SANSKRIT LIVES ON

If there is one Indian language that has managed to survive the onslaught of changes over centuries, it is Sanskrit. Believed to have originated about 4,000 years ago, it continues to flourish despite the fact that most of us can't even form a sentence in it. And yet, scholars strongly deny that it is a 'dead' language. ''It is pursued by lakhs of people today,'' says Professor Satya Vrat Shastri, an eminent creative and critical writer in Sanskrit, and recipient of the 42nd Jnanpith Award that was announced recently. Shastri, who has published over 7,000 original stanzas in Sanskrit, points out that his Sriramakirtimahakavyam has run into three editions of 1,000 copies each. “There is a great deal of interest in Sanskrit today,” he says, adding that it’s also getting changed to reflect the new way of life. And so while in the past, words of Persian origin, such as kalam (pen) and bandi (prisoner) were embraced by Sanskrit scholars, new words are being coined now to keep up with the scientific jargon of today. ''For example, stethoscope is called urassravayantra and computer is termed sanganakayantra in Sanskrit,'' says Shastri, who also taught the language to Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

If there is one Indian language that has managed to survive the onslaught of changes over centuries, it is Sanskrit. Believed to have originated about 4,000 years ago, it continues to flourish despite the fact that most of us can't even form a sentence in it. And yet, scholars strongly deny that it is a 'dead' language. ''It is pursued by lakhs of people today,'' says Professor Satya Vrat Shastri, an eminent creative and critical writer in Sanskrit, and recipient of the 42nd Jnanpith Award that was announced recently. Shastri, who has published over 7,000 original stanzas in Sanskrit, points out that his Sriramakirtimahakavyam has run into three editions of 1,000 copies each. “There is a great deal of interest in Sanskrit today,” he says, adding that it’s also getting changed to reflect the new way of life. And so while in the past, words of Persian origin, such as kalam (pen) and bandi (prisoner) were embraced by Sanskrit scholars, new words are being coined now to keep up with the scientific jargon of today. ''For example, stethoscope is called urassravayantra and computer is termed sanganakayantra in Sanskrit,'' says Shastri, who also taught the language to Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.