I have nothing against Sanskrit or those who want to learn the language, or any other subject out of their own voluntary will. Excellence in academic pursuits is purely self motivated and interest driven. If imposed, it yields limited dividend.
Like many from my generation I studied Sanskrit in my School. Taking excuse to do some self bragging, I scored 80% in that subject in my CBSE, Class X Board Exam - not so bad those days. Yet I have my share of concerns and complaints about the exotic language.
Let's cut the hypocrisy here. Everyone wants a good paying job and Sanskrit is not a subject which can guarantee you that. The language, which is well revered has tons of grammar and rules, making it inordinately complex for commoners. I perennially complained to my grandpa, a well known Sanskrit scholar of his time who insisted on me roting its grammar rather than a structural approach to teach the language. When he wanted me to repeat NARA, NARAU, NARAAH (Man, two men, more than two men) after him, the prankster in me responded rhyming PIAZI, PAKUDI, BARAA (popular snacks of Odisha).
It explains why Sanskrit forever remained an Elitist language. In Ancient India folks deviated from Sanskrit to Pali as the former remained confined to Brahmin snobbishness. A language can only grow with its flexibility and adaptability, with a grammar which is less rigid making it acceptable to the masses. The English language grew leaps and bounds from countries to continents for the same - sun never sets over the English language empire.
Credit goes to those who take interest in learning Sanskrit and excel in it, in spite of the hardships associated. In this context, the storm in the teacup generated around the appointment of Feroze Khan, a Muslim Sanskrit scholar to the Benares Hindu University, is pure and unadulterated nonsense. This is outright silly, when especially espoused by those who have little or no knowledge of Sanskrit. And a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Sanskrit as the prerogative of Hindus is akin to viewing English as a patent of the Christians. Though the majority of scholars in Urdu are Muslims, there are Hindus and Sikhs considered erudites of the Urdu language. In fact, the writer Khushwant Singh was a connoisseur of Urdu. Liberal dosage of Urdu Shayaris (couplets) adorned his widely read weekly columns.
Interestingly, Urdu and Sanskrit are ornamental languages which are not widely spoken in mass. Most Muslims in the Indian Subcontinent speak Bengali, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto and Hindustani - a much diluted version of Urdu mixed with Hindu. Both Sanskrit and Urdu don't have a script of their own. Sanskrit in Odisha is taught in Odia Script. I read and wrote my school exam in Sanskrit using Devanagari script.
The knowledge in any subject, including Sanskrit has hardly anything to do with religion. Nothing prevents folks from other religions to learn it. Many Westerners who are Christians by belief are excellent scholars of Sanskrit with in depth knowledge of the subject (In my college days textbooks written by Westerners, mostly by American authors addressed my real doubts while Indian Authors conveniently skirted them).
Sanskrit is not a patent of Hindus only. Those who have deep understanding of the language should be recognized irrespective of faith. A nation which doesn't respect or reward meritocracy can never prosper. Period. It explains why we are still struck in our vainglorious days of 5000 BC, hardly done anything notable in modern age to justify our potential. It's because we reward mediocrity bypassing merit.
One of the reason behind these needless protests is the recent rise of extreme right wing fundamentalism fueling intolerance, mostly by BJP and aided by its blind supporters for cheap political gains. Media, social or otherwise has its role in fanning this fire. Most of those who are against this Muslim scholar of Sanskrit don't know the S - of the language. Hope sanity prevails and the BHU authorities go ahead with the appointment of Mr. Feroze Khan. Good luck to him.
Excellent
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