Lucknow: Sanskrit is witnessing a surge in popularity as a spoken language in Uttar Pradesh, with over 1.21 lakh individuals registering to learn the language under the state-run Missed Call Yojana. More than 53,000 participants have received direct training in spoken Sanskrit, as per data shared by the Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan.
Launched in 2018, the scheme aims to promote Sanskrit beyond its traditional role in religious texts. The Missed Call Yojana was designed to generate interest and simplify enrollment in spoken Sanskrit courses. Registered participants receive 20 day training modules consisting of one hour daily sessions. These include PowerPoint-based instruction and conversation practice.
As of now, 523 motivational sessions have been conducted on the relevance of Sanskrit. The final phase of training includes an internship segment where participants produce educational content such as videos promoting the language.
Approximately half of all participants are women, and participation has extended beyond the state’s boundaries, attracting learners from other regions as well.
Further efforts to institutionalize the learning include special training for teachers. In 2019, 100 primary school teachers per DIET (District Institute of Education and Training) center were given five days of spoken Sanskrit training. During 2020–21, online training programs for 50 teachers per district were held, resulting in a total of 1,400 teachers trained under the initiative.
Additionally, the Sanskrit Sansthan continues to conduct monthly five-day workshops at venues like Chunnu-Munnu Sanskarshala and Kashi Samvadshala.
The initiative also includes the “Grihe-Grihe Sanskritam” (Sanskrit in Every Home) campaign, which engages school students, their families, and community members in regular Sanskrit use and learning.
Dr. Vachaspati Mishra, former president of the Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan, noted that these structured programs have increased awareness and created a demand for learning Sanskrit in everyday life. He added that continued training and outreach efforts could potentially bring lakhs more into the fold of spoken Sanskrit education in the coming years.
