Sanskrit set to replace German across Kendriya Vidyalayas

[prasad1]

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The Union government’s attempt to replace German with Sanskrit as the third language taught in Kendriya Vidyalayas for Classes VI to VIII in the middle of an academic year is oblivious to the interests of students as also to the need to ensure credibility in dealings with other nations. Its explanation is that a memorandum of understanding signed between the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) under the previous regime with the Goethe Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan — to teach German as a third language — is illegal and violative of the National Education Policy. Several school systems in the country include foreign languages such as French and German as even a second language, and so far no one has ever questioned their legality. In this case, German was only one of the options for the third language offered by the KVS and the MoU was never intended to make it compulsory. The fact that over 70,000 students across 500 schools opted for it speaks volumes about the preference among students and parents to learn a foreign language to boost their career prospects. Student preference for Sanskrit as a third language remains unclear. The HRD Ministry seems insensitive to the impact of its decision so late in the academic year on students who have taken up the language. It is obvious that the present regime’s eagerness to demonstrate its commitment to Sanskrit overrides the interests of students, as well as the notion of sanctity of agreements reached with institutions backed by foreign states.


The Supreme Court has questioned the haste with which Sanskrit is sought to be introduced in the middle of an academic year. The government’s claim that it will ensure that students are not put undue stress by adopting an entry level syllabus and marking system shows that its keenness to promote Sanskrit is mere tokenism. The court seems to have endorsed the policy of introducing the learning of Sanskrit, described as ‘the mother of many languages’, as a third language, but only wants the decision to be implemented from the next academic year. To be fair, the November 11, 2014, office memorandum replacing German says students can learn either Sanskrit or any other ‘modern Indian language’ as third language. German will be relegated to the non-serious ‘hobby class’. The moot question, however, is whether at all Sanskrit should be counterpoised against German when there should be a place for both the languages, with students being allowed to choose Sanskrit or another modern Indian or European language. Such counterpoising is all the more ironic considering that German academia has had a long tradition of scholarship in Sanskrit and Indian studies.
An avoidable controversy - The Hindu

 

[prasad1]

There is a big interest in learning German in India and this interest should be promoted by the Indian government in a special way. English is widely spoken in India and millions of Indians have a very high command of it. But other languages like French, German and Spanish play an important role in our globalised world. Knowing languages is a big advantage. I compare Sankrit to Latin. At many schools in Germany Latin is taught, but young people are more interested in learning modern languages which they can apply. I grew up bilingually French/German and learned Latin at school for many years. But the reality has shown that I never needed Latin after school. Can Indian children benefit from learning Sankrit? This is my question and should Sankrit be taught only for those who would like to learn this language privately? I am of the opinion languages like French and German are more important than Sankrit and modern languages (European languages) should be specially promoted in India.

Indian's interest in learning other languages is for commerce and business.

There was a time in India when some people thought that Sanskrit must not be taught to people beyond the realm of privileged people. And those same kind of people wants to teach Sanskrit to the masses. Teach kids to make them exposed to a wider world because in digital age where things become obsolete in the matter of years and teaching them more obsolete things will not help.

R. Seetharam
As an Indian student of German, with inborn love and respect for Sanskrit, it pains me to read about the controversy vis-a-vis study of these languages. Ironical, among all the westerners, Germans have always been in the forefront to recognize, study and glorify the sanctity and versatility of Sanskrit. Prof. Max Mueller translated the four Vedas into German and published his valuable book, " History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature" in 1859, long before the birth of modern Hindu nationalism. May his Soul r.i.p. Bull headed politicians do not realize that language is a highly emotional issue, particularly in our country fragmented into linguistic states & the people are under the influence of the "Gravitational Pull of the Mother Tongue". A mistake by UPA-II cannot be rectified by a blunder by NDA-II. Wisdom of the HRD minister lies in finding an amicable and pragmatic solution & not a legal one to this highly sensitive issue. Hint: How have Bollywood films quietly popularised Hindi ?

 

[sarang]

As a reciprocal though belated gesture and as a mark of respect to kapil sibal and ahmad of the hrd ministry of india, the german government has decided to teach sanskrit in place of Deutsche from kinder to neun standard from the middle of this academic year. Expect that this historical act will free native and national indians of their worry and concern, as the sanskrit which is similar to german will be taken care off by the aryan germans. Those indians who want to study sanskrit will be given subsistence scholarship to visit german universities where the manuscripts are kept in the basement libraries.

Those who support german in indian schools will be suitably rewarded for their love of our superior language and can expect returns in various forms.

 

[sarang]

Not surprising that some folk who shout that the law of the land must be followed, take a different view when german is brought in by back door against the language policy of the government. Hypocrisy of the sterling order.

 

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Learning sanskrit will improve our faith in hinduism and india. Learning anyother foreign language is left to individual interest and capacity, learning more languages will be better for the youngsters seeking jobs in foreign countries. All languages cannot be taught in school.