The only village in India where everyone speaks Sanskrit

Tripoto
26th Mar 2020
Photo of The only village in India where everyone speaks Sanskrit by Aurangzeb Ali

MATTUR (SHIMOGA DISTRICT IN KARNATAKA) is the Only Village where everyone speaks sanskrit.

Subramanya's grocery shop, situated on the main road of the village, is buzzing with customers asking for various household items. What’s unusual is their language of communication – Sanskrit. The shop owner and his assistant, however, appear unperturbed – both are well versed in the 'dead' language. Just a few metres away, tea stall owner Armugam proudly says he regularly attends Sanskrit classes, organised at the Mariyamma temple. While conversing with the locals, he uses Sanskrit words liberally. Close by is a primary school run by the government. Its students are already familiar with simple Sanskrit words and sentences used in day-to-day life.
Far from being dead, Sanskrit in this village is well and truly flourishing.

Photo of The only village in India where everyone speaks Sanskrit by Aurangzeb Ali
Photo of The only village in India where everyone speaks Sanskrit by Aurangzeb Ali

  This is Mattur, a quaint, sleepy village located on the banks of river Tunga, about eight kilometres from Shivamogga city. Areca is the primary crop of cultivation in this village of about 3,500 people. Although technology has made inroads into people's lives, Sanskrit continues to be the preferred choice of communication, even though Kannada is the official language of the state. Sanskrit is spoken at the only hospital and bank branch of the village, as well as its eateries, shops and three schools, where from a young age, children are acquainted with the 'language of the gods'. Adjoining Mattur is Hosahalli village. Here too, Sanskrit is gaining popularity and is being taught through the Gayatri Veda Pathshala.
Ruthukumar Nayak, a local, says Sanskrit classes start at around 4.30am on the banks of Tunga river and continue through the day till 7.30-8pm. "In the morning, students of Sanskrit Pathshala attend classes, and in the evening, Sanskrit scholars hold classes for the villagers till late into the night. Everyone is completely focused on learning the language."
Ex-MLC BN Bhanu Prakash, who lives in Mattur, also holds a Sanskrit class every evening. He says he’s been part of this movement ever since the first Sanskrit camp was held in the village. "People are aware of the importance of Sanskrit. They have begun to apply it in their day-to-day lives. This is how we made this possible," he said.

Photo of The only village in India where everyone speaks Sanskrit by Aurangzeb Ali

In 1983, Mattur was declared the first Sanskrit village of the country by a noted seer from the state, and ever since, there's been no looking back. TN Girish, headmaster of Sharada Vilasa School that’s played an integral role in this Sanskrit revolution, recalls the events from 36 years ago. "Vishwesha Theertha Seer of Pejava mutt in Udupi was visiting the village to attend an event. The entire function was conducted in Sanskrit. The villagers conversed fluently with the seer, who was so mesmerised by this that he declared Mattur a Sanskrit village."
"After this event, Samskrita Bharati, a non-profit working to revive the language, headed by Chamu Krishna Shastri, started holding Sanskrit classes in the village regularly. People from all sections of society came to learn. Slowly the villagers started getting familiar with the language. This is how Sanskrit evolved here," he said.