History of Sanskrit (Contemporary usage)


Contemporary usage

As a spoken language

The 1991 and 2001, census of India recorded 49,736 and 14,135 persons, respectively, with Sanskrit as their native language.[1] Since the 1990s, movements to spread spoken Sanskrit have been increasing. Organisations like the Samskrita Bharati are conducting Speak Sanskrit workshops to popularise the language.
Indian newspapers have published reports about several isolated villages, where, as a result of recent revival attempts, large parts of the population, including children, are learning Sanskrit and are even using it to some extent in everyday communication:
  1. Mattur in Karnataka[13]
  2. Mohad, District: Narasinhpur, Madhya Pradesh
  3. Jhiri, District: Rajgadh, Madhya Pradesh[14]
  4. Kaperan, District: Bundi, Rajasthan
  5. Khada, District: Banswada, Rajasthan
  6. Ganoda, District: Banswada, Rajasthan[15]
  7. Bawali, District: Bagapat, Uttar Pradesh
  8. Shyamsundarpur, District: Kendujhar, Odisha[16]

In official use

In the Republic of India Sanskrit is included in the 14 original languages of the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. The state of Uttarakhand in India has ruled Sanskrit as its second official language. In October 2012 noted social activist Hemant Goswami filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for declaring Sanskrit as a 'Minority' language, so that it could enjoy special protection as available to minorities under the Constitution of India.[17][18][19]

Contemporary literature and patronage

See also: List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Sanskrit
The Sahitya Akademi has had, since 1967, an award for the best creative work written that year in Sanskrit. In 2009, Satyavrat Shastri became the first Sanskrit author to win the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary award.[20]

In mass media

Over 90 weeklies, fortnightlies and quarterlies are published in Sanskrit.[21] Sudharma, a daily newspaper in Sanskrit has been published out of Mysore in India since the year 1970, while Sanskrit Vartman Patram and Vishwasya Vrittantam were started in Gujarat over the last five years.[21] Since 1974, there has been a short daily news broadcast on state-run All India Radio.[21]These broadcasts are also made available on the internet on AIR's website.[22][23] Sanskrit news is broadcast on TV and on the internet as part of the DD National channel at 6:55 AM IST.[24]

As a liturgical language

As the liturgical language of Hindus, it is used during worship in Hindu temples throughout the world. Also, in Newar Buddhism, it is used in all the monasteries as liturgical language. It is also popular amongst the many practitioners of yoga in the West, who find the language useful in understanding the Yoga Sutra[citation needed].
Devimahatmya manuscript on palm-leaf, in an early Bhujimol script, Bihar orNepal, 11th century

Symbolic usage

Main article: List of institutions which have Sanskrit phrases as their mottoes
See also: List of educational institutions which have Sanskrit phrases as their mottoes
In the Republic of India, in Nepal and Indonesia, Sanskrit phrases are widely used as mottoes for various national, educational and social organisations (much as Latin is used by some institutions in the West). For example:
  • Republic of India: 'सत्यमेव जयते' Satyameva Jayate "Truth alone triumphs"
  • Nepal: 'जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी' Janani Janmabhūmisca Svargādapi garīyasi "Mother and motherland are greater than heaven"
  • Aceh Province: 'पञ्चचित' Pancacita "Five Goals"
Many of India's and Nepal's scientific and administrative terms are named in Sanskrit. The Indian guided missile program that was commenced in 1983 by DRDO has named the five missiles (ballistic and others) that it has developed as Prithvi, Agni, Akash, Nag and Trishul. India's first modern fighter aircraft is named HAL Tejas.

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