“In the Tongue of the Ancients: Uttarakhand’s Sanskrit Villages Rise”

📚 Thematic Focus

Category: Culture | Education | Indian Languages

“Adarsh Sanskrit Villages: Breathing Life into an Ancient Language”
Include: 13 districts, inclusive language policy, ₹20,000 honorarium, Sanskrit-AI integration, and community icons (Dalits, Muslims, Tribals).

📌 Key Highlights

• State-Level Initiative:
  • On April 15, 2025, the Uttarakhand cabinet launched the Adarsh Sanskrit Village Programme.
  • One village per district (13 total) to become a model hub for Sanskrit learning.
  • Aligns with Sanskrit’s status as Uttarakhand’s second official language.
• Programme Objectives:
  • Revive Sanskrit as a living, spoken, and taught language.
  • Foster connection with Indian philosophy, epics, and spiritual heritage.
  • Promote social inclusion — Sanskrit beyond caste and community lines.
• Village Selection & Rollout:
  • Committee-led surveys selected villages like Bhogpur (Dehradun) and Mukhem (Tehri).
  • Expansion to block level based on pilot outcomes.
• Instructor Recruitment & Training:
  • 13 instructors, each earning ₹20,000/month.
  • Selection via written test + interview.
  • Training at Haridwar Sanskrit Academy, with standardised materials.
• Curriculum & Literature:
  • Structured syllabus featuring:
    • Mahabharata, Ramayana, Vedas, Durga Saptashati.
  • Emphasis on shlokas, storytelling, and moral values.
• Inclusive Approach:
  • Outreach includes Dalits, Muslims, and tribal communities.
  • Sanskrit to be offered in madrasas as an optional subject.
  • Local committees to monitor and guide programme delivery.
• Employability Focus:
  • Industry collaborations to create Sanskrit-based job roles.
  • Positions Sanskrit as both cultural legacy and economic asset.
• Tech & Visibility:
  • AI-powered tools for Sanskrit, with IIT Roorkee collaboration.
  • Public signage in Sanskrit in transport hubs and airports.
• Cultural Essence:
  • Reinforces Sanskrit as a bridge to India’s civilizational memory.
  • Emphasizes linguistic diversity and spiritual literacy as tools for nation-building.

🧠 Concept Explainer

Why Reviving Sanskrit Is More Than Language Preservation

Sanskrit isn’t just syllables of the past — it’s a lens into India’s timeless truths. This programme dares to democratise that legacy. By weaving Sanskrit into the village fabric — across faiths and social strata — Uttarakhand dares to say: language belongs to everyone who wishes to listen, learn, and live it.

📜 GS Paper Mapping

• GS Paper I: Culture – Indian Heritage, Languages, & Literature
• GS Paper II: Governance – Language Policy, Inclusive Education
• Essay Paper: Cultural Continuity and Democratic Learning

💭 A Thought Spark — by IAS Monk

“When Sanskrit echoes from the Himalayan foothills once more, it does not seek to reclaim the past — it invites the present to remember itself.”