Author: Geeta Pandey
Publication: BBC News
Date: February 20, 2004
URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/3480049.stm
India's Vedic tradition, regarded
by Hindus as the foundation of their religion and culture, could be heading
for a revival.
The vast body of Sanskrit poetry,
philosophy and rituals which make up the Vedas is seen by India's religious
majority as the ultimate source of knowledge.
But the ancient tradition has been
on the decline in modern times.
Now the United Nations cultural
organisation, Unesco, has formally recognised it as part of the world's
heritage of oral history.
It says Vedic chanting is an intangible
heritage of humanity.
Recognition by Unesco is expected
to give a boost to the dwindling number of Vedic centres around India.
Although the Vedas were recorded
in writing some 15 centuries ago, they are traditionally learned through
recitation and chanting.
'Symbol'
In the southern state of Kerala,
Vedic chanting is very much part of the curriculum at the Brahmaswam Madham
school in the town of Thirssur.
Sitting cross-legged on the wooden
floor of a 700-year-old temple, 25 young boys and their teachers pray to
Lord Krishna.
Clad in white sarongs, the boys
are bare-chested, and their chanting is accompanied by ritualistic hand
movements.
Here the children are learning about
ancient Indian scriptures and how the Vedas are considered to be the source
of all human knowledge.
Although Vedas were written down
in ancient times, they are mostly passed on from one generation to another
orally.
AM Kesavan, who is 20, has spent
12 years at the school and wants to be a Vedic teacher.
"Vedas are a symbol of India's culture
and tradition and they have to be preserved for thousands and thousands
of years," he says.
"My part in it is to acquire this
knowledge and pass it on to the future generations."
Kesavan and his fellow students
begin the day with a dip in the pond at the crack of dawn.
It is followed by Suryanamaskar
- the worship of the sun god. From then onwards, most of the day is devoted
to learning the scriptures.
Scholars say the Vedic tradition
dates back to almost 10,000 years BC, but most historians say 4,000 BC
is more realistic.
The principal of the school, Vallabhan
Namboodiri, says that when he was a student he had between 55 and 60 classmates.
But he says that has all changed.
"Nowadays, students are reluctant
and their parents are reluctant because they want academic studies so that
their children can get a better job.
"Also, nowadays most families have
one or two children.
"Earlier, there were 10 or 12 children
per family, so they could send one or two of their boys to study the Vedas,"
he says.
Action plan
The Unesco grant is a big boost
for this ancient tradition, and it is hoped that more people will now be
able to take it up.
Sudha Gopalakrishnan, from the Indira
Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, wrote the proposal for Unesco.
"With the help of this recognition
people will be more encouraged to take up this profession," she says.
"The proposal consists of a two-year
action plan - schools will be opened throughout the country which will
concentrate on Vedic chanting and the students will be encouraged to take
it up."
As the day draws to a close at the
Brahmaswam Madham school, the children sit by the side of the mossy green
waters of the pool.
The water shimmers in the setting
sun, and the young scholars recite mantras with their eyes tightly shut.
It is a picture of calm and serenity
amid the crumbling walls and peeling plaster.
The students and teachers hope recognition
by Unesco will help improve their lot and bring in the much-needed funds
to repair the school.
The last several decades has seen
only neglect and official apathy.
