We must raise our kids to not only be practising Hindus but to be capable of deep study of Hindu texts and manuscripts. Western scholars misinterpret our texts and we are helpless, humiliated and outraged. It will take a generation to get out of this cycle but it must be done.

Lack of familiarity with Sanskrit has caused immense damage to the Hindu psyche. As adults, many are left with an impotent inability to counter things which western Indologists throw at Hindus. There can be no deep study or rebuttal possible without knowledge of Sanskrit.

Many Hindus are still surprised when they hear someone is studying Sanskrit. Reactions range from ‘What will you do with it?’ to ‘I didn’t know people still do that’. Some actually say ‘In india? But Sanskrit studies are done in Germany, right?’ without thinking it odd at all.

The tendency among average English-speaking Hindus -with some exceptions- is to look upon any interest in Sanskrit as somehow regressive, old fashioned at best, or Right Wing extremism at worst. Parents can do 2 things:

1. Educate ourselves along with children. It is a start.

2. It is very important to form a community so that learning is reinforced and made sustainable. It is easier to interest kids if their peers are also doing the same things. Get together with like-minded families. Make Sanskrit-learning aspirational. Others will soon follow.

HinduPost Note:

This Sanskrit YouTube channel has been recommended by many as a good starting point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PbRJxbczgE

Samskrita Bharati also conducts courses in Sanskrit for all levels: https://www.samskritabharati.in/

(This article has been compiled from the tweet thread of @Indic_Angle)