In the ‘Sanskrit'(?)conferences, poets' meet is arranged usually at the end. But the question is who reviews their poetry? Don't the ignorant ones conclude that at present, only poems are written in Sanskrit and nothing else? Why the modern day Sanskrit writers' meeting is not arranged just like the poets' meet? Why the problem regarding modern Sanskrit book publication is not in agenda anywhere in the ‘Sanskrit'(?)Conferences ?
This is my personal experience that when I start to talk something about my Sanskrit works, people interfere by talking something else, usually , on old literature, as if they have not heard me at all. They unambiguously convey me the message that they need not to be introduced modern Sanskrit works, particularly, those of mine.
Sanskrit is being studied world wide now a days for various reasons. These reasons may be classified under two categories: 1. Research 2. Command.
The Sanskrit research necessarily does not involve command over Sanskrit. This is like enjoying fighting scenes in a Kungfu movie of Chinese/English version without necessity of understanding every bit of conversations and sentimental situations.
The command is totally different. It belongs to idiomatic expressions, proverbial speech, and flawless sentence patterns. Here every interjection is important. Every adverb is given attention. Every idiom deserves observation.
Research is like seeing the house built by somebody else and command is effort in building a house.
The research is rotten brain. Command is lively heart.
In the Sanskrit seminars the Sanskrit one can hear is of dates and tittles of some authors. Here and there, some sentence patterns of Sanskrit may enter into the ear. Is it enough to enjoy the lively dance of Sanskrit?
Once, a lady who has been teaching Sanskrit since some twenty years wrote me a letter. The letter was in Devanagari script. She added anusvaara and visarga in varous places according to her will and wish. She thought that she wrote in Sanskrit. It is not that every bit of the letter was full of blunders. In some sentence patterns, I found with joy, she wrote correct Sanskrit. So, according to her, Sanskrit means ‘‘a language written in Devanagari script with anusvaara and visarga added according to the will and wish of writer.''!
To very small extent, memorizing the verse or prose of other Sanskrit scholars/poets help in bridging research and command. But it is not enough. One has to write books, articles, verses in Sanskrit to befriend with Sanskrit. Of course, he/she has to converse in Sanskrit. This conversation shall not be limited to a few verbs and nouns. It shall encompass strong idiomatic expressions and proverbs with powerful verbs and pragmatic nouns. There shall be varieties in the style as well expressions. There shall be effective intonation. That is lively Sanskrit.
Here, I am going to give you ten hints to have command over Sanskrit.
1. Use only Sanskrit and nothing but Sanskrit at least while conversing with Sanskritists. Don't overuse the same few nouns and verbs. Try to add more verbs, more nouns on more subjects.
2. Write something in Sanskrit. While writing, as much as possible try to use correct grammar. Always place Apte's dictionary in front of you. Even though this dictionary does not give meanings in Sanskrit, it is helpful in having clear picture in understanding the words of Sanskrit. Amarakosha with any Sanskrit commentary you must have.
3. Make the habit or reading Ramayana everyday. It is different matter that Ramayana is in our blood and in our culture. The advantage you will have by reading Ramayana is, while reading it you will have the experience of talking with Sanskrit. Ramayana's language is very simple, at the same time very attractive. All the sentence patterns, idioms, important proverbs that are necessary for the practical transactions are interwoven in the diction of Ramayana. While reading it, you are swimming in the Sanskrit-ocean.
4. Read Sanskrit works extensively. In every subject and in every category, the important works you have to read. Don't confine your reading to narrowness by thinking ‘my subject is this, my subject is that'. This kind of thinking is nothing but stupidity. Only after reading any thing will be ‘your' subject and not before that. By reading widely, you will be able to understand how the Sanskrit is used differently by different authors. Don't restrict your reading to old writings. Read even modern works of fiction and nonfiction. You have to read even research works written in Sanskrit.
5. Don't neglect the introductions if they are written in Sanskrit. Read Sanskrit commentaries and notes. Don't forget to use indices for quick references.
6. Write in Sanskrit. Write any thing you want. Short stories, poems, articles, dramas and even novels.
7.If you are interested in writing classical style, try to imitate any well known poems by altering the words of synonyms. Be careful in metre. As much as possible memorize the definitions of important metres in Vrttaratnakara. Check your verses meticulously to know whether the definition is strictly applicable. Remember that this is for your practice. Don't publish your first effort.
8. Try to write commentary on Subhaashitas. Here, commentary means word to word meaning, that's all. Split the words of original according to the Sandhi rules. After it is done, add a dash or = mark to every word and write correct synonym . Take help of any classical dictionary like Amarakosha. Try to summarize the verses in simple prose.
9.Some poets with wonderful and strange enthusiasm do create verses rapidly in their mouth without help of paper and pen. This process is called ‘Aashu-kavitva'. Try it. In the initial stage, it seems difficult. But, be persistent and you will become successful !
