Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat issued a passionate appeal on Friday for the widespread use and revival of Sanskrit, calling it not only the mother of all Indian languages but also a vehicle for nurturing India’s cultural consciousness and emotional depth.
He said Sanskrit should be brought into the daily life of every Indian household, not just as a ceremonial or academic language but as a living, breathing mode of communication.
Bhagwat was speaking at the inauguration of the Abhinav Bharti International Academic Building at Kavi Kulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University in Nagpur. The event, attended by state dignitaries and language scholars, was a celebration of India’s linguistic and philosophical legacy.
“Sanskrit Develops the Bhava of the Nation”
In his keynote address, Bhagwat emphasized that Sanskrit is not just an ancient language of liturgy and scholarship but a cultural lifeline that preserves and propagates India’s indigenous worldview. “Sanskrit is the mother of all languages spoken in Bharat,” he said.
“It carries within it our thoughts, our emotions, our intellectual heritage, and our spiritual foundations. It must not remain confined to temples or textbooks.”
“There is a big difference between knowing Sanskrit and speaking Sanskrit,” Bhagwat noted, adding that efforts must now move beyond preservation to active, everyday usage.
He candidly admitted that while he himself had studied Sanskrit, he was not fully fluent in speaking it, which reflects a broader national challenge.
“Only when a language is spoken does it truly live. Sanskrit must become the language of homes, communities, and everyday conversations.
We need to create a movement where Sanskrit is seen as accessible, beautiful, and deeply relevant,” he urged.
Sanskrit and Atmanirbharta Go Hand in Hand
Linking the revival of Sanskrit with India’s larger pursuit of Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) and Swabal (self-strength), Bhagwat asserted that national resurgence must go hand in hand with cultural and intellectual awakening.
“Swatwa—our unique civilizational self—is not just about economics or politics, but also about how we express ourselves, how we think, and how we relate to each other and the world. And all of this is embedded in our language,” he said.
“In understanding Sanskrit, we understand Bharat,” Bhagwat emphasized. “Our ancient wisdom, our collective memory, and our vision of the future are all stored in this timeless language. When we lose our languages, we risk losing our identity.”
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam vs. Global Market
The RSS Sarsanghchalak also used the platform to draw a philosophical contrast between Western paradigms and the Indian worldview. He pointed out that while Western societies have historically prioritized global markets, India has offered the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world as one family.
“The global market model, which was seen as a blueprint for modernity, has now begun to falter. It is based on consumption, competition, and inequality,” Bhagwat remarked. “On the other hand, our concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is rooted in compassion, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.”
He referenced India’s presidency of the G20 Summit in 2023, where the central theme was Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, as a testament to India’s growing moral leadership in global affairs.
Government Support and Academic Role
Also present at the event was Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who echoed Bhagwat’s sentiments and pledged full government support for the development of Sanskrit in education, research, and public discourse.
“The roots of our civilization are anchored in Sanskrit. It is the language through which our seers and sages conveyed their knowledge,” Fadnavis said. “Our government will ensure that this language receives the recognition, respect, and revival it truly deserves.”
The new academic facility at the Kalidas Sanskrit University, equipped with modern classrooms, digital archives, and international collaboration opportunities, is expected to become a hub for global Sanskrit studies.
The Road Ahead
Bhagwat’s speech serves as a call to action for educators, students, policymakers, and ordinary citizens alike. With increasing interest in indigenous knowledge systems, Sanskrit has the potential to re-emerge not just as an academic subject, but as a national language of unity, heritage, and higher thought.
“If every Indian makes an effort to speak a few lines in Sanskrit every day, if every child learns to chant a shloka with understanding, if every family treats Sanskrit not as a relic but as a living treasure, then we would be truly reclaiming our swatwa,” Bhagwat concluded.
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