Page 60 - Khabar Magazine (February 2020)

Heritage

Coming to our contemporary times, it is wonderful to note
that the 18th World Sanskrit Conference will be meeting
in Canberra, Australia in January 2021. Scholars from all
parts of the world will be presenting papers and discussing
the whole gamut of past, present, and future topics
concerning Sanskrit. On the agenda will be the creation of a
roadmap to impart a global status to the language.

reviving as a common colloquial language in the fore- Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Sir Monier Monier-Wil-
seeable future for reasons of its own, I do believe its liams was published posthumously in 1899, after be-
other salient aspects should be preserved and revital- ing completed by his son in collaboration with multiple
ized. The language connects us not only to our own cul- European authors. The last edition came out in 1990
tural heritage but also to Mid-Eastern and far-Western comprising 1,333 large compact pages accommodating
components of human civilizations. The resuscitation about 200,000 words with no erratum in the book!
team for this noble but gigantic enterprise should, Coming to our contemporary times, it is wonderful
therefore, be composed not only of grammarians but to note that the 18th World Sanskrit Conference will be
also historians, anthropologists, humanists, artists, lin- meeting in Canberra, Australia in January 2021. Schol-
guists, philanthropists, and many others both from In- ars from all parts of the world will be presenting papers
dia and other countries, working as a team. It is an idea and discussing the whole gamut of past, present, and
whose time has come. future topics concerning Sanskrit. On the agenda will
It is said of the Yiddish language that there will be be the creation of a roadmap to impart a global status
an extended period between its dying and death. Of to the language.
Sanskrit, I would say that it will never die because it My hope is that the Sanskrit word ajaramar—never
is deeply seeded in almost all 16-plus regional lan- ageing and never dying—perhaps best describes its
guages of India. A plant that has sprouted conceals timeless quality.
its seeds, rendering them apparently invisible, but the
seeds themselves will reappear in its fruits. And yet, Dr. Bhagirath Majmudar, an Emeritus Professor of Pathology
notwithstanding its embedded presence in Indian and Obstetrics-Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, is
culture, it is my considered opinion that Sanskrit needs also a Sanskrit Visharaga and Jagannath scholar, the highest aca-
to be rejuvenated by a process of CPR—Consistent demic honor in Sanskrit. As a Hindu priest, he has conducted some
Persistent Revival. 400 weddings, many of them interfaith. He is a poet, philosopher, Ve-
Hope on the horizon dantist, actor, and playwright. He can be reached at: bmajmud1962@
Is it impossible? Before we tend towards doubt, it gmail.com
will be worthy to remember that our most complete

Revitalizing Sanskrit

For Indian/non-Indian children understand the meaning of the daily prayers they re-
Simplified translations of stories curated from Pan- cite unmindfully. Sanskrit also contains a vast store of
chatantram and Hitopadesham, enlivened with attractive timeless truths—Subhashitani—or practical aphorisms
illustrations, along with interactive discussions that to inform our daily lives. In an interactive setting, such
link these animal tales with contemporary situations nuggets of wisdom can generate lively and profitable
may be helpful. These ancient stories can also be cho- discussions. Temples and religious institutions can
reographed as Indian dance items for performing and open their doors to initiate and stimulate this vital core
viewing by children. Learning Sanskrit can also be a of our culture.
good lingual exercise for children. Many European chil- For scholars
dren have been known to master the difficult phonetics Sanskrit offers a gold mine to a variety of subjects
of Sanskrit with great accuracy. in science and liberal arts. We should invite, encourage,
For adults and fund scholars from various disciplines to dig our
Adult education in Sanskrit through evening/ ancient well and excavate the rich treasure hidden un-
weekend classes should be made available. Many Indi- derneath.
ans could be persuaded to learn the language so as to

58 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE