AI generated image Mumbai: Samskrit Bharati, an organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has planned to develop the country’s third Sanskit Village in Muslim dominated Karimganj district of Assam. The organisation has already developed two Sanskit Villages in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. “Samskrit Village is a place where every villager irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, social and financial status or educational background converses in Sanskrit,” said Shrish Deopujari, the All India Communication Chief of Samskrit Bharati in an exclusive interview to ‘The Perfect Voice’. “There are several misconceptions that are hurdles in popularisation of Sanskrit,” Deopujari said. “We are trying to do away with such misconceptions,” he said. Deopujari said that Samskrit Bharati has developed two Sanskrit Villages in Mutturu in Shivmoga district of Karnataka and Jhiri in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh. “A third is being developed in Karimganj district of Assam where majority population is Muslim,” he said. In Jhiri majority population comprise of SC and OBC communities. “I know a Muslim family in Vijapur that runs one of the biggest cloth stores of the city. Their shop has over a 100 employees. The owners came in contact with Samskrit Bharati and decided to run the shop in Sanskrit language. Over 60 per cent of their employees are Muslims. People now wonder when they see hijab-clad young girls in the shop converse in fluent Sanskrit. This has even given the shop a distinct identity and a great popularity also,” Deopujari said. New Initiatives He denied that all efforts of Sanskri popularisation are centred around academic activities. “It appears so since majority of our activities involve learning and teaching. But there are many things that are being done,” he said. In Gujarat there are several places where traditional Garba is centred around Sanskrit songs. In Assam a group has composed Sanskrit songs that are suitable for Bihu dance. Similar efforts are also undertaken with respect to Rajasthani folk music and tribal music at several places. During recent visit of PM Narendra Modi to Russia a pop singer presented rendition of Atharvasheersh before him. A beetal group in London had translated all his songs to Sanskrit and their Sanskrit programs too are very popular. A famous pop singer Gabriella Burnella too presents songs in Sanskrit. She had learnt Sanskrit since she was four and later persuaded a doctorate in Sanskrit from the Oxford University. The point is all ways and means are being tried to popularise Sanskrit. In fact our moto is to ensure and encourage practical use of Sanskrit in whichever way possible and free the language from the perception that it is only meant for scholarly pursuits. Sanskrit Revival Founded in 1981, Samskrit Bharati is a movement for the continuing protection, development and propagation of the Sanskrit language as well as the literature, tradition and the knowledge systems embedded in it. “Samskrit Bharati’s mission is reviving the language, rejuvenating the culture and rebuilding a nation that is Bharat!” Deopujari said. He said that the way to achieve this is to teach everybody speak Sanskrit. While making efforts to teach everybody, regardless of caste, creed, educational background, gender, financial position, etc. speak Sanskrit, the other set of efforts is aimed at making Sanskrit a link language for all Indians. “Sanskrit is not only accepted but also respected throughout the country. If Sanskrit is introduced in homes, it will impart sanskars to the entire family which is a primary need of the present day. This is all about transforming Sanskrit into a Jana Bhasha or people’s language,” he said.
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