Sanskrit is the main liturgical language of Hinduism. However, only about 1% of the population of India speaks Sanskrit. To what extent, the Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, will help in reviving the Sanskrit Language?

Category
GS-I
Published
2020-03-23 12:46:00

Subject: Culture

Approach:

Introduction-discuss Sanskrit Language
Discuss key-features of the Bill
Significance of the Bill
Conclude accordingly

Model Answer

Model Answer:

Sanskrit is the main liturgical language of Hinduism and used to be the lingua franca that helped all of the different regions of Greater India communicate with each other. Sanskrit is the language of Hindu and Buddhist chants and hymns as well. Today, only about 1% of the population of India speaks Sanskrit, though it is protected as a scheduled language and is the official language of one Indian state, Uttarakhand.

India, in its many different incarnations, has a history that dates back to before the Iron Age, when Vedic Sanskrit, the ancestor of Sanskrit, was first spoken. This later gave way to Classical Sanskrit, which was used to write many of the great Indian epics, such as the Ramayana.

Sanskrit, the classical language of India:

Sanskrit is the classical language of Indian and the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is also one of the 22 official languages of India.
The name Sanskrit means "refined", "consecrated" and "sanctified".
The word "Sanskrit" means "refined, decorated" or "produced in perfect form". It is known for its clarity and beauty.
Sanskrit is the classical language of Hinduism, the oldest and the most systematic language in the world.
In the recent times, major Western countries are increasingly showing interests in learning Sanskrit and exploring the wide variety of knowledge it offers.
In this context, creating central Sanskrit Universities is one major and significant step that India, has taken to assert its leading position.

Recently, the Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2020 has been passed by the Parliament. This bill will convert the following into Central Sanskrit Universities:

Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi
Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi
Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati

These 3 universities will have more opportunities to spread the knowledge of Sanskrit language not only in India but also across the world in a better way.
The Universities will:
- disseminate and advance knowledge for the promotion of Sanskrit
- make special provisions for integrated courses in humanities, social sciences, and science
- train manpower for the overall development and preservation of Sanskrit and allied subjects.

Functions of the Universities:

Key powers and functions of the University include:
- prescribing courses of study and conducting training programmes
- granting degrees, diplomas, and certificates
- providing facilities through a distance education system
- conferring autonomous status on a college or an institution
- provide instructions for education in Sanskrit and allied subjects

Significance of the Bill:

This is one of the landmark Bills passed by the Parliament which has fulfilled the aspirations and long standing wish of many sanskrit lovers, scholars and Sanskrit speaking people in the country.
The Central University status awarded to these 3 Universities will enhance the status of these Universities and will give boost to Post Graduate, Doctoral and Post-doctoral education and Research in the field of Sanskrit and Shastraic education.
This will pave way for many people from abroad to learn Sanskrit and Shastraic lore from these prestigious Central Sanskrit Universities in our country.

Therefore creation of Central Sanskrit Universities will boost further research in Sanskrit with the deep route that may lead to many useful insights and offer solutions to some of the modern-day problems.

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Note: You have to write your answers on an A4 size sheet leaving margins on both sides based on UPSC pattern. Mention Your Name on 1st page and Page Number on each page. After writing the answer, Click pictures of each page of your answer sheet, merge them all in a single PDF and upload in the Your Answer Copy section of the same question.