The Second Life of Sanskrit
3 days ago
- #Cultural Heritage
- #Digital Sanskrit
- #Sanskrit Revival
- Prathosh AP developed Vagdhenu, a tool that recites Sanskrit verses like a pandit, attracting millions of page hits and being used for conversational practice.
- Samashti Gubbi promotes spoken Sanskrit through events like the Kimbho Sanskrit Riders’ Club and social media, blending the language with modern activities.
- Spoken Sanskrit courses, like the one from IIT Roorkee, have seen high enrollment, especially among young adults, showing a shift from archaic to cool.
- Sanskrit's revival is supported by state projects, universities, and online markets, expanding beyond traditional custodians to new users.
- Radhavallabh Tripathi notes a revival in serious literary and philosophical Sanskrit works, including modern writings and translations from Indian languages.
- Sanskrit periodicals, children's books, and Dalit poetry in Sanskrit are emerging, with younger writers expanding the language's range.
- The language adapts by borrowing forms like haiku and tanka, and its grammar allows continuity from ancient to modern texts.
- Online platforms and tools, like those for machine learning datasets, are making Sanskrit newly visible and teachable globally.
- Prime Minister Modi highlighted Sanskrit's resurgence on social media, with young creators using it in comedy, music, and education.
- Teachers and students are increasingly engaging with Sanskrit through interactive methods, games, and digital content, overcoming past aversion.