Language Policy Guidelines – Position of Sanskrit Language in New Education Policy
Dr. Veena. H .N.
Associate Professor, Department of Sanskrit
Government Arts, Commerce and Post -Graduate College (Autonomous)
Hassan- 573201, Karnataka state
E-mail : veenashashikumar786@gmail.com
Ph : 9480482413
Abstract
This paper focuses on understanding the language policy , guidelines and challenges behind implementation of Sanskrit Language learning as proposed in the New Education Policy. The National aspiration of making millions of children understand the rich cultural background of India is reflected in the New Education Policy. The New Education Policy proposes to retain the three language formula and also proposes to make all other languages of India get equal chance of learning. New Education Policy proposes to leave it to state governments to decide which three languages they need to offer to students. Thus, new policy highlights key and imperative significance of use mother tongue while giving all other languages of India get equal chance of learning. But there are several challenges, as Sanskrit language learning is cornered and is considered non beneficial by today’s youth. Education is a concurrent subject in India and central as well as state governments have to jointly feel the responsibility for the implementation of New Education policy.
Key words: New education policy, Sanskrit language, Language policy, New guidelines, Challenges
Introduction
New Education Policy has not made any language mandatory neither the learning of the national language Hindi, nor the medium of instruction to be the mother tongue. This will support private schools to retain their English medium instruction. Emphasis on mother tongue or home language as the medium of instruction in primary and pre primary is backed by research. By highlighting this New Education Policy provides a rationale for implementing it in government sponsored schools. It is also criticised that this will result in degradation of English language education but the fact remains that English language education is in a dismal state in the so called English medium schools. New Education Policy will affect and benefit millions of children belonging to socially backward and tribal areas to English learning.
Sanskrit learning & New Education Policy
New Education Policy has made provisions for learning native language including Sanskrit. Sanskrit language is a very old and sacred language in the world and it has been considered as the harbinger of great Indian culture. New Education Policy supports learning Sanskrit subject as a language at all levels. Sanskrit as a subject helps to link alphabets with appropriate pronouncement.
The study of Sanskrit enhances the possibilities of better understanding of other languages and other subjects. It provides students with rule based grammar learning which promotes logical thinking.
Benefits Sanskrit language
There have been several arguments in favour of Sanskrit being introduced as one of the primary language of learning.
Constitutional provisions in Federal India Article 343- Article 343 of the constitution considers Hindi with the Devanagari script as the official language of India . It also allows for the continued use of English for official purposes.
Article 345- Article 345 also allows for any of the ‘national languages’ of the union to be adopted by the state legislature as the official language of that state. Until 1967, before the 21st amendment to the constitution, fourteen regional languages were recognized. Subsequently the number has grown to twenty two.
THE REPORT OF THE SANSKRIT COMMISSION -1956
The Report of the Sanskrit Commission set up by the Government of India in 1956 under the Chairmanship of Dr. Suniti Kumar Chatterjee was an important milestone in the advancement of Sanskrit language. An examination of the Report of this Commission shows that the status of Sanskrit in contemporary India has a lot to do with both the politics and policies of the State. It was this Commission’s report, along with the Report of the Official Language Commission of the Government of India that led to Sanskrit being one of the languages taught in Indian schools all over the country. According to the three-language formula, which still works at least up to the 10th Standard in Indian secondary schools, each student has to learn three languages, the mother tongue, Hindi or another Indian language, and English. To this day, in many schools, Sanskrit is the third language, taken in addition to English and Hindi. The Report of the Commission is probably the most extensive and impressive argument in favour of Sanskrit education in independent India. The Commission actually recommended that Sanskrit be made “an additional official language” of India.
The Commission also referred to the adoption of the Upanishad dictum “Satyamevajayate” as the national motto of India, the Sanskritized “Jana Gana Mana” as the national anthem, the motto of the Lok Sabha “Dharma chakrapravarthana,” All India Radio (Akashavani), “Bahujan hitaya bahujana sukhaya,” of the Life Insurance Corporation, “Yogaksemamvahamyaham.” The practice of using Shri and Shrimati instead of Mr. and Mrs, and so on, also show how important Sanskrit is in our national life. That is why Sir William Jones, the great oriental scholar called Sanskrit a language more perfect than Greek, more copious than Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either of the two languages.
Sanskrit learning and impact on brain development in children
Dr. James Hartzell in the journal scientific American a neuro sceitist has coined the word Sanskrit effect. He claims memorizing Vedic manthras increases the size of brain regions associated with cognitive function suh cas memory both short and long . Shukla yajurveda is considered as brain enhancer.
Conclusion
Thus New Education Policy will foster cultural harmony through multi lingual learning. National Education Policy also provides freedom of choice in learning languages. Emphasis on mother tongue or home language as the medium of instruction in primary and pre primary is backed by research. By highlighting this the New Education Policy provides a rationale for implementing it in government sponsored schools. Education is a concurrent subject in India and central as well as state governments have to jointly responsible for the policy framing and implementation process
References