'Make Sanskrit or any classical language mandatory in schools'

New Delhi, Jul 8: An RSS-affiliated body has suggested changes in education policy to make studying Sanskrit or other classical languages like Arabic, Persian, Latin or Greek mandatory in schools for at least four years.

In a draft suggesting policy changes in education sector, 'Bhartiya Shikshan Mandal' has proposed a language policy as per which during first eight years of general education, mother tongue will be the first language while Hindi, Sanskrit, other national languages or English can be chosen as a second language.

The Sangh body, which is working in the field of education, has sought feedback from the public on its draft. As per the document titled 'Bhartiya Education Outline', if a student doesn't want to learn English or any other language, he should be allowed to do so.

However, in the next four years of education, as envisaged in the Bharti Shikshan Mandal's draft, "a student will be provided with a choice to complete his studies without learning English or Hindi, but it will be mandatory for him to learn Sanskrit or any other classical language."

Stating that this was essential from the socio-cultural perspective, the draft added that a student who does not wish to learn Sanskrit, may opt for Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Latin, Greek, or any other language.

"Hindi is not mandatory under this policy, however there are two languages, mother tongue and Sanskrit or a classical language, which will be mandatory for the student. The perspective behind this decision is that if everyone accepts Hindi to be the language of communication, no one will leave it out.

The subject that are neglected by students because they do not aid in employment, should be made compulsory," the draft document said. While interacting with reporters here, the outfit's Joint Organising Secretary Mukul Kanitkar said students often are quick to learn languages of commercial use.

"The policy is based on the belief that a treasure trove of knowledge and values is present in our classical languages and it is very crucial for a healthy social life," the draft says, adding it aims at strengthening the "emotional integration in our national life".

PTI