Mumbai – The Government of Maharashtra, in a bid to promote Sanskrit, rewards Sanskrit Pandits, Vedamurtis, Sanskrit teachers, Sanskrit professors, activists working for the promotion of Sanskrit with the Mahakavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana Award. In the last 10 years, the amount of this award has not been increased even by 1 rupee. Sanskrit was neglected during the Congress government. So Mr Sunil Ghanwat, the Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh organizer of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, has demanded that the present government should provide due honour to Sanskrit by introducing a satisfactory increase in the award amount. On February 23, a memorandum with certain demands was presented to the Minister of Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant Patil by a Samiti delegation.
In this statement Mr. Sunil Ghanwat has said that on 27 July 2012, the government has issued a government order in this regard. According to this order, this award is given to 8 persons every year. The amount of each award has been fixed at 25 thousand rupees. More than 12 activities are conducted by the state government in a year for the promotion of Urdu. More than Rs 1 crore is spent on them annually as awards and incentives. In contrast, there is only one award every year for excellence in Sanskrit language and even the award amount has not been increased in the last 10 years.
Award should be given on Sanskrit Divas!
According to the government order, this award should be distributed on the day of Sanskrit Divas (Narali Poornima) every year. But these awards have never been given on Sanskrit Divas. Awards are not even announced on Sanskrit Day. These awards are being distributed as per the discretion of the government. In the past few years, awards for 3-4 years have been simultaneously handed out. The 2021 award is yet to be announced. In a way, Sanskrit is being treated shabbily. Mr. Sunil Ghanwat has demanded that the government must look seriously into this issue.
The Samiti’s demands –
1. The ‘Mahakavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana’ award must be given on Sanskrit Divas.
2. There should be a satisfactory increase in the award amount.
3. Various competitions must be organized in schools and colleges and students must be suitably rewarded.
4. Funds should be made available to Veda Pathshalas, which have contributed greatly in preserving and propagating Sanskrit.
