Sanskrit and modern Indian identity

Apparently summer camps aiming to revive the Sanskrit language are causing great controversy in India (Washington Post). Originally set up and funded by the Hindu nationalist BJP government in 2003, the programme is seen by many as being used to aid in pushing the Hindutva ideology (including supremacist overtones).

To quote one 19 year old camp student: “When I learn any language, I learn about its history and its literature… but when I study Sanskrit, I learn who I am. It is my identity.”

This is fascinating, because of course what is in fact happening is that a specific identity is being packaged and given to the students, initially along linguistic lines, but with associated overtones of history, race and ethnicity.

Published: 6.16.08 / 12am
Tags: hindutva, identity, india