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Brahmins lose domination over Sanskrit!

Brahmins lose domination over Sanskrit!

Author: Raheel Dhattiwala
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 10, 2006
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1636810.cms

They dominate the merit list and are studying a language that has-- since the caste system took root-- been the privilege of the Brahmins.

These are SC, ST and OBC students, studying Sanskrit at the Gujarat University, whose names occupy 70 per cent of the merit list! Of the 275 students in the open category merit list who cleared their bachelors for MA in Sanskrit at the University School of Languages, 200 are SCs, STs and OBCs. Seven of the top 10 on the list are from the backward classes.

Professor and director of school of languages Vasantkumar Bhatt says, "Looks like the Brahmins have lost their monopoly in Sanskrit!" But for Kalol-based Mital Chavda, who tops the merit list at the school, it has nothing to do with caste. "Is English a language of the British anymore?" she argues. Agrees Mahesh Solanki, standing fifth on the merit list. Also an SC candidate, this son of a farmer from Radhanpur says, "No particular caste can lay their claim to a language."

Both claim to have chosen Sanskrit for higher education, because they aspire to be teachers. With most of these students hailing from villages around Ahmedabad and belonging to economically backward families, a secure job figures on top of their priority list. "Their financial position often leads them to take up Sanskrit which assures a job as a vidya sahayak in government schools," Bhatt says.

Last year, 70 per cent of the students in MA-I and 69 per cent in MA-II who enrolled for undertaking study in Sanskrit at the university, were from the backward category. According to Bhatt, the dominance of these classes in taking up the Sanskrit course has been the dominating trend for the past six years-- which takes you to the reservation debate once again.

While Chavda, daughter of a police constable, feels that reservation does boost opportunities for the backward classes, another SC candidate for the MA programme, Haripriya Amin, is vehemently against it. "It's because of our performance that we got through the open category. I don't think more reservation is required," says this 20-year-old from Kheda.


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