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As I walked through the narrow streets of Mysuru’s Agrahara district, the map on my phone misled me and told me I had arrived at the office. Sudharma, the world’s only daily newspaper published in Sanskrit. It was a dead end, with houses built side by side around it.
I was a little lost, so I asked a passerby for directions. ”Sudharma?It’s right there,” he said, pointing further down the road.? Sudharma It looked nothing like a newspaper company. It resembled a small middle-class house, with wood-framed windows, a small door, and yellow walls. When I stepped inside, I saw a large printing press tucked away beyond the main hall. It reminded me of a handloom.
Jayalakshmi Sudharma’s office
Photo credit: Pankaj Mishra
culture curator
“Namaskara” KS Jayalakshmi, a woman in her 60s, warmly greeted me from behind her desk. She wore a typical South Indian green cotton silk sari, symbolizing both her heritage and her resilience. Her expressive eyes, framed by her glasses, showed her deep sense of purpose.After the death of her husband Sampath Kumar, she Sudharma.
Founded in 1970 by Pandit Varadaraja Iyengar, Sudharma It was born out of his desire to make Sanskrit, often dismissed as a “dead” ancient language, alive and meaningful. He saw it not as a relic, but as a living, dynamic voice that can still speak to the modern world. “Interestingly, this initiative started with teaching Sanskrit to girls in 1963 and represents a progressive approach towards inclusive education in Sanskrit. The program has now been expanded to include boys. But the main objective was to encourage girls to learn Sanskrit,” Jayalakshmi said.
Sudharma’s mysuru office
Photo credit: Pankaj Mishra
K. Sampath Kumar Iyengar, Editor Sudharmaran the newspaper for several decades after his founding father died in 1990. Sampath himself passed away at the age of 64. He is known for his dedicated oversight of all aspects of the business, from reporting to design, and won a Padma Award. Shuri and his wife in 2020. His work has received recognition from the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actor Amitabh Bachchan. He also published the world’s only Sanskrit calendar.
“My inspiration comes from the legacy left by my father-in-law and inherited by my husband. He was the first to start all over India.” Sudharma. It was his strength and vision. “When I joined this mission, I realized that it was not just an obligation, but a part of who I was,” Jayalakshmi said. We were growing a treasure.” Despite initial skepticism about its viability, Pandit Iyengar continued his efforts to adapt. Sanskrit for modern times led to the adoption of new words for modern concepts, making the language approachable and practical.
As I was walking down the hallway of Sudharma’s At my office in Mysuru, I realized that this is not just a newspaper story. It’s a fight to keep part of our past alive. I was stepping into a story that began more than half a century ago. Despite all the challenges, economic hurdles and onslaught of the digital age; Sudharma A small piece of paper with a big heart that stands firm. “I can’t join the military or contribute in other traditional ways, but I can’t run. Sudharma Spreading Sanskrit is my way of contributing to the nation. The goal is not just to make a profit. It’s about giving back to our cultural heritage and contributing to its preservation,” says Jayalakshmi.
But as I looked around at the stacks of paper, the smell of ink, and the old printing presses, I couldn’t help but think: What is the place of ancient Indian languages in the age of AI?
Sanskrit in the age of AI
So how do we keep Sanskrit alive? I asked.
“Sudharma is not about perpetuating Sanskrit!” Jayalakshmi emphasized. She shared an anecdote about an 80-year-old linguist from Varanasi. He knew over 100 languages and had visited Varanasi. Sudharma’s office. Linguists have said that languages last as long as even one person speaks or understands them. “Even people who do not consciously know Sanskrit can be exposed to it through prayers and rituals. For example, commonly recited prayers and poems are in Sanskrit, and for many Indians Sanskrit is a daily language. It has become part of our lives.”
This restructured my understanding Sudharma’s Its role is not as a preserver of dying languages, but as a platform to celebrate languages that live on in the hearts and homes of India.
And what about securing it and making a profit? Sudharma Does it survive and support the lives of the people who operate it?
money and purpose
“The question of profit and cultural contribution is a matter of individual perspective. Of course, economic stability is important to everyone, and the commercial aspect cannot be ignored. But in the Indian context, we We have a responsibility to contribute something meaningful,” says Jayalakshmi.
The challenges are complex. Jayalakshmi’s insights put this struggle into perspective. In the past, Sudharma In places like Kashmir, newspapers sometimes took six days to reach readers, which was acceptable. But now people want instant news. “The demand for instant information is changing journalism. Everyone has a mobile phone, which makes it harder to retain readers. Asura (Devil),” she said.
Beyond the Newspaper: A Cultural Crusade
Over the past decade, several news reports have warned of a crisis. Sudharma They are facing each other. Jayalakshmi acknowledges the challenges, but remains firm in her belief that newspapers will not go out of business. “I never thought about closing it.” Sudharma, even during difficult times. Every day brought new challenges, but we never let negativity take over. Sudharma But they were unfounded. Our aim was always to continue publishing the newspaper and even expand it. Our message has always been clear in the media.We are committed to continuing and growing Sudharma. ”
But how do small newspapers stick around?
“My motivation lies in understanding the importance of our work and its role in education.Normally parents want their children to become engineers, doctors or IAS officers; Very few of us would like our students to become Sanskrit scholars. But we, even engineers, are now learning Sanskrit and becoming scholars, although the number may be small.”
More than a newspaper
In today’s media environment, there is often a rush to find the most economically viable model, and the relentless pursuit of profit overshadows purpose.but Sudharma It teaches us another lesson. Here’s a media model that doesn’t rely solely on balance sheets. “The journey to keep Sanskrit alive is a long one, but just as radio has evolved over the centuries, so too has our approach to Sanskrit and its study.”
Sudharma’s Efforts to preserve Sanskrit go beyond just publishing newspapers. They use all kinds of tools: printed calendars, books, community engagement, offline events, and more. It’s not about survival at all costs. Instead, it is a thoughtful mix of traditional and modern methods, all aimed at keeping its mission alive. “Through these calendars, we aim to provide information about our culture, geography, language, etc. This year, we will highlight the importance of mountains in our culture by quoting various holy texts. These calendars promote our language and culture,” Jayalakshmi Iyengar tells me as she flips through the pages of a newly printed calendar.
We make ancient wisdom accessible and relevant by providing people with a printed calendar that explores the richness of Sanskrit literature, not just dates and books. The community also plays a big role. Sudharma strives to foster a sense of language belonging through local events and gatherings.
No language restrictions
Sudharma is not alone in that quest. Sanskrit is making a comeback around the world, from the universities of Germany to the streets of Mysuru. “Sanskrit and yoga are intertwined and as awareness increases, more people want to learn about our culture and language,” Jayalakshmi says.
This relationship between language and lifestyle can be seen all over the world. In Germany, for example, the appeal of Sanskrit has increased significantly. There are only four universities teaching Sanskrit in the UK, but there are 14 in Germany. This interest is not a recent trend.
Growing up, I remember that my late father, a Sanskrit scholar who also spoke German, often marveled at the deep cultural and etymological connections between the two languages. .
This shared journey shows how people and organizations thousands of miles apart can connect through a love of language. As I was getting ready to leave after finishing her conversation with Jayalakshmi, she handed me some fruits such as bananas, apples, and oranges. Once again with her ‘namaskara’.
As I walked through the city with fruit in hand, I couldn’t help but feel enveloped in the warmth of the culture around me. It was a subtle reminder of how this rich past influences and shapes us in many and often unnoticed ways.
(Pankaj Mishra has been a journalist for over 20 years and is the co-founder of FactorDaily.)
Disclaimer: These are the author’s personal opinions.
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