10. And lastly, try to present your paper in Sanskrit in the seminars.
N.B.Don't start to quarrel with the guys who will tell you that Sanskrit is dead. You have to prove Sanskrit's lively status by showing them something written afresh in Sanskrit.
About the Author
My ambition is to become fulltime writer in Sanskrit.
Aabhaanakajagannatha, a collection of 1300 of my own Sanskrit proverbs is recently published.
My another work is, ‘dve mukhe(two faces)'. It is a work of two humorous long poems. It is available at ‘Serene Woods. com' As per my knowledge goes, this is the first time a Sanskrit work is published online.
At last a University that bears the name Sanskrit has come to existence in Karnataka. This is the first Sanskrit University in Karnataka.
Whatever shall be done on clerical level-conducting examinations, delivering marks cards, creating more degree holders, affiliating Paathashaalaas (traditional schools of learning) will be definitely done by this University and there is nothing special.
But one thing is certain. Most of the Paathashaalaas have poor academic environment. No library, no furniture, no spacious rooms for teaching. Some buildings are very old. This University shall rectify all these anomalies.
The University is seen differently by the people of different mentality. Some real scholars see an opportunity to enhance their level of knowledge through Sanskrit by build up contact with this University. Some start to dream job facilities.
Another category is there: This category focuses on only translations. Translation from what to what? If it is from Sanskrit, already there are hundreds and thousands of best translation works with informative as well analytical introductions and useful indices available. In most cases, they are published by private publishers. If the translation is to Sanskrit, then the uniqueness of this University is established.
No Sanskrit University is contemplating on analyzing modern Sanskrit Literature. There is no encouragement for the Sanskrit poets. Apart from organizing Poets' meet very rarely, no Sanskrit University has become meeting place of Sanskrit writers.
But this University shall be bridge between real Sanskritists by encouraging Sanskrit writers. It shall focus on publishing Sanskrit works of writers on various subjects- even on modern science subjects. If Kautilya had written a work on political science in effective prose and that is not viewed as an offence, a modern Sanskritist's writing on current politics in Sanskrit definitely is not an offence. Conducting programmes regarding creativity in lyrics, books, shastric works, poems, short stories, novels-this shall be the part and parcel of activities of this University. The moment we talk about the literature with other languages, we cite hundreds of good publication institutes. Since we have not such publication institutes for Sanskrit, this University may rise hope to Sanskrit writers. It is true that some publication institutes like ‘arvaachiina samskritam' do publish modern literature. But the owners of these can not depend upon their institutes for livelihood. So these can not be compared to good publication institutes of languages other than Sanskrit. Another sad thing is there is no forum anywhere in our country for reviews for modern Sanskrit literature.
In Orissa, Sasana village in the Shyamsundar gram panchayat area is considered as Sanskrit village. Since the days of remote past, Matturu in Karnataka has been considered as Sanskrit village. Because of the Sanskrit conversational courses and camps conducted by AKSHARAM, thousands of people are able to speak in Sanskrit with fluency.
This University shall make thorough scrutiny that whether the speakers' language is pure, I mean to say that how far the speakers' diction represents the correct Sanskrit? How can one remove the excessive influence of non-Sanskrit languages? What about traditional way of speaking?
What is the current scenario of traditional Shastric places like Mithila, Navadvipa, Bhavanagar and the like? What is going on in Varanasi which is considered as the heaven of Shastraartha over centuries? There is necessity of vast survey in these places.
Merely preparing a questionnaire is not enough. Even taking interviews don't give clear picture. There shall be a scheme under which some trained pundits in surveying shall live in these areas for at least three months. They have to speak informally with traditional pundits and students. Only then the clear picture will be emerged from the study.
Another thing is, there shall be survey of all the Sanskrit Universities. The survey shall concentrate on productivity and not organized functions. How many students have become book writers in Sanskrit? How many students who entered outer world have become good scholars? What shall be done for betterment of the quality in books? How shall the modern Sanskrit works represent the voice of the people?
I hope the real research, which shall be primary focal point of any University will be given supreme importance and neither teaching nor the seminars of paper presenting dramas. The subject of this research mayl be Sanskrit works produced in 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. This will become unique research topic. Documenting the details and analysis of the same shall be major concern of this University.
Some stunt masters(but dangerous enemies of real Sanskrit scholarship) are already contemplating on how to squeeze money from the government utilizing this university for their deceitful projects of Sanskrit ‘research'(?) . Obviously the guys of this category don't have mastery over Sanskrit. In spite of (sometimes) having their Sanskrit degrees, they are clever only in money-transactions. They are not enjoyers of good Sanskrit literature. Let us hope that this University shall not give entrance to these swindlers even from back door.
About the Author
I born in the year 1956, I would like to become fulltime writer in Sanskrit.
Aabhaanakajagannatha, a collection of 1300 of my own Sanskrit proverbs is recently published.
My another work is, ‘dve mukhe(two faces)'. It is a work of two humorous long poems. It is available at ‘Serene Woods. com' As per my knowledge goes, this is the first time a Sanskrit work is published online.
