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Time of India

Sanskrit beats Punjabi at summer camp in UT govt schools

1 2 3 Chandigarh: In a city where Punjabi and Hindi largely form part of everyday conversations, it's Sanskrit that has unexpectedly emerged as the most chosen language in Chandigarh's govt schools this summer. As part of the Bhartiya Bhasha Summer Camp 2025, 46 schools across the UT have selected Sanskrit for their week-long language immersion programme. Punjabi, the region's native tongue, is the second most popular choice, adopted by 23 schools. The third most preferred language is Bengali. But perhaps the biggest surprise came from Tamil — a language with little local footprint — which drew 100 students at GHS Maloya Colony, one of the highest turnouts for any language in the city. Moreover, even Manipuri, Pahadi, Kannada and Gadwali too have found many takers. These striking choices reflect both logistical realities and evolving cultural interests as over 9,000 students participate in the ministry of education's nationwide initiative, implemented under the National Education Policy 2020. Designed to introduce students to one scheduled Indian language not already taught in their school, the camp has become a powerful statement on India's linguistic diversity—and how students are ready to embrace it. While the official directive emphasised one language per school, enthusiasm on the ground often exceeded the blueprint. GMHS-12, for instance, offered four languages — Sanskrit, Urdu, Maithili, and Manipuri — while GMHS-28C attempted five: Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Rajasthani, and Odia. Despite these exceptions, the citywide preference was overwhelmingly in favour of Sanskrit. The dominance of Sanskrit can be traced to teacher availability, cultural value, and perhaps a growing interest among young students. GMHS Mauli Jagran reported the city's highest student participation — 106 students — for its Sanskrit camp. Yet, the diversity envisioned by the ministry was not fully realised. Despite being on the official list, languages like Assamese, Bodo, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Santali, Sindhi, and Telugu saw zero uptake. This stark absence raises questions about the reach of resources and community engagement for less represented linguistic groups. Designed as 28-hour capsule courses, the camps include activities ranging from role plays and storytelling to film screenings, quizzes, and food-based cultural exchanges. Each school appointed nodal teachers or community volunteers, many of whom were language specialists or enthusiastic members of the local community. The experience is set to continue beyond the summer as schools prepare to establish Bhartiya Bhasha Clubs to sustain student engagement with Indian languages through drama, music, debate, and more. "The encouraging participation in Sanskrit, Punjabi, and even Tamil reflects a growing awareness and appreciation among students for India's rich linguistic diversity heritage. This initiative marks a meaningful step toward fostering cultural connection and further integration through education," said Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, director, school education (Chandigarh). BOX IN A NUTSHELL Most taught language: Sanskrit (46 schools) Second most popular: Punjabi (23 schools) Third place: Bengali (15+ schools) Highest single-school turnout: GMHS Mauli Jagran (106 students, Sanskrit) Most languages taught in one school: GMHS 28C (Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Rajasthani, Odia) Languages with no takers: Assamese, Bodo, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Santali, Sindhi, Telugu Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !