The recent closing ceremony of 1008 Sanskrit Sambhashan Shivirs in New Delhi on May 4, 2025, highlighted the significant efforts of Sanskrit Bharati and the Gyan Bharatam Mission in reviving Sanskrit, India’s ancient language. With Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and Delhi CM Smt. Rekha Gupta in attendance, the event underscored the Modi government’s commitment to promoting Sanskrit as a cornerstone of India’s cultural and intellectual heritage.
Sanskrit Bharati: A Movement for Revival
Founded in 1981, Sanskrit Bharati is a non-profit organization dedicated to reviving Sanskrit by making it accessible to all sections of society, regardless of race, gender, region, religion, caste, or age. Its mission is to democratize Sanskrit through spoken language camps and educational programs. Key achievements include:
- Spoken Sanskrit: Introduced over 1 crore people to spoken Sanskrit through camps like Sambhashan Shivirs
- Teacher Training: Trained over 1 lakh Sanskrit teachers to propagate the language
- Sanskrit-Speaking Families: Nurtured 6,000 families who converse exclusively in Sanskrit
- Global Reach: Established 4,500 centers across 26 countries
- Key Events: Organized the World Sanskrit Book Fair in 2011 and Sahitya Utsav in Ujjain in 2013
- Publications: Publishes Sambhashana Sandesha, a monthly Sanskrit magazine, celebrating 25 years in 2020
- 1008 Sambhashan Shivirs (2025): Held from April 23 to May 3, 2025, in Delhi, engaging 17,000 participants in spoken Sanskrit practice
Sanskrit Bharati’s efforts have significantly increased public interest and acceptance of Sanskrit, positioning it as a “scientific language” with global scholarly recognition for its grammatical structure and meter-based system.
Gyan Bharatam Mission: Preserving Manuscript Heritage
Launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Gyan Bharatam Mission is a flagship initiative to survey, document, and conserve India’s vast manuscript heritage, with a focus on Sanskrit and Prakrit manuscripts. Announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, it aims to preserve over 1 crore manuscripts. Key details include:
- Budget Allocation: ₹500 crore foundational corpus, with annual allocations planned
- Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Culture, revitalizing the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) launched in 2003
- Progress:
- 52 lakh manuscripts documented
- 3.5 lakh digitized
- 1.37 lakh available online at namami.gov.in
- Objective: Preserve manuscripts (at least 75 years old, with scientific, historical, or aesthetic value) in 80 ancient scripts, including Sanskrit (75%) and regional languages (25%)
- Significance: Unlocks solutions to global challenges through Sanskrit’s knowledge in fields like mathematics, astronomy, yoga, and environmental science
The mission reflects the government’s commitment to integrating India’s ancient knowledge systems into modern contexts, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Modi Government’s Initiatives for Sanskrit Promotion
Under PM Modi’s leadership, a favorable environment for Sanskrit’s resurgence has been created. Key initiatives include:
- Ashtadashi Scheme: Supports 18 projects for Sanskrit promotion, including publication, bulk purchase, and reprinting of rare texts
- NEP 2020: Emphasizes the Indian Knowledge System, with Sanskrit as a core pillar
- Central Sanskrit University: Elevated Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan to university status
- Sahasra Chudamani Yojana: Engages retired Sanskrit scholars as educators
- Scholar Support: Increased honorarium for distinguished Sanskrit scholars
- Public Engagement: PM Modi’s personal endorsement, including sharing Sanskrit commentary videos and greetings on World Sanskrit Day
These efforts align with the vision of Viksit Bharat and Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, fostering cultural unity and global outreach.
Why Sanskrit Matters for Competitive Exams
Sanskrit’s revival is a high-priority topic for exams due to its cultural, educational, and policy significance. Key reasons include:
- Cultural Heritage: Sanskrit, as the mother of most Indian languages, strengthens linguistic diversity and national identity
- Scientific Language: Recognized globally for its grammatical precision and contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and linguistics
- Policy Relevance: Aligns with NEP 2020, Gyan Bharatam Mission, and cultural diplomacy initiatives
- Global Impact: Sanskrit’s knowledge systems offer solutions to global challenges, enhancing India’s soft power
- Current Affairs: The 1008 Sambhashan Shivirs and Amit Shah’s address are recent developments likely to feature in MCQs and essays
Key Points for Revision
For quick memorization, focus on these facts:
- Event: Closing ceremony of 1008 Sanskrit Sambhashan Shivirs, May 4, 2025, New Delhi
- Chief Guest: Shri Amit Shah, Union Home Minister
- Organizer: Sanskrit Bharati (founded 1981)
- Participants: Over 17,000 in 10 days (April 23-May 3, 2025)
- Gyan Bharatam Mission: ₹500 crore for manuscript preservation, 52 lakh documented
- Achievements: 1 crore people introduced to Sanskrit, 1 lakh teachers trained, 6,000 Sanskrit-speaking families
- Global Reach: 4,500 centers in 26 countries
- NEP 2020: Sanskrit as a core pillar of Indian Knowledge System
Conclusion
The efforts of Sanskrit Bharati and the Gyan Bharatam Mission, backed by PM Modi’s vision, are transforming Sanskrit from a historical relic to a living language of global relevance. For competitive exam aspirants, this topic offers rich material for current affairs, culture, and policy questions.
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