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State of Sanskrit studies
In recent weeks there have been cries of ‘Sanskrit in danger of disappearing' from Sanskrit professors and other Indologists in Western academia. This is certainly true in their own case, but their next claim that they need more funding (what else?) to reverse the decline must be taken with a large grain of salt. Sanskrit existed and flourished for thousands of years before Indology and Indologists came into existence, and will no doubt continue to exist without them. If Sanskrit ever faces the danger of extinction, it will be for reasons of social and political developments in India and not due to lack of funds for Indologists in the West. They can no more save Sanskrit than Indian scholars can save ancient Greek. Their real concern is not saving Sanskrit but themselves.
We may now take a moment to assess the contribution of Western Sanskritists. For those who believe that Western scholarship has made a major contribution to Sanskrit, such people are not limited to the West, here is an objective measure to ponder over: Indians began studying English (and other European languages) about the same time that Europeans began their study of Sanskrit. Many Indians have attained distinction as writers in English (and other languages). But there is not a single piece in Sanskrit-not even a shloka (verse)-by a Western Sanskritist that has found a place in any anthology. This should help place their contribution in perspective.
Towards the end of his life Max Müller himself acknowledged it. In a letter to the Nepalese scholar and Sanskrit poet Pandit Chavilal (undated but written probably just before 1900) Max Müller wrote:
I am surprised at your familiarity with Sanskrit. We [Europeans] have to read but never to write Sanskrit. To you it seems as easy as English or Latin to us... We can admire all the more because we cannot rival, and I certainly was filled with admiration when I read but a few pages of your Sundara Charita.
Last update : 16-10-2009 17:50
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