This event recognizes the growing acceptance of Hinduism in the West. Steps like this are needed to close the religious divide that is threatening to split the world.
Washoe County in the state of Nevada has proclaimed January 12 as Sanskrit Day. This has been received heartily by all Hindu followers as the relaying of the news across Hindu sites on the Internet suggests.
The proclamation was made by Robert M. Larkin, the Chairman of Washoe County Commission, and recognizes the importance of the Sanskrit language. Sanskrit Day will be accompanied by a two-day Sanskrit language seminar-cum-class conducted by the prominent Hindu chaplain, Rajan Zed. Readers will remember that Rajan Zed had recited Hindu prayers in the U.S Senate on July 12, 2007. He has earlier recited the prayers in Nevada State Assembly.
As the proclamation mentions, Sanskrit’s importance lies in the understanding of Hinduism, which is drawing an increasing following in the West. However the importance of Sanskrit is far greater than that. Its perfect grammatical structure can play a role in the development of a universal language. Because of its similarities with the languages of the Middle East and Europe it can help trace the migration of man. Some details are available in my article “The Reverse Aryan Invasion”.
Whereas few would argue with the importance of Sanskrit, I do not agree with the quotation of Mahatma Gandhi – “Without the study of Sanskrit, one cannot become a true learned man”, which forms a part of the Washoe proclamation. The list of true learned men and women who did not know Sanskrit would be fairly long and easy to construct.
Without undermining the importance of this event, I would also like to point out that World Sanskrit Day is celebrated world over on the full moon day of Sravana month according to the Hindu calendar.
