The Dilemma of Sanskrit Revival - Part 2

...Continued from Part 1

Second Part of the Series

The Fallacy of "Baby’s Way of Learning"

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. - Aldous Huxley

We often hear the analogy of how babies learn a language, and how that is the natural, good way to learn Sanskrit. Such an analogy is blind to many of the facts. The baby’s way of learning is true, but is hardly applicable in case of Sanskrit learning today. Babies are completely immersed in an environment, without any pre-impression of any other language. They have full time on their hand, watching the actions and words of adults who are completely native to that language. During the first two years, a baby hears about 6,000-10,000 words per day. After all this, a baby typically starts to utter single words after a year. Such conditions hardly exist in any of our lives. We all know how we struggle to learn swimming, cycling, skating etc. once we grow up.

Critical thinking: It is heartening to see so many people all over the world, developing interest in learning Sanskrit. To cater to this demand, many fast-track Sanskrit camps and classes - online and offline - have become a common occurrence. It is really commendable that so many selfless people are volunteering their effort, energy, and sometimes even money to the cause of Sanskrit. Often times, new graduates of such boot camps are initiated into teaching other newcomers. This is all good to get more people interested in this language. But, it has the consequence of high chance of incorrect translational usages being propagated exponentially. And the first learning is extremely hard to get rid of, even if one comes to know of its flaws. For adults, a lot of unlearning is involved, generally for any new skill, and especially when a dormant language has to be revived to its graceful stature. The key for any serious enthusiast is to get into a mode of critical learning, move beyond the introductory level, shed the biases, leave behind the preconceived notions and embrace the intended structure of the language.

Just a Communication Tool?: A language can be looked at as just a tool for communication - a medium to express your thoughts - like the English language being used and taught in most parts of the world. For non-English speakers, it is just a medium, to somehow get the thoughts across and get the job done - without bothering much about its constructs etc. Is Sanskrit language just that, or is it a platform with a potential to expand one’s philosophical vista and elevate the consciousness? It could be both. In either case, it should not be corrupted with external lingusitic influences.

There is a quote in Mahabharata:
बिभेत्यल्पपुरुषाद् वेदो मामयं प्रतरिष्यति - bibhetyalpashrutaad vedo maamayam pratarishyati
The veda fears from the one who does not know it properly, that such a person would misinterpret me (veda) and spread the wrong meaning. That is true for any kind of knowledge base.

Continued in Part 3...