I am dazed by Rajnath Singh’s statement that widespread use of English has stymied growth of Sanskrit, an ancient and ceremonial language mostly restricted to Hindu religious texts. (“BJP leader sparks outrage with anti-English remarks,” July 20)
The president of India’s main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP, Singh has stirred controversy by saying the English language is hurting the country and its rich culture. RSS/BJP have spent so much of their energy on opposing Urdu and Farsi (Persian) and became so busy that they forgot to promote Sanskrit.
Urdu was eradicated with a sustained campaign.
As such for ages most of the Dalits were not allowed to learn or even hear Sanskrit, for which the blame goes to the so-called custodians of Hindus and Sanskrit.
US President Barack Obama recently advised the American students to learn Sanskrit, which is a positive thinking.
The shocking fact about these politicians is that, they themselves queue up at the door of English missionary schools for getting their children admitted.
Blaming English is a purely political gimmick. Perhaps denial of US visa to Modi is one of the reasons for the BJP to come out against the language. — Eng Shareef, by e-mail
Rajnath’s political gimmick
