Jaya opposes Sanskrit Week, writes to Modi

Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, opposing the CBSE proposal of Sanskrit Week celebrations in schools in August, said it would be appropriate to hold a Classical Language Week in each state based on its linguistic heritage.

The HRD communication has said that while the celebrations would be conducted by CBSE, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in all states between August 7 and 13, state governments have also been requested to organize such events at the state, district and other levels.

"Tamil Nadu has a rich cultural heritage based on the ancient Tamil language. There has also been a strong social justice and language movement in the state. Hence, any official celebration of 'Sanskrit week' in Tamil Nadu is highly inappropriate", Jayalalithaa said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"It would have been much more appropriate to have organised a Classical Language Week in each state based on the linguistic heritage," she said.
The chief minister requested Modi to ask officials to suitably modify the letter to enable each state, including the CBSE schools, to organise celebrations in accordance with the culture and language of the state.

"This would be in keeping with the cultural and linguistic sensitivities in a diverse country like ours", she added.

The HRD proposal has been criticised by several parties in Tamil Nadu including BJP allies like the MDMK and PMK.