Sanskrit as National Language

More than eight decades ago, Swami Vivekananda found the linguistic solution for India in Sanskrit. He wrote: “The only solution to be reached was the findings of a great sacred language of which all others would be considered as manifesta­tions and that was found in Sanskrit” ¹

It is amazing that when India was under complete domina­tion of the British with no sign of political freedom in future, Swami Vivekananda, with his clear vision of future India, thought on this vital question, and found the solution in the Sanskrit language.

From his study of Indian history and from his wide experi­ence of travels throughout India and abroad, Swami Vivekananda came to the conclusion that the main cause of India’s downfall was the utter neglect of the masses for centuries in regard to their education and culture. That is, they were denied the rich cultural heritage of India for which they had the full right. According to him a country progresses in proportion as educa­tion and culture are spread among the masses. Since in India Sanskrit and culture go together, it is necessary that the masses should get access to this great language, for being acquainted with spirituality and culture of their forefathers. Of course, accord­ing to him education should be imparted through mother-tongue but “at the same time Sanskrit education must go on along with it because the very sound of Sanskrit words gives a prestige and a power and a strength to the race”.² This is possible only when the Sanskrit language is made the national language of India.

Both Sri Aurobindo, the great patriot-saint of modern India, and the Mother of Pondicherry advocated that Sanskrit should be the national language. The following extract from the Mother’s interview dated November 11, 1967, reveals their viewpoints:

“The ideal would be, in a few years, to have a rejuvenated Sanskrit as the representative language of India, that is, a Sanskrit spoken in such a way that ... Sanskrit is behind all the languages of India and it should be that. That was Sri Aurobindo’s idea, when he spoke about it. Because now English is the language of the whole country, but that is abnormal. It is very helpful for relations with the rest of the world, but just as each country has its own language there should....And so here, as soon as one begins to want a national language, everyone starts quarrelling. Each wants it to be his own, and that is foolish. But no one could object to Sanskrit. It is a more ancient language than the others and it contains the sounds, the root­-sounds of many words”.³

The Mother’s views on the linguistic solution for India is: (1) The regional language should be the medium of instruction. (2) Sanskrit should be the national language. (3) English should be the international language. Hindi is good only for those who belong to Hindi-speaking provinces, Sanskrit is good for all Indians. ⁴­

Sri Aurobindo, however, stressed the need for simplifying this difficult language to make it a living one. ⁵

The Congress leaders of pre-Independence India constantly eulogized Sanskrit for its richness, brevity and beauty and for being the vehicle of India’s cultural heritage. The views of two top leaders, one, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, The first Prime Minister of India, and Dr B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, the Governor of Madhya Pradesh (in 1952), in this connection are noteworthy to realize the importance and relevance of Sanskrit today.

Pandit Nehru wrote in his “Discovery of India” (Pp. 182-83):

“Sanskrit is a language amazingly rich, afflorescent, full of luxuriant growth of all kinds, and yet precise and strictly keeping within the framework of grammar which Panini laid down two thousand six hundred years ago. It spread out, added to its richness, became fuller and ornate, but always it struck to its original roots .... Sanskrit, like other classical languages, is full of words which have not only poetic beauty but a deep significance, a host of associated ideas, which cannot be translated into a language foreign in spirit and outlook. Even its grammar, its philosophy have a strong poetic content; one of its old dictionaries is in poetic form.”

Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya said:

“Sanskrit can no longer be regarded as a dead language. Sanskrit remains dead today because it is neglected. To us in South India I do not see how we shall stand to lose by recognizing Sanskrit as the national language”. ⁶

But strangely, after Independence the same leaders who became makers of the Indian Constitution, failed to appreciate the value of Sanskrit and allowed it, to be grouped as one of the Indian languages given in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. No attempt was made by them to give it a higher status although it is the mother of all Indian languages. This has greatly lowered the prestige of this great language. As a result it has lost its popularity among the students in schools and colleges.

We should know that Sanskrit has been an all-India language both spoken and written since the beginning of the Hindu civiliza­tion. It was the language of the educated people throughout India. Its usage only became less during the Mohammedan rule when it was restricted to religious and cultural activities among the Hindus. During the British rule, however, it got a real setand was relegated to the degrading position of “a dead language.” Is it not our sacred duty today to restore its pristine glory for saving our age-old culture?

At present the chances of Hindi becoming the national and official language of India look almost certain. Even so the study of Sanskrit can be made compulsory for making Sanskrit as the national language in due course. This venture is not based on any political consideration but on the necessity for the regeneration of India to revitalize her culture, to reinstate the national ideal of “renunciation and service”, to “establish a vivid continuity between the still living power and of our past and the yet uncreated power of our future”, ⁷ and lastly to help her unfold her spirituality for which the West is eagerly waiting. If we have faith in these ideals we must popularize this ancient and sacred language amongst all irrespective of caste, religion and sex. The practical method is to simplify it, as suggested by Sri Aurobindo, and to give it the status of national language being the mother of Indian languages as soon as possible and to go ahead popularizing it through the existing communication media.

References

1) The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. IV. Pp. 308-9   
2)         do                                                                    Vol. III. P. 90
3) The Mother Centenary Edition, Vol. 12. P. 416.
4) Mother’s Message dated 4-10-1971. The Mother Centanary Vol. 12. P. 224
5) Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary Library, Vol. 17. P. 299.
6) Taken from the “Udbodhan.” Jaishta. 1372. P. 237.
7) Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary. Vol. 17. P. 195.