Relevance of Sanskrit in the Modern Age-

A Realistic Approach

Dr. Narasingha Charan Panda

Professor of Sanskrit
Deptt. Of Sanskrit
VVBIS & IS, Sadhu Ashram,
Panjab University, Hoshiarpur,
Punjab, India

Sanskrit is the most ancient and perfect among the great

languages of the world. Its storehouse of knowledge is an unsurpassed
and the most invaluable treasure of the world. This language is a true
symbol of the great Indian tradition and thought, which has exhibited
full freedom in the search of truth, has shown catholicity towards
Universal truth. This unique language contains not only good account of
wisdom for the people of this country, but it is also an unparallel and right
way to acquire proper knowledge and is thus significant for the people of
entire world.
In India, Sanskrit is known as deva-bhasaa, i.e. language of the gods.
Besides, it is also recognized as the mother of Indian languages. However,
it is not merely a classical language, but also a repository of a great part of
our old cultural heritage. It is obvious to say that Sanskrit literature contains
all sorts of vidyas, i.e. Sciences or knowledge.
The Vedas are the soul of Indian culture and tradition. It is the
storehouse of all type of jnanas, i.e. wisdoms, which are very useful to
maintain a healthy and tension free life in the society. It is also widely
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known as the source or root of Sciences, including Physics, Chemistry,

Botany, Zoology, Mathematics, Agriculture, Environmental Science,
Architectural Science (vastu-vidya), Geometry, Astrology, Metallurgy,
Medicine, Meteorology, etc. These subjects are also separately discussed in
various texts and commentaries of the vast literature of Sanskrit. The
mystery of traditional as well as modern vidyas or Sciences was exhaustively
known to our ancient seers, poets, writers and commentators. Hence, it is
now almost essential for all, to read, understand and properly analyze these
interesting traditional and modern values of Indian culture for the all-round
development the whole main-kind.
Sanskrit is the most interesting and scientific language of the world.
As a language Sanskrit is regarded by experts in linguistic and philology as a
perfect vehicle of communication. 1786, a period when the West was
gleefully acquiring treasures physical and intellectual from India, Sir
William Jones in his address to the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal has
said: “The Sanskrit language, whether, be its antiquity, is of wonderful
structure, more perfect then Greek, more copious than the Latin and more
refined then either.”
On the practical plane one must acknowledge that in terms of its
grammar, phonetics, vocabulary and the Devanagari script, Sanskrit
becomes a wonderfully efficient vehicle of communication. It is not
surprising that recent empirical studies about the relative suitability of
different languages and scripts for use in computer programming and
operation indicated that Sanskrit in Devanagari script was not only the
suitable but also that is perfectly satisfied every requirement as an optimal
medium for use.

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The culture of Sanskrit and Sanskrit literature is actually the culture of

synthesis and assimilation. The message of Sanskrit literature is one of
humanism, of unity of mankind, of values, of peace and mutual
understanding and of harmonious development of the individual and the
society. It would help reviving the ethos of India, because synthesis,
harmony and reconciliation comprise the essence of the culture of Sanskrit.
It would help us to unlock the treasure – house of scientific insights
and research results concerning positive sciences in our ancient literature.
Besides, it would help us in using Sanskrit as a medium par excellence in
computer operations and as a language for the new technology.
In addition to these, it would help us to invigorate various languages
of India. As Mahatma Gandhiji rightly said : “Sanskrit is like the river
Ganga for our Languages. I always feel that if it were to dry up the regional
language also would lose their vitality and power. It seems to me that an
elementary knowledge of Sanskrit is essential. It is not sentiment on my part
that makes me say so, but practical consideration of the utility to our country
of this great language and the vast knowledge held by it.”
On 8th April 1983, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, while addressing the scholars
of Sanskrit in the Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya had said: “If
Sanskrit was simplified, it could serve as a better link among the people in
different states and solve the language problem” (The Hindu, dated 9.4. 83).
It is true that Sanskrit many solve our language problem, if it is
simplified. So it is the duty of Sanskrit scholars to simplify the grammatical
rules and other phonetically applications for the major utility of this
language.

