Arya, do you speak Sanskrit natively? more  

I have received a few comments all centered around point #3 - Sanskrit - which quite a few "practical" persons are finding it difficult to accept. Here I am presenting comments in response extracted from an earlier note of mine - points 7.3 & 7.4 of this note precisely address these apparently practical issues. (B) Long term cultural-civilizational threat and corrective action: The culture and civilization of a nation is closely coupled with its socio-economic conditions, its climate, its history, its technology and its macro-economics. Hence as the latter conditions evolve we can expect them to influence the culture and civilization. What we do not expect, however, is that the cultural values and angularities of one civilization will be implanted on another. In that case, it is pure cultural invasion. That is precisely what we are facing today from the Western civilization. Below I am providing the root causes of our gradual retreat before the western cultural invasion, and our means to annul this threat. Importantly, it converts this threat into an opportunity for achieving our national and civilizational mission. Background explanations and Corrective Actions to roll-back the cultural-civilizational threat: (1) There is not a single country on the face of this earth that has achieved anything standing on the shoulders of a foreign language – and this applies to large ones like Germany, Russia, China (the fastest growing academic/technological power today), Japan, Brazil … – minute ones like Finland, Austria, Denmark, Israel ….. as well the English speaking states like USA, UK, Australia, NZ, etc …. (2) On the other hand, countries that have tried to survive standing on the shoulders of a foreign language have literally imploded – and that includes Nigeria, Mexico, South Africa … and most unfortunately our own country (the miserable minority-controlled UPA rule and our increasing loss of cultural moorings being manifestations) (3) The most profound impact of the imposition of a foreign language is that it (3.1) kills your National and cultural self-esteem (3.2) destroys your unique national identity and reference frame by which you understand, interpret and “measure” the world (3.3) puts a filter between your understanding of the world outside and your natural mental processes – AND IN THE PROCESS KILLS INNOVATION, and (3.4) breeds an elitist class system within your own Nation between the common people who speak the native language and the “rarefied” ones who blabber in the ruling foreign one (Macaulay!). This point #3 explains the reasons for #2 above. (4) Any one who deals with Science & Technology in India today (at a level that challenges the Global state-of-art) will understand that the single greatest problem with science & engineering in post-independent India is the LACK OF ORIGINALITY AND INNOVATION (5) More than half of the state-of-art action in global science & technology today occurs outside the English-speaking countries. By hatching our mental wagon as a third-hand appendage of these countries, we have effectively divorced ourselves from a neutral, mature view of the totality of global scientific developments. And this flies in the face of those illiterates who blabber like English-controlled zombies that India will fall behind in Science without English! The above points prove the exact opposite – that we have fallen behind our peer Nations in Science & Technology precisely because of English! (6) India will rise again on this earth and play its natural role in leading Human Civilization towards a higher level of Existence only if it returns to a language that synchronizes with its deepest value systems and naturally reflects its character. This can only be Sanskrit. The other most relevant point in its favour is that it is equidistant from all extant regional languages hence will not breed regional jealousies and tensions – successfully played by English-woman controlled Nehru to sustain the rule of English in India (7) The process of transition to Sanskrit has to be slow and deep – so that it sinks in soft but sure. The BJP should initiate this process which will take about 20+ years to accomplish. Chalk out a 20 year road map for it. Importantly, we should (7.1) continue to have a foreign language – could be English – as a third language for global communication & familiarity (7.2) start from primary education upwards to cover scientific & technical medium in the final stages (7.3) Not be swayed by arguments that come easy and cheap like “could have been initiated in 1947, but now too late” or “why spend energy in reviving a dead language” (7.4) The precise counters to the arguments of #7.3 are that “How long will India exist as a Nation – 20 years, 50 years or 200+”? If 200+, can we not go through a period of hardship & struggle for about 20 years today to set right all the shortcomings and National & Civilizational handicaps outlined in points 1-5 above and thence create the foundations of a vibrant Nation that leads the whole world into a more glorious existence – literally fulfilling our civilizational goal of Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam? more  

Sanskrit as a National language may not find favour with many. Today it is available in schools as another language. Having learnt sanskrit, I can vouch that it is very easy to learn with a rock solid grammar. Government can promote the language initially as they promoted learning Hindi. There is a village in Karnataka where everyone, from the temple priests to the ordinary men (including Muslims) converse in Sanskrit. http://globalvarnasramamission.blogspot.in/2012/01/five-indian-villages-where-sanskrit-is.html more  

GOOD BUT SANSKRIT AS NATIONAL LANGUAGE IS NOT PRACTICAL more