Uttarakhand is poised to make a special cultural step and establish itself as a model state, using Sanskrit, and the Central Sanskrit University is going to play a significant role in this process. The state government has also initiated a programme of restoring Sanskrit as a living language and incorporating it into daily life, which reaches way into the outside world beyond the temple and religious practices.
In the project, at least one village is also developed in every thirteen districts of the state as a model Sanskrit village. The residents of these chosen areas will be motivated and made to speak in Sanskrit, and signboards and posters placed in the language, and schools will be oriented towards teaching the younger generations about the Sanskrit language. Specially trained teachers will conduct the villagers so that the ancient language will not be limited to the academic circles but an alive instrument of communication.
The Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has emphasized the need to encourage cultural roots and heritage using Sanskrit, which already has the status as the second official language of the state. The government further intends to educate one lakh individuals in simple spoken Sanskrit, both online and offline, in the state. The shift will see the language becoming more accessible to the common citizens and develop a broader pool of speakers to maintain the project over time.
The implication of the Central Sanskrit University adds a powerful institutional support, in the sense that the university has instructors, curriculum support and also implementation expertise. This partnership will probably help to make sure that the teaching and promotion of Sanskrit are of a quality level, as well as adjusted to the modern environment of education.
Cultural activities, including the recitations of shlokas, Sanskrit theatre and community gatherings, will be promoted in the model villages in conjunction with the education. Incorporating the language in social and cultural life, the project aims to restore the very meaning of Sanskrit as not only a classical language but also a usable language of interaction.
The decision has been greeted with joy by educationists and cultural enthusiasts who have seen it as an audacious move to save the linguistic heritage in India. Nevertheless, there are still problems, such as maintaining motivation with the communities in the villages, retaining trained teachers in the villages, and making Sanskrit interesting to the younger generation.
Should it be successful, the experiment of model Sanskrit villages in Uttarakhand might serve as the template for other states, providing a fresh slap of one of the oldest languages in the world and serving the purpose of cementing India to the cradle of classical knowledge.
