Sanskrit Knowledge System and National Education Policy 2020 : Part 1

Preamble

National Education Policy 2020 felicitously discusses the significance and eminence of Indian languages, especially Indian classical languages, for their contribution in making India the most antique civilisation by providing an ocean of scientific and spiritual knowledge. Even though each classical language has its own place in enriching the Indian knowledge system, the two most ancient classical languages, i.e., Sanskrit and Tamil (which may be considered as real Indian born classical languages as per linguistics theories) had strengthened the psyche of Indians through the ages. Even between these two languages, Sanskrit has played a vibrant role in enriching Indian knowledge system from times immemorial. Hence, NEP 2020 elaborately discusses the introduction of Indian knowledge systems into the national curriculum in which Sanskrit has much to contribute. It states:

The importance, relevance and beauty of the classical languages and literature of India also cannot be overlooked. Sanskrit, which is also an important modern language mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, possesses a classical literature that is greater in volumes than that of Latin and Greek put together, containing vast treasure of mathematics, philosophy, grammar, music, politics, medicine, architecture, metallurgy, drama, poetry, storytelling and more (known as Sanskrit Knowledge system) written by people of various religions as well as non-religious people and by people from all walk of life and wide range of socio-economic back grounds over thousands of years. (NEP, 2020, p. 14)

While going through this statement, one can apprehend the enormity of Sanskrit language and literature mentioned in it. Normally, people think Sanskrit is a language which is obsolete and deals with spirituality and religious deliberations. The sublime scientific knowledge, which was established by great scholars, was deliberately kept in darkness and this great language was marginalised under foreign rule for the last thousand years. Persian, Arabic and Urdu were the prominent languages under Islamic rule while English was made the official language under British rule. During this period the usage of Sanskrit shrank to household pathashalas without getting much attention and royal patronage. Despite this, the nourishment of Sanskrit literature (Vangmaya) was sustained immutably through this period as well. The schools of Navya Nyaya and Navya Vyr' well as an abundance of poetical theories were pr 20/53 1 thousands of Mahakavyas and dramas were written aug nis era. Much importance was given to philosophy and devotion rather than scientific research in order to keep the local natives away from Semitic atrocities and religious persecutions. Thus, Sanskrit began to be considered as a strictly religious language.