<div dir="ltr"><div id="mod-article-header" class=""><h1 class=""> </h1></div><div id="area-article-first-block" class=""><div id="mod-article-byline" class=""><span class="">Ritika Chopra, ET Bureau</span><span class=""> </span><span>Dec 31, 2014, 04.33AM IST</span></div><div class="" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px"><img src="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/images/pixel.gif" alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div id="mod-rel-ads" class=""><div class="" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px"><img src="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/images/pixel.gif" alt="" height="1" width="1"></div></div><div id="mod-article-image" style="float:right" class=""><div id="mod-article-image-box" style="width:280px;height:200px"><ul class="" style="width:280px;height:200px"><li style="width:280px;height:200px"><a id="mod-article-image-link" class="" target="_blank" href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/photo/45697380.cms" title=" (Experts, however, are skeptical of government-driven revivalist efforts, noting that Sanskrit, even at its peak, was never a mass language.)"><img src="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/photo/45697380.cms" title="" alt="" style="width: 266.667px; height: 200px;"></a></li></ul></div><div class="" style="width:275px">(Experts, however, are skeptical…)</div></div><div id="mod-a-body-first-para" style="margin-right:267px" class=""><p>
NEW DELHI: Deepak Kumar quit his job with a private school near Baghpat
in Uttar Pradesh this year in search of greener pastures. "They paid me
a salary of just Rs 8,000 every month," said the 32-year-old <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Sanskrit">Sanskrit</a> <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/teacher">teacher</a>
who moved to Delhi about three weeks ago, much against the wishes of
his family, to prepare for an entrance test for teaching posts in the
capital's government schools.</p></div></div><div class="" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px"><img src="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/images/pixel.gif" alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para" class=""><p>
"It's a big risk. If I qualify, I will be eligible for a monthly salary
of Rs 50,000," he said. But until that happens, his wife and daughter
back home will have to survive on his family's modest income from
farming, which also pays for his coaching and living expenses in Delhi.
The uncertainty has been nerve-wracking for the family as job
opportunities for Sanskrit teachers are few, he said.</p><p> Kumar, however, is not downhearted. "Mark my words. There are good days ahead for us," he said.</p><p>
His optimism may not be misplaced. Kumar is just one of many teachers
buoyed by the government's bid to replace German with Sanskrit as the
third language in the Kendriya Vidyalayas in classes 6 to 8 in the
middle of the academic year, sparking a controversy. They feel Sanskrit,
after years of perceived neglect under <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Congress">Congress</a> governments, might finally see some " <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/acche%20din">acche din</a>" (good days) under <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Prime%20Minister">Prime Minister</a> Narendra Modi.</p><p>
To some that means better career opportunities and to others, greater
respect for the language. Pankaj Mishra, professor at Delhi University's
Sanskrit department, is hoping the latter will be the case.</p><p> "For
years now, there has been this discouraging mentality towards Sanskrit.
It has perpetuated the image that Sanskrit scholars are only fit to
become pundits. This attitude has been a huge blow for the language," he
said. "My own daughter refused to opt for this language because she
felt her friends would tease her for it. She is now studying French as
the third language in Class VI."</p><p> For the likes of Kumar expecting
better job prospects, good news has already started trickling it. This
month, the Kendriya Vidyalayas, which admit the children of central
government employees, announced the introduction of Sanskrit as an
elective subject in classes 11 and 12 at the government's behest.
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas--residential government schools for bright
children from rural areas--are also set to start teaching the language
from the next academic session. "We are determined to include Sanskrit
in our basket of third languages, provided the ministry approves it,"
Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) commissioner GS Bothyal told ET.</p><p>
Although these two decisions could at most create just another 1,500 new
jobs for Sanskrit teachers next year, they think this is a positive
start and could spur private schools to follow suit. Even though the
government has not issued any directions to this effect, human resource
development ministry officials said private schools have no option but
to follow the three-language formula, which prohibits the teaching of
any foreign tongue as the third language and has been upheld by the
Supreme Court.</p><p> This could mean that many private schools will
soon start teaching Sanskrit along with several other Indian languages.
"Look, if the government tells us that teaching a foreign language as a
third language subject is unconstitutional, then I guess we can't do
anything about it. But private schools will always protest any decision
to make changes halfway through the session," said the principal of a
private school in central Delhi who did not want to be identified.</p></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-second-para" class=""><p>
Experts, however, are skeptical of government-driven revivalist
efforts, noting that Sanskrit, even at its peak, was never a mass
language, but primarily used for scholarly discourse. With difficult
grammar rules, verb and noun construction, and more tenses than other
tongues, learning the language can be intimidating. From 49,736 Sanskrit
speakers in 1991, the number dwindled to 14,135 in 2001.</p><p> The
government also needs to invest more in churning out quality Sanskrit
teachers. For instance, in the last five years, not more 10% of the
Sanskrit candidates appearing for the University Grant Commission's
National Eligibility Test (NET) have cleared it in any given year. This
is mandatory for teachers seeking jobs in universities.</p><p> Sushil Kumar, a research scholar in Delhi University, is sceptical about the demand-and-supply argument.</p><p>
"It's a little absurd that we're talking about supply of teachers when
there aren't any jobs for them. When you create job opportunities, the
supply will also increase. I am surprised that we are debating this in
India. If you can't find Sanskrit teachers here, then where will you
find them? In US or Canada?" he said.</p><p><a href="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-12-31/news/57558475_1_sanskrit-teachers-sanskrit-scholars-third-language">http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-12-31/news/57558475_1_sanskrit-teachers-sanskrit-scholars-third-language</a><br></p></div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
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