural ethos is set be a huge boost forward in unraveling of Indic Philosophy and is poised to give great dividends for many generations to come.
