Systemic failure hits sanskrit

 

 

Literature of Sanskrit is so vast that it can not die, but what to do when it’s own people who have been entrusted with responsibility of preserving the language are crossing swords with the ancient language. We are talking about none other than National Council for Educational Research and Training( NCERT). Many of the projects started for the promotion of this ancient language have either been terminated or nobody knows their status. The negligence of the institution can be gauged from the fact that one of the most ambitious project in Sanskrit – Teaching in Sanskrit through Sanskrit – started seven years ago, has been suddenly terminated in January 2009, three months before it’s actual completion date. This is not an isolated case of negligence with the language. A project to revive scientific thought in Sanskrit had been started in 2000. However, fate of the project has been buried in the pile of files. Same is the story of "Vidyarthi Sahitya Shabdkosh" and "Bal Sanskrit Shabdkosh" – which were aimed to prepare reference dictionary for students of the language. Perhaps this was not enough, these unfinished projects are lying in almirah uncared.

When we contacted in Department of Language, KC Tripathy, Reader in Sanskrit said: “We are aware of the problem and it will be sorted out very soon.” Sources in the NCERT indicates about clashes between Head of Department of Language, Ramjanam Sharma and Professor and in charge of Sanskrit, Professor Kamla Kant Mishra who has retired. When TSI tried to contact HOD language, Ramjanam Sharma remarked, “The progress in the above mentioned projects was very slow. They even failed to prepare National Curriculum Framework in Sanskrit. This framework is ready in all 21 languages and only Sanskrit is incomplete. One more thing I would like to add, I am HOD but Professor Mishra has not given me charges before his superannuation, which is illegal.”

The discrimination with the language does not end here. There are many examples that provide ample proof how NCERT is trying to gag the progress of projects related to Sanskrit. Many schemes such as review and finalisation of pictorial storybooks for the propagation of Sanskrit and development of computer-aided auto-instructional material for school students have perhaps been buried forever under piles of files.