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Here, a discussion will be made on Sanskrit language and its proper

application in the computer for the propagation of this language as well as
for the advantage of researchers and lovers of Sanskrit.

Sanskrit & Computer :

In this modern age Sanskrit is being treated as one of the scientific

languages of the world. Its script, i.e. Devanagari is also easily accessible by
the computer in its various programmes.
However, it is known that computers are now emerging as powerful
instrument in ushering a new era of global revolution in the field of modern
education for all type of progress of the people in the society. The
advantages offered by these new tools of education combined with the
power of technology are being absorbed and adopted for the purpose of
Sanskrit studies in India and abroad too. Utilization of computer technology
for facilitating Sanskrit studies in general class-room environment,
individual and group learning of rudiments of Sanskrit in the form of
conversational sentences, teaching packages for astrology, architectural
science (vÁstu-vidyÁ), Sanskrit grammar, astronomy, etc. based on the
subject of interest through the medium of English and other languages.
However, computer technology being utilized as right tool to
preserve, popularize and propagate the traditional Sanskrit studies. Presently,
a number of Sanskrit texts, viz. Vedic texts, Mahabharata, Ramayana,
Astadhyayi of Panini, Puranas, Kavyas, Natakas, etc. are available in the
Internet. These texts are available in the Roman script with diacritical marks,
as a result of which the researchers as well as admires of Indian wisdom and

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culture are directly and indirectly benefited through those texts available in
the Internet. In addition to these some Tantrik texts and some other rare texts
are available in the Internet. The well known Research Institutes of the
world have their own web-sites, in which their academic activities and
Research Academy, Melkole ; Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts, New
Delhi; Rashtriya Sanskrit Samsthana, New Delhi; Central Institute of Higher
Tibetan Studies, Sarnath; Vipasana Research Centre, (Research Centre),
Igatpuri, Maharashtra; Mugdhabodha Society (Research Centre), Bombay;
C-DAC, Bombay, and other leading Institutions and Universities of India,
have developed different software as well as data packages. The major
Tantrik texts are available in the Website of Mugdhabodha Society,
Bombay. Even some rare Tantrik texts are find the place in the said website.
The foreign scholars are directly benefited by these texts which are available
in the websites. Besides, 217 (Buddhist) PÁli texts are also available in the
C.D. Rom in different International scripts, like : Roman, Devanagari, Thai,
Muyamar, Sinhalese, Khmer and Mongol. This tremendous work is
accomplished by the Vipassana Research Institute, Igatpuri. All the texts can
be easily searched for particular words and phrases with the help of powerful
search engine provided in the software, making CSCD a valuable companion
to research scholars of Pali. They have also their own website, in which
these texts are available. However, Pali texts, Tantrik texts and general
Sanskrit texts are available in the Internet for the proper use of general
readers, Sanskrit scholars, researchers and true lovers of Sanskrit and Indian
culture.
It is interesting to note that even today Astrologers and VÁstuvids are
using computers for predicting as well as calculating auspicious dates,

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periods and other important predictions through various software’s and

programmes.
The Indian heritage, i.e. Sanskrit Manuscripts in the form of Palm
leaves and Bhurja leaves are being well preserved through Microfilms and
digitization systems. These Manuscripts can also be read and seen in the
computer through CD and other related technology.
To sum up : Sanskrit is now closely related with computer, through
which researchers, readers, and students of Sanskrit are benefited. This is a
positive approach in the direction that Sanskrit learning which is now more
widened and easily obtainable through these modern devices. Hence, finally
it can be said that in the coming days Sanskrit would be a common language
of India through which our National heritage and old traditional values will
be sustained, as a result of which we will live in peace. This the chief goal of
our life, which is possible through the traditional Vidyas, well preserved in
the vast Sanskrit texts, since time immoral. Before concluding, I would like
to quote our first Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, who had a positive
approach towards this (Sanskrit) language. So he has said: “The past has
gone and the present is with us and we work for the future. But I have no
doubt that whatever shape that future may take one of the biggest, the
strongest and the most powerful and the most valued of our legacies will be
the Sanskrit language.”

“Jayatu Sanskritam”