By Mangalorean.com Team - Mangalore

Mangalore Jan 7: A long time ago, Sanskrit language was being used solely by Pandits and Swamijis, as there was a general tendency to think it was a very tough language.  For this reason, one could hardly find anyone other than the scholars interested in this language.

But surprisingly, today in Mangalore, there is one unique family where all the members are using Sanskrit as their mother tongue and they all interact with each other in this language only.  Seems highly improbable but nevertheless, it is true.

Dr. Vishwas and Dr. Shantala with their children Vidisha and Vidhita

The family members of this household consist of the father, mother and two children who all speak Sanskrit very fluently.  In fact they invite guests into their house using Sanskrit words only.  When we entered their house, the welcoming words that greeted us were "Swagatham"(please come inside).  Other Sanskrit words used were Ksymyatam (sorry), Bhavata Nama Kim (what is your name), Bhavan Kim Udyogam (what are you doing) etc.  It was a unique experience to hear these spoken words in their house.

The household belongs to Dr. Vishwas and Dr. Shantala who are both Ph.D holders in Sanskrit, which perhaps explains their interest in the language.  The family resides at Mannagudda though they are originally from North Kanara.  Dr. Vishwas and Dr. Shantala both say that their family is very keen to try and spread Sanskrit throughout the world.  They are aware that the language is dying and their main motive is to save it.

Their interest in this language also brought them together and they married in 1990.  According to them the purpose of their marriage is also to propagate and save Sanskrit.

At present they are both actively involved in the Sanskrit  Bharathi Organization, which is devoted to promote Sanskrit . Their two children Vidisha and Vidhita also speak fluent Sanskrit. 

When we questioned Dr. Vishawas and Dr. Shantala, if their labour to save Sanskrit was bearing any fruit, she told us that because their family speaks this language, they are highly respected by the surrounding residents in the neighborhood and as a result whoever comes in contact with them are also trying to speak Sanskrit .

However, they feel that most of the people still think of Sanskrit as being a tough language, when in actual fact it is not a tough language at all.  It just seems tough because this language has been neglected and is very unfamiliar to the people.  This is why there is a dire need to save this language by speaking it in every house.

Just like Tulu and Konkani, Sanskrit can also be used in every house and improved upon.  Dr. Vishwas and Dr. Shantala said that they were trying to save this language by conducting Sanskrit classes (Sanskrita Sambashana Shibira) at BSNL and MRPL campus’s for their employees.  Recently, the Sanskrita Bharathi has also started correspondence courses.
 
They both hope that just like hundreds of years back, when Sanskrit was the Mother tongue in every household, now too every household should not only speak Sanskrit  but that every place should also have a Sanskrit Graham.  Sanskrita Bharathi is therefore making every effort to turn Sanskrit into a common language.