Udupi: The All India Convention of Sanskrita Bharati was inaugurated at Rajangana of the Sri Krishna Matt here on Friday, January 6 under the auspices of Paryaya Pejawar Matt.
The three-day convention was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumithra Mahajan along with Sri Vishwesha Thirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Pejarwar Matt by lighting the lamp.

In her inaugural address, she started in Sanskrit and said that Sanskrit was one of the oldest languages in the world which had survived the onslaught of time. “Sanskrit is like the lungs of India and has all the potential to be an international language. It would be easier to speak Sanskrit if study is begun from childhood itself”, she opined. She shared her childhood experience with the practice of Sanskrit. Chanting in Sanskrit builds character, she added.

She called on the delegates to strive for the growth of Sanskrit on par with defence. “We should work for the Sanskrit language not only for its survival but also for its growth”, Sumithra said. She lauded the role of Sanskrit Bharathi in the development of Sanskrit language. Meanwhile, she enthused Sanskrit scholars to popularise Sanskrit to the benefit of the society.

In his address Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of Fisheries, Sports and Youth Empowerment said he always regretted that he never learned Sanskrit. He also lamented that crores of Indians do not speak Sanskrit or have interest in it. “With these kinds of conventions, there is a need to popularise Sanskrit among the people of India. Sanskrit language has failed to reach the grass root levels of our country”, he said.

He felt that this convention being conducted during the fifth paryaya of Pejawar Swamiji, was indeed a gift to the people of Udupi. Pramod disclosed that the National Service Scheme (NSS) was coming under Sports Ministry and the principal secretary had been directed to provide Sanskrit Subhashitha to all the 3.5 lakh students in the coming days.

Dr. Chand Kiran Saluja, National President of Sanskrit Bharathi also spoke on the occasion. In his message, Sri Vidyasagara Thirtha Swamiji of Krishnapura Matt said that in order to understand the Vedas and other religious books, one must understand the Sanskrit language. Everyone should learn to read and speak Sanskrit language, he added. Swamiji appreciated the work of Sanskrit Bharati in the development of the language.

In his presiding address, Sri Vishveshwara Theertha Swamiji termed Sanskrit as the National language and wished all the states of India adopted it. “Sanskrit is not only God’s language but also the mother of all languages,” he opined. He called upon all to popularise the Sanskrit language.

MP Shobha Karandlaje was also present.

Akhila Bharath Sanskrit Bharati official Sathyanarayana welcomed the gathering. Nandakumar of Sanskrit Bharati delivered the keynote address. M P Puranik of VHP proposed the vote of thanks. Srinivas Varkedi compered the programme.

Samskrita Bharatam–Samartha Bharatam is the theme of the convention. About 2000 volunteers of Sanskrit Bharati, Sanskrit scholars, vice chancellors of various Sanskrit Universities in India are participating in the three-day convention.