BANGALORE
27 July
2014
Celebration of
Sanskrit week from 7 Aug 2014 to 13 Aug 2014 is announced through a CBSE
circular on 20 June 2014A. Political parties of Tamil Nadu
have opposedB the
2014 CBSE circular and have misrepresented Sanskrit language. About four years
back, CBSE has issued a circular in 2010C directing Kendriya Vidyalayas
across the country to introduce foreign languages in place of Sanskrit as the
third language in classes VI-VIII from the 2011-12 academic session. A public
interest litigation has been filed against the 2010 CBSE circular in an attempt
to protect Sanskrit teaching in schools. Veda Shikshana Samithi has issued the
following statement from Kiran Desai:
“VSS views the
circular of CBSE (dated 20 June 2014) to celebrate Sanskrit Week from Aug 7 to
13 as a constructive initiative. Sanskrit is an optional language in schools and
colleges across the country and lakhs of students are studying Sanskrit
voluntarily. The rich heritage of Sanskrit is attracting them to the study of
the language. The activities of the proposed Sanskrit week are appropriate and
well thought out and deserve appreciation. Sanskrit, the mother of languages and
a lifeline of Indian culture, is to be promoted.
The government should
go beyond promotional schemes and support Sanskrit in concrete terms by
rescinding the circular of CBSE (issued in 2010) which has directed Kendriya
Vidyalayas across the country to introduce foreign languages in place of
Sanskrit as the third language in classes VI-VIII from the 2011-12 academic
session.
The opposition to the
celebration of Sanskrit week and interpreting the circular as imposition of
Sanskrit on other languages is not correct, misleading and rooted in
ill-intended approach. VSS appeals Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa
to support Sanskrit week celebration and promote Sanskrit language in the
state. The political parties of Tamil Nadu should shed their linguistic
seclusion and stop viewing other languages, especially Sanskrit, as a threat.
VSS draws attention of the policy makers and administrators to the excessive
promotion of foreign languages in India.
VSS supports other
constructive proposals and initiatives to support all Indian languages – with
and without scripts of their own.”
NOTES
ACBSE circular
2014
Central Board
of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a circular on June 30, 2014 to
celebrate Sanskrit Week from August 7 to 13, 2014 in the schools affiliated to
CBSE. The suggested activities during the Sanskrit Week include National level
competitions for students such as Laghubhashanam, developing apps and games for
Sanskrit learning, Kavita Rachanam, Essay competition on themes related to
Sanskrit for classes 9th-11th, and Antyakshari. For teachers, an action
research to establish links between Sanskrit and other Indian languages and
foreign languages is suggested. Similarly, school level activities for
uploading activities related to Sanskrit are also suggested.
BOpposition
to CBSE Circular 2014
Tamil
Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, PMK
founder S. Ramadoss, DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan have opposed the 2014
CBSE circular. They
have distorted the intent of the Sanskrit Week celebration by describing the
proposed event as “dangerous”, “atrocious”, “Sanskrit
hegemony” “linguistic imposition”.
CCBSE circular
2010
The
KVS has issued a circular in 2010, directing Kendriya Vidyalayas across the
country to introduce foreign languages in place of Sanskrit as the third
language in classes VI-VIII from the 2011-12 academic session. A PIL has been
filed by the Sanskrit Shikshak Sangh, an umbrella body of teachers and scholars
of the language in Delhi High Court through its president Dheerendra Kumar Jha.
The PIL is represented by lawyer Monika Arora.
The
PIL says that the notifications are against the fundamental rights of the
citizens. The action of the respondents (KVS and CBSE) would cause irreparable
damage to Sanskrit language and Indian culture and as a result, the next
generation would not learn Sanskrit and hardly have any knowledge of Sanskrit
and the rich ancient Indian culture. This is also in violation of the various
provisions of the Constitution of India as also violation of the various Supreme
Court judgments. The training of KVS teachers to make them "proficient in
teaching German" would be restricted to Sanskrit teachers only. Foreign
languages viz. German, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese language are being
promoted at the cost of Sanskrit. The PIL requests the court to Issue a writ in
the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to take effective measures for
promotion and education of Sanskrit as provided in National Curriculum Framework
for School Education.
Ref:
VSS Statement - PDF Version
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