Sanskrit Bharati, the RSS affiliated organization’s state wing have launched a campaign for the “development and revival” of the ancient language in Gujarat demanding an independent “Gujarat State Sanskrit Education Board.
They have launched a 21 point signature campaign inviting the general public, Sanskrit experts and educationists from every district of Gujarat. This was submitted to each district collector, along with the Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. As per reports, once the campaign is approved and passed through district collectors, Sanskrit Bharati will circulate the matter through MLAs and MPs irrespective of their political affiliation.
This letter suggested by 70 core members of Sanskrit Bharati, which will be circulated in every educational body covers “traditional education”, “Sanskrit department” and “special recommendation” among other demands.
On an under school education level, the letter demands a “Gujarat Sanskrit teachers training center”, “serious thinking over the creation of textbooks and curriculum keeping in mind students’ learning levels” and “recruitment of Sanskrit teachers”. It argues that since language teachers are graduates in any of the languages, “only graduates in Sanskrit should be appointed as Sanskrit teachers”.
On a higher education level, “To fill vacant posts of Sanskrit professors in colleges and universities – Maharishi Ved Yigyan Academy, Ahmedabad (affiliated with Gujarat University, Ahmedabad) and Shree Dwarkadheesh Sanskrit Academy, Dwarka (affiliated under Saurashtra University Rajkot) to be affiliated with Somnath Sanskrit University. This will not only develop these two institutions but also provide a momentum to Somnath Sanskrit University. Sanskrit students to be eligible for admission in Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine, and Surgery (BAMS) degree courses.” said Himanjay Paliwal, Sanskrit Bharati’s Rajya Sangathan Mantri (state organizing secretary).
Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said, “The state government is always pro-active in supporting the cause of Sanskrit language which is the matrubhasha (mother language) of all languages. The government has been taking steps in its development and will continue to do so in the future as well.”
“We have covered major districts, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Somnath, Vadodara and Dwarka, and submitted our signed representation, addressed to the CM and Education Minister. Within ten days, we are aiming to complete all 33 districts. If Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh can have a Sanskrit education department and board, why can not a state like Gujarat where people want to learn Sanskrit and work for its revival. This is the reason the demand for a board is on our priority list, with 20 other demands,” said Himanjay Paliwal
“Like ‘Smart cities’ and ‘Digital Gujarat’, the state should also aim at ‘Digital Sanskritam’ to work for digitization of Sanskrit scriptures, its collection, and research. Sanskrit Bharati also requests the state to adopt and implement central government’s ‘vision and roadmap document’ 2016 prepared for the development of Sanskrit,” added Paliwal.
