Action Plan : Sanskrit

Importance of Sanskrit Language

Sanskrit Language has been the most important medium in lending

continuity to Indian civilization. In its heyday it was spoken and used in all regions
of India including the Dravidian south. Sanskrit which developed from the Vedic
held sway from about 500 BC to about 1000 AD. In Independent India it is listed
among the languages of the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution though it is not the
official language of any state.The use of Sanskrit prose for scientific, technical and
philosophical purposes is first exemplified by Patanjali’s, a commentary on
Katyayana’s Vartikas on Panini’s grammar. After this time, and during the early
centuries of the Christian era, much technical and scientific literature came into
being, Aryabhata and Bhaskara wrote on mathematics and astronomy, Charaka and
Susruta on medicine, Kautilya on politics and administration.

There are many books in Sanskrit on astronomy, mathematics, architecture,

yoga, politics, music, dance, theatre, history, biography, logic, grammar, medicine
and plants. Knowing Sanskrit would also help in the study of epigraphy or
numismatics.

The three main aims of Sanskrit are to:

 Develop a connect with Indian culture and tradition
 Nurture patriotism
 Foster a deep connect with the soul and the divine through ‘Divyavani’

Charms and Challenges of teaching Sanskrit in School

There are four skills to be acquired in learning a language .There are Listening,
Speaking Reading and Writing.
 To develop Reading and Writing skills in Sanskrit not so much difficult than
Listening & Speaking.
 Every day children gets opportunity to read and write in Sanskrit though Lessons
and Writing note book.
 But One of the other challenges in Speaking Sanskrit is that unlike English, Hindi
or Telugu,Kannada,Tamil. Because of students do not get opportunities to listen
and Speak it either at home, in the media or in the streets.
Suggestions for Improvement Sanskrit Teaching

The focus mainly on development of listening & speaking skills in Sanskrit.

Especially the following will be used for improvement in Sanskrit:

 Self -Introduce by students in Sanskrit and others in Sanskrit.

 Asking questions in Sanskrit, that is making simple inquires.
 Answering questions in Sanskrit, responding to simple queries.
 Expressing daily greetings in Sanskrit.
 Talk about one’s daily chores in Sanskrit.
 Express one’s abilities in Sanskrit.
 Express one’s likes and dislikes in Sanskrit .
 Use of numbers for communication.
 Talk about one’s place of residence.
 Describing events in past and future in simple Sanskrit.
 Expressing emotions in Sanskrit.
 Recite verses with correct pronunciation and rhythm .
 Reading aloud Sanskrit text.
 Expressing one’s well being in Sanskrit.
 Giving simple instructions in Sanskrit to the students and train them to respond to
the same.
 Training the students to make simple requests in Sanskrit.
.
Suggestions for Improvement in Facilities
 Setting up a Language lab for Sanskrit.
 10-day spoken Sanskrit training camps for students conducted by Samskruta
Bharati, Bengulur .
 Procurement of Sanskrit material (Teaching Aids) from Samskruta
Bharati,Bengulur.
 Purchase of Sanskrit daily news paper Sudharma at Library.
 Sanskrit monthly Magazine Sambhasana Sandeshah.
 Procurement of Audio & Video Cassettes & Tapes.