India not 'Vishwaguru' anymore: BJP veteran M M Joshi

BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi emphasises the importance of promoting Sanskrit to help India regain its status as a 'Vishwaguru' and advance in fields like quantum computing.

Batting for greater promotion of Sanskrit and its use even in quantum computing, BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi on Monday said India is not a 'vishwaguru' (global teacher) anymore and this term should not be used.

Promoting Sanskrit As An Official Language

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Joshi also made a strong pitch for making Sanskrit India's official language, saying many people, including B R Ambedkar, made efforts for it in the past, but the proposals were not cleared.

He was speaking to reporters at the inauguration of the central office of the Sanskrit Bharati, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

India's Role As A Global Teacher

Asked about his view on India's role in the promotion of Sanskrit at a time when India has become a 'vishwaguru' and is also emerging as an AI hub, the former Union minister said, "The notion that we are a 'vishwaguru'... I personally believe nowadays that we should refrain from using this term. We are not 'vishwaguru' at present. We should aspire to be 'vishwaguru."

"Indeed, we were 'vishwaguru' at one time. However, the reality today is that we are not," he said.

Sanskrit In Modern Science

From this point of view, Sanskrit is very significant today, Joshi said, batting for greater promotion of the ancient language and its use in modern scientific pursuits, including quantum computing.

The promotion of Sanskrit has been a long-debated topic in Indian politics, often intertwined with discussions about national identity and cultural heritage.

Making Sanskrit an official language would require significant legislative changes and widespread public support.

The debate also touches upon the allocation of resources for language promotion and education.