Sanskrit week row: Vaiko accuses BJP of 'imposing' language

Chennai: Coming down on the CBSE circular asking affiliated schools to celebrate ‘Sanskrit week’ on an experimental basis, BJP ally MDMK on Thursday charged the party with trying to ‘impose’ the language on students and demanded withdrawal of the circular.

In a statement in Chennai, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko said the CBSE circular was an ‘assault’ on Indian pluralism. “It is grievous that the Centre is trying to impose Sanskrit through the CBSE,” he alleged.

The CBSE directive had hailed Sanskrit as the “mother” of all languages and this was a conspiracy to “plant poisonous seeds” in the hearts of students who belong to diverse backgrounds, including language and culture, he alleged.

“It is a dangerous and atrocious measure to attempt to impose the culture of a particular section of people on others,” he said, adding only Tamil, an ancient classical language, had the pride and distinction of being the primary language among others.

“Tamil Nadu will never allow imposition of the language and culture of a particular section of people which had struggled and won in resurrecting Tamil from the influence of Sanskrit, he said.”

CBSE had asked all its affiliated schools to celebrate ‘Sanskrit week’ on an experimental basis to popularise and stimulate interest in it and develop apps on the language.

A CBSE letter to all school heads recently said the week would be organised between 7 and 13 August during which students would be encouraged to participate in short speech competitions in Sanskrit, compose short poems and developing apps and games for Sanskrit learning.

PTI