The Purpose of Teaching Sanskrit in Schools and Its Challenges

Does it make sense to teach Sanskrit for three years in Indian schools, yet struggle to ensure students can speak the language fluently? This article explores the multifaceted benefits of teaching Sanskrit, as well as the challenges faced in ensuring effective learning and genuine understanding among students.

Cultural Heritage

Sanskrit, a classical language of India, holds immense cultural and spiritual significance. Learning Sanskrit helps students connect with ancient texts, literature, philosophy, and religious scriptures. Despite these rich resources, the current educational approach often falls short. As a classical language, understanding and appreciating Sanskrit's vast literary and philosophical wealth is crucial for cultural heritage preservation.

Linguistic Skills

The study of Sanskrit enhances linguistic understanding and skills, including grammar and vocabulary. Many words and grammatical concepts in modern languages like Hindi and English are derived from Sanskrit. This interconnectedness can significantly improve students' overall language proficiency. However, the current method of imparting this knowledge through rote learning often fails to foster genuine understanding and retention.

Critical Thinking

Studying Sanskrit literature often requires analysis and interpretation, which can enhance critical thinking and analytical skills. Despite these benefits, students often miss out on these intellectual exercises due to the emphasis on rote learning and exam preparation.

Interdisciplinary Connections

Sanskrit is relevant to various fields such as history, archaeology, philosophy, and comparative linguistics. Knowledge of Sanskrit can facilitate deeper study in these areas. Yet, students rarely explore these connections, limiting the broader educational benefits of studying the language.

Preservation of Knowledge

Many ancient texts and manuscripts are written in Sanskrit, making Sanskrit a key to preserving this knowledge. However, the current emphasis on memorization over comprehension and practical application hinders the true preservation and accessibility of this knowledge for future generations.

Personal Growth

Learning any language, including Sanskrit, can be a valuable intellectual exercise, promoting discipline, memory, and cognitive skills. Nonetheless, the current system often fails to recognize these personal growth benefits, focusing instead on exam performance and grade attainment.

The Problem with Current Education System

The current problem lies in the education system itself. Sanskrit is often introduced as an optional subject, with the primary goal of scoring more marks rather than fostering a deep understanding of the language and its cultural context. Many students who attend Sanskrit classes today cannot even utter a single Sanskrit word, let alone form a simple sentence. The history and culture of Sanskrit are rarely taught, and teachers are often unqualified due to a shortage of experts in the field and limited career opportunities for Sanskrit educators.

However, there is hope on the horizon. Initiatives like Sanskrit Bharati and new eLearning platforms are making a significant impact. These platforms are providing genuine learners with the tools they need to improve their proficiency in Spoken Sanskrit, ensuring that the language's cultural and linguistic richness is more accessible to students and enthusiasts around the world.

In conclusion, while the current approach to teaching Sanskrit may not always achieve its full educational potential, there are ongoing efforts to improve the situation. As society recognizes the true value of Sanskrit, it is hoped that the educational system will adapt to better serve students and preserve the language's irreplaceable cultural and linguistic heritage.