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Mohan Bhagwat: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday expressed concern over the declining use of Indian languages and mother tongues.
Mohan Bhagwat: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday expressed concern over the declining use of Indian languages and mother tongues. Said that the situation has reached such a level that some Indian people do not even know their own languages. Speaking at a book release function in Nagpur, Bhagwat expressed the need for society to introspect on the erosion of linguistic heritage. He said there was a time when all communication, exchange and daily work was done in Sanskrit. Now some American professors teach us Sanskrit, when in reality we should have taught it to the world. Said that many children today do not know even some very basic and simple words and often speak a mixture of their mother tongue and English at home. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief said the situation has reached such a level that some Indians do not know our own Indian languages.
Our language is not spoken even at home
He said that English medium education is not responsible for this, but reluctance to speak Indian languages at home is aggravating the situation. He said that if we speak our language properly in our home, things will be better. But we don’t do that. Bhagwat said that now even saints speak in English, which is understandable, but still it is a sign of changing linguistic preferences. He said that the problem now is that there are not enough words in the English language that can express the essence and depth of the ideas or concepts expressed in our languages. Giving an example, he mentioned Kalpavriksha, a wish-fulfilling tree from mythological stories in Indian tradition. Emphasizing the limitations of translating culturally rich concepts into a foreign language, Bhagwat asked how would you translate Kalpavriksha into English?
Emphasis on preserving and strengthening Indian languages
He said such examples highlight why Indian languages should be preserved and strengthened. Bhagwat further said that Indian philosophical traditions emphasize unity despite physical differences. He recalled how a sage once told foreign visitors that it was unnecessary to debate whether God is one or many, because God’s very existence is central. Bhagwat said that Indian tradition teaches people to think beyond personal interests and consider the welfare of families and communities. He said that this has been told to the people in different words and in different formats. Bhagwat said that the debate over whether the Bhagavad Gita emphasizes knowledge or karma ignores its holistic approach. He said that just as a bird cannot fly without wings, we need two wings – knowledge and action. Knowledge without faith is like Ravana.
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