Note: This article was published in 2011
Our family has embarked on a path that, while new to many Indian-American families, is quite familiar within the American education system: homeschooling, or as we prefer to call it, “gRuha-pAThashAlA.” People choose to homeschool for various reasons, including (but not limited to) the pursuit of religious education, classical education, or special education. Simply put, it allows a child to pursue specific interests that their traditional school might not offer.
My two children are currently in elementary school. Since homeschooling provides freedom and flexibility, we’ve seized the opportunity to delve deeply into Samskritam, alongside their core curriculum of science, math, and the arts. Samskritam is studied at least three times a week, covering the spoken language, grammatical theory, and its unique script. There are enormous benefits to the long-term study of a classical language, and we’ve already experienced some immediate advantages.
Early Wins: Reading, Chanting, and Conversational Fluency
Even in the fourth and second grades, both children can already read the Devanagari script fairly well. This has been incredibly useful for their daily chanting, helping them learn the correct intonation and fluctuations of phrases. Learning, chanting, and eventually memorizing great works like the Bhagavad Gita and Vishnu Sahasranamam are significantly easier because of their ability to read the text in its original form.
Their study of Sambhashanam (conversational Samskritam) has helped to allay the common fear that Samskritam is a difficult and “unapproachable” language. Many wrongly believe it takes tremendous effort to learn even the basics of Samskritam, a task seen as so daunting that some don’t even try. Conversational Samskritam, as taught by Samskrita Bharati, helps one become familiar with the richness of the language without the intimidation. The ease with which my sons speak Samskritam, after barely two years of study, stands as a testament to the organization’s effective methods.
Unexpected Connections: Samskritam and English Grammar
Surprisingly, the study of Samskritam grammar has also improved their understanding of English grammar. When analyzing a new passage, they instinctively examine word and sentence structure, automatically comparing it to English to find similarities or differences between the two languages. The precision Samskritam teaches has helped them to analytically and systematically evaluate literature. These are important skills applicable to many other subjects as well.
A Glimpse into Genius: Kalidasa and Beyond
Currently, my ten-year-old is studying “Raghuvamsha” and is able to glimpse the genius of Kalidasa. He is subtly exposed to etymology, poetic meter, and the study of compound word structures. He gets to revel in the beauty of the numerous metaphors used by the Mahakavi, thus getting a peek into one of the highest artistic and intellectual minds of all time.
Works in Samskritam have set exceedingly high standards for poetry, philosophy, literature, and drama. They imbue the mind with ideas of beauty, morality, and logic. It is indeed a pity that in India, we have lost the tradition of learning Samskritam during early childhood, especially given the vast repository of intellectual ideas embedded within the language.
Samskritam imparts an intellectual discipline that is unsurpassed. The study of Samskritam provides a solid base, teaching our children critical thinking and systematic analysis, along with the wisdom and ideals of our forefathers.
(Vijaya Viswanathan lives in Berwyn, PA, and homeschools her two sons.)
