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<strong>PKU</strong> <strong>News</strong>: Could you share with us your personal journey into Sanskrit, the world <strong>of</strong><br />
Indian classical literature in this ancient language?<br />
Bhate: I don't think there is any external motivation except that it is in my soul. Since I<br />
was a child, I knew that I loved the language. It was my parents who encourage me<br />
to undertake it as a career. On the other hand, any external motivation could be<br />
detrimental because Sanskrit has no job potential. [Laugh]. Even though I won many<br />
prizes in school examination, my friends told me not to do Sanskrit because I will not<br />
find any job. But that did not deter me because I knew that this is what I will do.<br />
<strong>PKU</strong> <strong>News</strong>: So it was out <strong>of</strong> sheer passion.<br />
Bhate: Exactly. And it is still my passion.<br />
<strong>PKU</strong> <strong>News</strong>: In your opinion, what is the current status <strong>of</strong> the study <strong>of</strong> Sanskrit around<br />
the world, in India and in China? Do you think it has been somewhat neglected?<br />
Bhate: I don't think it has been neglected. Again, let us take into the account <strong>of</strong><br />
globalization which is inevitable. You know, first <strong>of</strong> all, the world has three needs:<br />
food, shelter and comfort. Unless these needs are fulfilled, you cannot think <strong>of</strong><br />
culture. So, if there is at all any neglect anywhere around the world, this has to be<br />
taken into consideration. Even in my own country, Sanskrit is not widely studied with<br />
great interest although it is a very important language in our culture. But I don't blame<br />
my country for that because my country is a developing country. At the same time, I<br />
feel that whatever research project we undertake, however small that maybe, it has<br />
the quality. While in India, some scholars seem to work on the same topics again and<br />
again. Outside <strong>of</strong> India, in particular, I find the study <strong>of</strong> Sanskrit has a high quality<br />
because <strong>of</strong> new technology and broad vision <strong>of</strong> the students. They keep on finding<br />
new and interesting topics to work on and the studies therefore will prosper.<br />
<strong>PKU</strong> <strong>News</strong>: Should the studies <strong>of</strong> Sanskrit prosper as you envisioned, how would<br />
that contribute to the friendship and mutual understanding between the two<br />
countries?<br />
Bhate: Firstly, in the past Sanskrit and Chinese has very close relationship with each<br />
other due to Buddhism. Secondly, the language carries with it culture. It is not only<br />
that Buddhism came to India and then to China. Ethnically, Indian and Chinese are<br />
two different people. But when you examine the ancient cultures, they all share<br />
similar values - in the case <strong>of</strong> Buddhism: China, Japan, Burma, Sri Lanka, India.<br />
There are something I also believe to be the core values. When these countries work<br />
on a project with Sanskrit as a medium, they reach a mutual understanding and<br />
rediscover among them such core values <strong>of</strong> the ancient culture.<br />
<strong>北京大学</strong>英语新闻网/<strong>Peking</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>News</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>. Saroja Bhate :Promoting friendship and understanding between China and India through the medium <strong>of</strong> Sanskrit By Mao Wenbiao <strong>PKU</strong> NEWS 2005--11—20 http://ennews.pku.edu.cn/news.php?s=132797357 <strong>Peking</strong> <strong>University</strong>, Beijing, Nov. 20nd, 2005: The Beijing Forum has come to a successful end and many <strong>of</strong> the participating scholars from over 24 countries are on their way back to their home countries. A number <strong>of</strong> visiting scholars, however, took the opportunity to have a longer stay in the Chinese capital in order to enjoy the hospitality <strong>of</strong> the country as well as to engage in exchanges with the <strong>PKU</strong> students and teachers through lectures and workshops. Amongst them is Pr<strong>of</strong>. Saroja Bhate, a leading Sanskrit scholar from India who participated in the panel sessions on popular culture during the Beijing Forum. After the hectic program <strong>of</strong> the Forum, <strong>PKU</strong> <strong>News</strong> took the opportunity to have a leisurely interview with Pr<strong>of</strong>. Bhate to have a glimpse <strong>of</strong> the life <strong>of</strong> a scholar who devoted her life to the promotion <strong>of</strong> the ancient language. <strong>PKU</strong> <strong>News</strong>: We would like to first have some background information on you. Could you please tell us what brought you here to Beijing Forum this time? Bhate: It is my life-mission to promote Sanskrit. To promote the ancient tradition shared by India and China. When I studied ancient cultures, I discovered that the two countries have a lot to share with each other. When I read the theme <strong>of</strong> the forum, I found that this could be a very good opportunity for the two countries to come together, collaborate and work on some projects. This would be beneficial to both countries. <strong>PKU</strong> <strong>News</strong>: Your mission is therefore to promote the Sanskrit language. Bhate: Not only Sanskrit, but also the culture, through the medium <strong>of</strong> Sanskrit. When I heard that the Department <strong>of</strong> Sanskrit and Buddhist Literature here at <strong>Peking</strong> <strong>University</strong> is undertaking a few interesting projects, I thought to myself, why not make my own little contribution? It would indeed be wonderful if I can help the universities in China to link up with those in India. 866
<strong>北京大学</strong>英语新闻网/<strong>Peking</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>PKU</strong> <strong>News</strong>: Could you share with us your personal journey into Sanskrit, the world <strong>of</strong> Indian classical literature in this ancient language? Bhate: I don't think there is any external motivation except that it is in my soul. Since I was a child, I knew that I loved the language. It was my parents who encourage me to undertake it as a career. On the other hand, any external motivation could be detrimental because Sanskrit has no job potential. [Laugh]. Even though I won many prizes in school examination, my friends told me not to do Sanskrit because I will not find any job. But that did not deter me because I knew that this is what I will do. <strong>PKU</strong> <strong>News</strong>: So it was out <strong>of</strong> sheer passion. Bhate: Exactly. And it is still my passion. <strong>PKU</strong> <strong>News</strong>: In your opinion, what is the current status <strong>of</strong> the study <strong>of</strong> Sanskrit around the world, in India and in China? Do you think it has been somewhat neglected? Bhate: I don't think it has been neglected. Again, let us take into the account <strong>of</strong> globalization which is inevitable. You know, first <strong>of</strong> all, the world has three needs: food, shelter and comfort. Unless these needs are fulfilled, you cannot think <strong>of</strong> culture. So, if there is at all any neglect anywhere around the world, this has to be taken into consideration. Even in my own country, Sanskrit is not widely studied with great interest although it is a very important language in our culture. But I don't blame my country for that because my country is a developing country. At the same time, I feel that whatever research project we undertake, however small that maybe, it has the quality. While in India, some scholars seem to work on the same topics again and again. Outside <strong>of</strong> India, in particular, I find the study <strong>of</strong> Sanskrit has a high quality because <strong>of</strong> new technology and broad vision <strong>of</strong> the students. They keep on finding new and interesting topics to work on and the studies therefore will prosper. <strong>PKU</strong> <strong>News</strong>: Should the studies <strong>of</strong> Sanskrit prosper as you envisioned, how would that contribute to the friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries? Bhate: Firstly, in the past Sanskrit and Chinese has very close relationship with each other due to Buddhism. Secondly, the language carries with it culture. It is not only that Buddhism came to India and then to China. Ethnically, Indian and Chinese are two different people. But when you examine the ancient cultures, they all share similar values - in the case <strong>of</strong> Buddhism: China, Japan, Burma, Sri Lanka, India. There are something I also believe to be the core values. When these countries work on a project with Sanskrit as a medium, they reach a mutual understanding and rediscover among them such core values <strong>of</strong> the ancient culture. 867
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