For many years, Sanskrit has been thought of as a dead or forgotten language. According to the 2011 Census by the Government of India, only a little over 24,000 people reported Sanskrit as their first language. In a country with over 1.2 billion people, this number seems very small. However, Sanskrit still plays a major role in Indian culture and education, and now, efforts are being made to bring it back to life.
The state of Uttarakhand has taken a strong step to protect and promote Sanskrit. The government has announced that one village in each of its 13 districts will be developed as an “Adarsh Sanskrit Gram” – or an Ideal Sanskrit Village. In these villages, Sanskrit will be used in daily life, from greeting people to regular conversations.
Some of the villages selected for this unique project include Noorpur Panjhanhedi, Bhogpur, Kotgaon, Dimmar, Goda, and Baiji. According to Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, the state’s Sanskrit Education Minister, this step will help connect the younger generation to Indian philosophy and knowledge traditions.
Most of the popular Indian languages spoken today – like Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, and Punjabi – come from Sanskrit. These languages have taken many of their words, grammar rules, and sentence structures from Sanskrit. For example, the Hindi word “Vidya” (education) or “Gyaan” (knowledge) directly come from Sanskrit.
Even though these languages have changed over time, their roots are deeply connected to Sanskrit. This is why many scholars believe that learning Sanskrit can help us understand Indian languages and culture better.
More than 2,500 years ago, a great scholar named Panini wrote a grammar book called the Ashtadhyayi. This book is still considered one of the most scientific and systematic grammar books in the world. It shows how precise and logical the Sanskrit language is. Many modern linguists from across the world, including those from countries like Germany and the US, have praised Panini’s work.
Because of its structured nature, Sanskrit is even being considered for use in computer programming and artificial intelligence. Its clear rules and logical sentence formation make it suitable for machine learning and AI systems.
Uttarakhand made Sanskrit one of its official languages back in 2010. Since then, the government has started more than 100 Sanskrit medium schools. These schools teach students all subjects in Sanskrit, helping them to use the language in real-life situations.
India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has also emphasized the importance of classical languages. It suggests that Sanskrit should be offered at all levels of education – from primary school to university – to give students a chance to learn India’s traditional knowledge systems.
Sanskrit is not just a language – it is a treasure chest of India’s history, philosophy, and spirituality. Many ancient texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, and Mahabharata were written in Sanskrit. These texts teach values, ethics, and deep knowledge that are still relevant today.
Sanskrit also plays an important role in Hindu rituals, mantras, and classical music. It brings people closer to their cultural identity and gives them a deeper connection with their roots.
Languages die when they are not spoken or passed on to future generations. Sanskrit is too important to lose. It is the mother of Indian languages and holds centuries of wisdom. By reviving it, we are not only saving a language but reconnecting with our civilization’s soul.
Uttarakhand’s project is just the beginning. If other states also support Sanskrit in schools, colleges, and everyday life, Bharat can once again hear the powerful voice of Dev-Vaani – the language of the gods.
Sanskrit is not dead. It is waiting to be revived. With the right steps like Adarsh Sanskrit Grams, better education policies, and public interest, Sanskrit can once again become a living language – spoken, respected, and loved. This revival is not just about language. It is about bringing back pride in India’s heritage and making the next generation aware of the greatness of their roots.
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