Author: G Manju Sainath
Publication: Deccan Herald
Date: November 16, 2004
URL: www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov162004/n4.asp
Besides Sanskrit, the Samaaj is
introducing English in these five tribal schools of Chhattisgarh.
"Sharanam. Aham Tav Abhivadanam
Karomi." Clad in white dhoti and kurta with a long tilak on forehead and
nicely combed hairs, students of Samarbar Sanskrit Vidyalaya enthral the
newcomer by greeting them in Sanskrit.
The tribal dominated village Samarbar
in Raigarh district has this Sanskrit school where small children converse
in Sanskrit with each other. What is more astonishing is that these kids
are not Brahmin but tribal. Years ago an enlightened tribal person, Swami
Rameshwar Kanwar, known popularly as Gahira Guru, began to change the tribal
world by spreading spirituality.
Having read many ancient scriptures,
Gahira Guru used Ramcharit Manas, written by Goswami Tulsidas, as a mean
to teach people the essence of 'Sanatan Dharma'. Gahira Guru used to meditate
everyday at Kailash Gupha (Kailash cave) at Samarbar, which is now a place
of tourists' delight.
Later Gahira Guru formed a group
of 20 persons to start his organisation Sanatan Dharma Sant Samaaj at Gahira
to elevate the standard and intellect of tribal people and change the way
they were living in for centuries. In turn, this group constituted the
Sanskrit Vidyalaya at Samarbar and Gahira where small kids frequently talk
in Sanskrit, but within the school premises.
Gahira Guru's son Chintamani, who
has been appointed as the chairperson of the Chhattisgarh Sanskrit Board
says, "Sanskrit is a sweetest language and one who practices it, can never
behave in an uncultured manner. We have heard of Kannada speaking villagers
of Mattur in Karnataka speaking in Sanskrit and we want to bring Sanskrit
in routine."
Chintamani showed a hilly Korava
tribal boy, a student of this school, who recited aloud the Sanskrit prayer.
Koravas are the most backward community in Chhattisgarh.
The Sanatan Dharma Sant Samaaj has
five Sanskrit schools at Gahira where Gahira Guru was born, Kailash Natheshwar
Gupha in Raigarh district where Gahira Guru used to meditate, Samarbar
- the place chosen by Gahira Guru to change the tribal world, Srikote and
Ambikapur, both in Sarguja districts. Besides Sanskrit, the Sanskrit board
is now introducing English in these Sanskrit schools to keep pace with
the latest trends in the world.
Recognising the works done by the
Sanatan Dharma Sant Samaaj, this year the BJP government awarded this organisation
with Gahira Guru Samman. At least one can say that if things go on in the
same pace, a miracle is going to happen soon at Samarbar and adjoining
areas to dazzle the world.
