A three-day residential Sanskrit learning camp was conducted from April 26th through April 28th at Saraswathi Mandiram, Green Pastures Estate, a serene location at Epping, NH. About 60 people, men women and children of various age from various walks of life and from as far south as Florida to as far west as California attended the camp with a fervor to learn the language. The aim of the camp was to teach people to speak in Sanskrit. Appropriately named as “Gangotri”, this camp is the first of it’s kind with more such camps at other locations to follow.

The organizers were considerate to have different class levels for people with varying levels of knowledge in Sanskrit. An advanced class for those with a good knowledge of Sanskrit, an intermediate class, a beginners’ class and children’s class were the four levels offered at the camp.

A typical day at the camp started at 6:00 in the morning with Yoga and meditation. Classes started from 8:30 AM and went until 12:30 PM with small breaks in between. After lunch the classes again would start from 2:30 PM and go until 5:00 PM. After refreshments, physical games would be conducted for people to stretch. There were Bhajans( Devotional Songs ) in the evening by camp participants followed by night dinner. After dinner everyday, there would be Manoranjan( rereactional ) activities that consisted of skits, plays and songs only in sanskrit organized by the participants themselves.

A number of local speakers spoke on the occasion to motivate the learners. Dr. Suresh Jain, Senior Scientist and Research Director of Millenium Pharmaceuticals gave the inaugural address. According to him Sanskrit is a medium to better know our Samskriti( Heritage ). On the closing ceremony, Dr. Satya Prakash Saraswat, Professor, Department of Computer Information Systems, Bentley College briefly spoke about how the little Sanskrit he learnt in his childhood has stimulated him to do more research on it in his later years. Dr. H.R. Vijayakumar, a physician in the Greater Boston area also gave a presentation. He is the treasurer of Chinmaya Mission in Boston.

The participants very much liked the idea of a “Speak Sanskrit” camp and were glad to have made use of this unique opportunity. “Gangotri Shibiram (camp) is a very good experience. This is my first Sanskrit Camp and I got a head start with Sanskrit. Among other things, seeing the enthusiasm of people of all ages was very encouraging. Seeing a 6-year-old kid in the camp converse fluently in Sanskrit was very motivational. The camp has given a nice boost to all beginners like myself that Sanskrit is not a completely new language to learn, rather it is within all of us, hidden in some form or the other. With such efforts of dedicated volunteers, being able to have day to day conversation in Sanskrit should not be very difficult at all”, says Vikrant Shah from Washington, DC.

Shanthi Muthu from Rhode Island speaks to her 6 year old Pavitra only in Sanskrit. She also taught the children’s class in the camp. This is what she had to say: “I was happy that the children were exposed to lot of spoken Sanskrit. I was also happy about all the participants' enthusiasm in the nightly entertainment program. I met some wonderful people in the camp, whose relationship I hope to continue.”

Sri Vasuvaj, the International Coordinator and US Program Director for Samskrita Bharati is one of the 180 full time volunteers helping the cause of spreading Sanskrit in the western side of the world. In his busy schedule he tours various countries like USA, Canada, the Caribbean and other South American countries and conducts such camps and other activities that further the spread of Sanskrit.

Through its 'Speak Sanskrit' classes and other activities, Samskrita Bharati has initiated tens of hundreds of Sanskrit enthusiasts all across the US. Dr. Govinda Rao, the USA co-coordinator for Samskrita Bharati, flew all the way from San Jose, California to encourage and teach the participants. He is one of the major supporting pillars of Samskrita Bharati in the US. According to him, “The unsurpassing wisdom of our sages is hidden in great scriptures. Sanskrit is the key to this priceless heritage. Samskrita Bharati invites you to unearth the treasure.”

Samskrita Bharati USA plans to conduct three-day residential camps near major metropolitan cities this year following the “Gangotri” example. People with an interest to organize such camps in their locality are encouraged to contact:

Samskrita Bharati
1044, Lancer Drive,
San Jose, CA - 95129
Tel: 408-871-0351
Email: samskritaBharati@coolindian.com
Web: http://www.samskrita-bharati.org/

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