The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : `Sanskrit turning into a specialists' language'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

`Sanskrit turning into a specialists' language'

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, FEB. 1. The noted German Indologist, Albrecht Frenz, has said that Sanskrit can survive as a language only if it is used in everyday life.

Delivering this year's Parikshith Memorial Lecture at the Government Sanskrit College Auditorium, Thripunithura, on Tuesday, Dr. Frenz said that there were hardly any takers for Sanskrit in German universities these days as it had turned out to be an exclusively specialists' language. Earlier, the interest in Sanskrit as a subject for linguistic studies was there. But, this has resulted in the creation of a group of specialists, reducing the language to a specialists' topic, he said.

Dr. Frenz said that a science could not survive if it was not brought down to the grassroots level.

Referring to `Rudra-Siva Concept,' which was the topic of this year's lecture, Dr. Frenz said that the Siva concept, unlike the concept of Vishnu, has more connection with reality. The Siva concept, especially that of the Siva-Parvathi , is able to contain life in its varied forms and expressions. Unlike Lakshmy, who sits at the feet of Vishnu, massaging his foot, Parvathy quarrels with Siva, has bouts of jealousy, even leaves him and reunites later. She is the embodiment of love at times, at times the personification of wrath.

Of Semitic religions

Dr. Frenz said that the Semitic religions, including Judaism and Christianity, were born in the desert. In the desert, there is only one way to the oasis. Thus, there is only one way to reach the one and only God. But, in regions like Greece, Asia Minor and India, the landscape is different. So, the ways to reach God are many.

Drawing a comparison between the ancient civilisations of the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia and the Egypt, Dr. Frenz described the similarities found in the three cultures. A thorough knowledge of Sanskrit, the Mesopotamian language and the Egyptian Hieroglyphics could lead to wonderful revelations for the students.

Spiritual concept in art

Using visual images, he delineated the major differences between the fundamental concepts in Western and Indian art. While Western art, from the ancient times, stressed on the depiction of reality, Indian art was more concerned with the representation of a spiritual concept, said Dr. Frenz.

The lecture was inaugurated by Gertraud Frenz, great-great-grand daughter of Hermann Gundert and wife of Dr. Frenz. Ms. Frenz said that she remembered visiting her grandmother, where she would see the portrait of the late scholar. She said that earlier, hardly anyone in Germany knew Gundert. Some people knew him as the grand father of Hermann Hesse. It was after the visit of an Indian delegation in the 50s that Gundert began to be known in Germany.

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