Embarrassment for Congress! Party leader Mahabal Mishra says Sanskrit must till Class X
In an embarrassment to Congress, one of their leader Mahabal Mishra has supported Modi Government on the language war between German and Sanskrit.
At a time when BJP Government is being criticised for politicising languages, Mahabal Mishra has thrown his weight behind the Government saying Sanskrit should be taught as a mandatory subject at least till Class X.
Mishra a former MP and patron of the Sanskrit Shikshak Sangh (SSS) held a meeting at his residence on the issue. He heaped praise on the RSS for their mission to save the language and assured all possible help in the direction. He further said that as a citizen he believes that Sanskrit can remove all ills prevalent in the society.
Speaking assertively on the issue, Mahabal Mishra as quoted by the Indian Express said, "Yes, as the sanrakshak (patron) of the SSS, I called for a meeting today where we discussed the future course of action to ensure Sanskrit is taught to children. Indian culture and tradition are empty without Sanskrit; it glues us all together. I believe the language should be made compulsory at least till Class X. How the government does it is up to them. I am not talking to any government or political party. I am talking as a citizen. I will raise the issue wherever and whenever I can at appropriate forums".
However, Mishra remained evasive about whether German should be removed as third language.
Earlier, on Friday the Supreme Court asked the Centre to consider not replacing German language with Sanskrit in Kendriya Vidyalayas in the middle of the ongoing academic session and implement the decision from next academic year, saying "Why are you punishing students for your mistake?"
While appreciating Centre's decision to introduce Sanskrit in classes 6 to 8, the apex court, however, said that changing the language in the middle of the session would put additional burden on the students.
A
bench
headed
by
Justice
A
R
Dave,
turned
down
the
plea
of
the
Centre
which
contended
that
German
language
cannot
be
a
third
language
as
the
Memorandum
of
Understanding
signed
three
years
back
by
the
government
with
German
authority
is
wrong
and
cannot
be
followed.
"Why
are
you
punishing
students
for
your
mistake?"
the
bench
asked.
It
asked
Attorney
General
Mukul
Rohatgi
to
consult
the
HRD
ministry
on
postponing
the
implementation
of
the
decision
on
Sanskrit
to
next
academic
year.
"Think
from
students
and
parents
point
of
view.
Let
this
academic
year
continue
and
you
better
implement
it
next
year,"
it
said.
The bench said that introducing Sanskrit is a good decision as it is mother of all languages.
"Why
should
we
forget
about
our
culture.
With
Sanskrit
you
can
learn
other
languages
easily
as
it
is
mother
of
all
languages,"
the
bench
said.
The
court
was
hearing
a
petition
filed
by
a
group
of
parents
of
KV
students
who
challenged
Centre's
decision
to
replace
German
language
with
Sanskrit
in
mid
of
ongoing
academic
session.
The
Board
of
Governors
(BoG)
of
the
Kendriya
Vidyalaya
Sangathan
(KVS),
headed
by
HRD
Minister
Smriti
Irani,
had
in
its
meeting
on
October
27
decided
that
"teaching
of
German
language
as
an
option
to
Sanskrit
will
be
discontinued
herewith".
German
has
been
kept
as
an
additional
subject
for
students.
The
decision
is
expected
to
affect
over
75,000
students
across
500
KVs
from
classes
6
to
8
who
will
be
asked
to
switch
from
German
to
Sanskrit.
Challenging the decision, the petitioners had said, "The KVS has failed to take into account the pertinent fact that such a decision cannot be taken mid-session as it would amount to throwing into complete disarray the overall academic preparation of the affected students."
They had said, "The government should not take such an arbitrary and hasty decision at this belated stage and without any consultation with the affected students and parents.
(With inputs from PTI)