VADODARA, Oct 13: Regional languages should be given due importance and not neglected with the introduction of English, said Minister of State for Youth and Cultural Affairs Mahesh Trivedi here on Monday.Trivedi was here to attend the 39th annual conference of the Oriental Institute organised at the Shamiana, M S University. Addressing scholars and other delegates, who had come to attend the conference from various parts of the world, Trivedi said, ``School students should be taught English, but at the same time they should know their mother tongue as well''.Trivedi said depending upon what the scholars' conclude at the end of the conference, he would take a decision regarding opening of a Sanskrit university in Gujarat. Seeking scholars' help in setting up the university, he said their support could make the task easier.Speaking on the occasion, renowned Sanskrit scholar V Ventatachalam observed that earlier, India took pride in it's various languages, but now they were being given a raw deal. Pointing out the changing educational policies, he said while earlier learning languages was compulsory, today's policy-makers were neglecting them.Highlighting the importance of Sanskrit, he observed that though Sanskrit was instrumental in connecting various parts of the country, lack of initiative had pushed the subject to the backseat.General Secretary of the conference D Agnihotri, while coming down heavily on the concerned authorities said, many hand-written manuscripts were lying unnoticed and only with community support their meaning could be determined.Suggesting that Sanskrit books and documents should be kept in archives, he said a large number of books like the shrout-sutras were lying neglected and were ignored by traditional types of students and scholars.Agnihotri regretted that the Yajna institute, which was once very popular with people and scholars alike, had gone into oblivion due to lack of interest.Concluding his address, he appealed the 1,500-odd scholars to strive to revive the language and regain its popularity.
