Rival of Sanskrit Journalism 2018

Sanskrit journalism is not exactly new in India. It just a surge, over the past few years Sanskrit newspapers got a great move due to growing interest in the language.

THE BIRTH OF SANSKRIT JOURNALISM:

• ‘Kashi Vidya Sudhanidhi’ or ‘The Pandit’ launched in 1866, first journal published in Sanskrit.
• Sudharma,Srijan Vani, Vishvasya Vrutantum, Sanskrit Vartaman Patram are daily newspa[ers.
• ‘Jayanti’ was the first Sanskrit newspaper. Started in 1906, it stopped publication after few years.
• Suderman, launched in 1970, is oldest surviving Sanskrit newspaper.

Today’s scenario

• Sanskrit journalism is slowly picking up, over a past decade there is a gradual increase in Sanskrit schools, colleges and universities due to comprising people who have learned the language in these places.
• People interest are growing because some of them like Sanskrit Vani and Samvad offer electric fare that includes a national and international news. And some like Srijan Vani even offers Bollywood gossip. Mostly run by family members of the founders with minuscule staff.
• The readership comprises students in Sanskrit schools, colleges, and universities; research scholars and common people are interested in the language.
• On an analysis, it proved that Sanskrit is not just a language of prayers and religious ceremonies but a very refined language of science and journalism.
• The increasing number of Sanskrit newspapers is fueling the demand for trained Sanskrit journalist. The publication depends on freelancers-(Sanskrit student, teachers, scholars) due to the lake of Sanskrit journalist.

CHANGES SOON:

• Last year Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, a Delhi based deemed University, started a first-of-its-kind one-year diploma course in Sanskrit journalism. The first batch of 25 students completed the course this year. The University is set to launch an advanced course in Sanskrit journalism in partnership with Indian Institute of Mass Communication(IIMC), which include digital training.
• “The new TV and radio programmes, print and digital publications in Sanskrit have opened up avenues for Sanskrit journalists.”
• A lot of youngsters, mostly from villages and small towns, who want to take up Sanskrit journalism. As of now, a lot of youngsters who study Sanskrit prefer to take up teaching. But not many know that there is also a registered association of Sanskrit journalists with 70 members.

FUTURE ASPECTS:

• This is for sure in the coming years, Sanskrit journalist will enjoy the same status as Hindi and English journalist. The financial aspect is the main aspect which is confronting Sanskrit newspapers although newspapers may be growing. There is an also puzzle with government and corporate support.
• Some of them are running their newspapers with the support of non-government organizations that works to promote Sanskrit. Because of a scarcity of financial crunch, they fail to bring out a print issue and have to send PDF files to their subscribers. But I’m sure that the time is not far when Sanskrit journalism will embellish.

” धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम् “

(Let there be no neglect of Virtue)