Sanskrit is immortal, says IISH director

PALAKKAD: Sanskrit language contained an invaluable repository of information passed down the ages and its rich cultural heritage ensured that it would not die, according to Director of the Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage, Gopalakrishnan.

He was delivering the presidential address at the Jusitce P R Sundaram Iyer memorial award and lecture 2007 organised by the Centre for Sanskrit and Vedic Studies of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) at its Puducode Kendra on Sunday.

He said that Sanskrit’s waning influence was not due to interference from outside shores but from those who handled the language in our own country.

There were many persons who tried to teach Sanskrit through English. Moreover, the flourishing of the regional languages had led to the non- usage of Sanskrit.

There was also a propaganda that Sanskrit language was used by the upper castes which was not true. He said that many of the scientific facts like quantum physics, law of gravity and theorems were found in Sanskrit texts much before it was reported to be discovered by scientists.

The British, as part of the divide and rule policy, had indulged in a propaganda that the Aryans had invaded the country just like them.

They had also propagated with ulterior motives that India was a land of customs and superstitions. But, later on, the British itself had admitted that the Aryans like the Dravidians were part of India.

He said that Hinduism had thrived since it had never stated that it was the superior religion or nobody should follow other religions.

It had welcomed noble thoughts from other religions and beliefs too.

Similarly, ayurveda and yoga were gaining global acceptance which once again proved that our forefathers had bequeathed us rich knowledge. The introductory remarks were made by R Ananthanarayanan, executive committee member of the Puthucode Kendra of BVB. Vice-chairman of the Bhavan’s Puducode Kendra, P S Venkatesh welcomed the gathering.

At the history session on the importance of Rama Sethu, executive vice-chairman of the Bhavan’s Puthucode Kendra, P A Ramakrishnan, in his introductory remarks felt that the Sethu Samudaram canal had no comparison with the Suez canal and a salvage operation would be costly.

Therefore, the Sethu Samudram project would be a failure economically and technically besides damaging the delicately balanced eco-system.

Ramakrishnan said that Rama Sethu, irrespective of whether it was natural or man-made, had proved its presence for thousands of years and also during the last tsunami in saving Kerala.

Director of Saraswathi Studies Research Centre, Chennai, S Kalayanasundaram and V Sundaram spoke. It was followed by a Sanskrit session.