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Source: The post is based on an article “Why not use Sanskrit as our first or second official language?” published in The Times of India on 21st February 2023.
Syllabus: GS 2 – Indian Polity
Relevance: promoting Sanskrit as official language.
News: The article discusses measures required to make Sanskrit an official language.
Why Sanskrit should be made official language?
Sanskrit is considered the mother of all Indo-European groups of languages. It is also considered as a secular language and is not associated with any specific religion.
Sanskrit is eminently suitable because Indians use a large number of Sanskrit words when they use their regional language.
Moreover, English is the official language of Courts. However, the counsel in court argue in Hindi. Even HCs of some states have allowed to file cases in Hindi.
English has become our second official language even though hardly 2-3% Indians have fluency over English.
Hence, Sanskrit along with Hindi shout be promoted by the government.
What measures are needed to make Sanskrit an official language?
The government should appoint a commission and committee of Parliament on official language as per Article 344.
Article 344 says it shall be the duty of this commission to make recommendations to the President for (a) the progressive use of the Hindi language for the official purposes of the Union; (b) restrictions on the use of English language for all or any of the official purposes.
Article 351 of the Indian Constitution states that it shall be the duty of the government to promote the spread of Hindi, wherever necessary or desirable promote Sanskrit and then other languages.
Further, Sanskrit language should be promoted through the way of education in its pure form and in phases.
Sanskrit can be introduced in the government’s services and at the university level while the English language could be retained for international relations and commercial agreements.
Therefore, we need to use a language which can be understood by all people in India and Sanskrit is the best for it.
