Government committed to popularise Sanskrit language in State: Himachal Pradesh CM
Shimla: The State Government was committed to popularise Sanskrit language in the State so as to regain its lost glory. This was stated by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the “Sanskrit Abhinandan Samaroh” organized by the Himachal State Sanskrit Shikshak Parishad, Himachal Sanskrit Academy, Himachal Culture and Art Academy and Sanskrit Bharti Himachal Pradesh on the occasion of Sanskrit Week being organized on declaring Sanskrit as the second language of the State today.
The Chief Minister said that Sanskrit was considered as “Dev Bhasha” or the language of the Gods by ancient Indians. He said that corpus of Sanskrit literature encompasses a rich tradition of poetry and drama as well as scientific, technical, philosophical and dharma texts. Sanskrit continues to be widely used as a ceremonial language in Hindu religious rituals and Buddhist practice in the forms of hymns and mantras, he added.
Jai Ram Thakur said that Sanskrit language was a true symbol of the great Indian tradition and thought, which has exhibited full freedom in the search of truth, has shown catholicity towards universal truth. This unique language contains not only good account of wisdom for the people of this country, but it is also an unparallel and right way to acquire proper knowledge and is thus significant for the people of entire world, he said.
The Chief Minister said that Sanskrit was the most computer enabled language of the world. He said that efforts would be made to teach Sanskrit language from the primary school level in Government schools. He said that the accent of English spoken in England was different than that spoken in USA. He said that but Sanskrit was the only language in the world which is written in a same way as it is pronounced or spoken. He said that we should work collectively to make Sanskrit popular amongst the common people so as to regain the lost glory of Sanskrit language. He said that Sanskrit labs would be opened in 50 schools and 50 colleges during the current financial year.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government would sympathetically consider to demand of the Shastri teachers with B.Ed. would for re-designating them as TGT Sanskrit.
Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that Sanskrit mantras are recited by millions of Hindus, and most temple functions are conducted entirely in Sanskrit, often Vedic in form. He said that Sanskrit was the main language spoken in one village of Lahaul Spiti district. He said that if Sanskrit was simplified, it could serve as a better link among the people indifferent states and solve the language problem. He said that Sanskrit was recognised as a storehouse of scripture and as the language of prayers in Hinduism. He said that Himachal Pradesh was probably the only State of the country where exclusive use of Devnagri was made.
North Zone Organising Secretary of Sanskrit Bharati Trust Jai Prakash said that Sanskrit was not a language of a particular religion of a sect, but it was a language which has as honour of being one of the oldest language of the world. He said that the country today as seventeen Sanskrit Universities and one Sanskrit University will be established in Himachal Pradesh soon.
Several scholars of Sanskrit language highlighted the history and importance of the Sanskrit language.
Chairman HIMFED Ganesh Dutt, Director Higher Education Dr Amarjeet Kumar Sharma were present on the occasion among others.