Sanskrit losing appeal

GUWAHATI: Sanskrit is no longer favoured as an optional third language in CBSE schools by students of Class IX and X in the city as they feel that it would be of no relevance in their higher studies. The latest trend shows that the students are preferring Hindi as their third subject.
Priyasi Roy Dutta, a Class VIII student from Kendriya Vidyalaya Khanapara, said, "I had to take up Sanskrit till Class VIII as it was compulsory, but I think Hindi would be easy and it would help us later also.Sanskrit would not help me while pursuing higher studies, so I am thinking of opting for Hindi."
Mangal Saha, vice-principal, Army School, Narangi, said, "In higher classes, no one takes up Sanskrit these days. There are five subjects in Class X and students mostly opt for Hindi. We have a sixth additional subject and Sanskrit is one of the options, but it is not compulsory. The language doesn't appeal much to students nowadays."
Dolly Das, principal, Kendriya Vidyalaya, said the subject, unlike Hindi, doesn't seem very practical to students as it would not help them in their higher studies. Many even find Sanskrit difficult as compared to the Hindi and other regional languages like Assamese or Bengali. "From Class VI to Class VIII, it is compulsory in our school. But in Class IX, it becomes optional. However, I feel students should understand that this subject is scoring and they should be motivated by parents and school authorities to take it up," she said.
There are just a handful of schools in Guwahati that encourage students to take up Sanskrit. Panchali Roy, principal, Maharshi Vidyamandir School, Barsajai, said, "In our school, Sanskrit is compulsory till Class V, but from Class VI onwards, students get to choose an optional third language, which continues till Class X. A lot of students take up Sanskrit in Class X and they perform very well."