Note: This article was published in 2011
The introduction of Sanskrit into my life completely changed my perspective and opened up horizons I could only dream of reaching before. Not only did I develop several close friendships across the country, but I was also introduced to a whole new aspect of my culture. After four years of being immersed in Sanskrit, I can confidently say that the knowledge I gained has helped me understand my culture and its traditions far better.
The Spark: A Sunday Class in 2006
This incredible journey began in May 2006. A gentleman from India, temporarily working in Erie, visited the temple in Pittsburgh. He happened to arrive on a Sunday, when three religious classes were in session. He came to my class with the intention of introducing us to Sanskrit. During that first session, he taught us how to introduce ourselves and others, and identify basic objects. Knowing that my parents had studied Sanskrit for two years in school, I enthusiastically shared what I had learned that day. The following week, we discovered he would be conducting a weekly, 45-minute Sanskrit class for children.
Early Lessons and a Moment of Doubt
And so, my Sanskrit education began. He taught us for a month, and the following September, my parents started a Sanskrit class. From the weekend after Labor Day until mid-May, I learned several basic concepts of the language, such as action verbs, nouns (people, places, and things), direct and indirect object pronouns, and the present, future, and past tenses.
However, after that year, several students, many of whom were my friends, dropped out of the class due to various commitments. Consequently, I started to lose interest in Sanskrit. The following year, I didn’t learn much new material, and Sanskrit became a distant afterthought. It seemed that chapter of my life had passed.
A Turning Point: The Residential Camp
This all took a drastic turn for the better in June 2008. I attended a one-week, residential Sanskrit camp, held for the second time at Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. I gained more knowledge from this camp, which included 25 hours of instruction, than ever before. Not only did this rejuvenate my confidence in the language, but I also befriended numerous individuals aged 12 to 16. I became far more involved in my parents’ class the following year, even though, once again, I learned little new material due to the level of the other students.
Nevertheless, I refined my Level 1 and 2 Sanskrit skills. After attending two more camps the following July, I had transitioned from an enthusiastic student to a devoted, dedicated student and advocate of the world’s oldest language. Additionally, I had developed closer friendships with people from all over the continent. After that, I never looked back or regretted any of my decisions concerning Sanskrit. I signed up for a course and tested out of the first level, allowing me to seriously continue my studies in this beautiful language. For obvious reasons, I attended the same youth residential camp this year, meeting many of my friends. Clearly, the decision to pursue Sanskrit was a life-changing one, as I now see it in a profoundly positive light.
The Enduring Impact: Culture, Connection, and Beyond
In conclusion, looking back at how Sanskrit became part of my life, I realize that the primary reason was peer motivation. Although it may not have been direct counseling and advising by friends, the mere presence of individuals whom I have come to know and love persuaded me to stick with the language.
Now, with this acquired knowledge, I am able to understand the traditions and practices surrounding my religion and the entire Indian culture far better. Learning Sanskrit has given me a greater appreciation for all world languages and has sparked an interest in learning many of them. That is how my immersion into Sanskrit was, and continues to be, a life-altering experience.
(Bharat Iyer is currently a 10th grader at Fox Chapel Area High School in Pittsburgh, PA, and a third-year student in the SAFL program.)
