RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said that Sanskrit is the root of all Indian languages and called for it to be used more widely as a medium of everyday communication. He was speaking at the inauguration of the Abhinav Bharti International Academic building at Kavi Kulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University.
“Sanskrit should not just be understood—it should be spoken,” Bhagwat said. He added that while he himself has learnt Sanskrit, he still finds it difficult to speak fluently. “Sanskrit needs to reach every household, and people must start using it in daily conversations,” he said.
He emphasised that language is not just a tool of communication, but also an expression of emotion and identity. “Language carries bhav (emotion), and swa-twa (individuality) is not just about material things—it’s about who we are, and this is conveyed through language,” Bhagwat said.
He stressed that Sanskrit is essential to understanding the essence of India. “Knowing Sanskrit is like understanding the country,” he remarked.
While noting that the university would continue to receive government support, Bhagwat said public involvement is equally important. “The government will support the Sanskrit university, but it also needs the patronage of the people,” he said.
He also spoke about the need for India to be self-reliant. “Everyone agrees that we need to become atmanirbhar (self-reliant). To achieve that, we must strengthen our knowledge and thinking,” he said.
