Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually inaugurated 13 Sanskrit villages, one in each district, during an event held at the Government Primary School in Bhogpur. The programme was jointly organised by the Uttarakhand Sanskrit Academy and the Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi.
Dhami said that Sanskrit villages would help instil values among people. He emphasised that Sanskrit should not be confined to rituals alone but should be adopted in daily conversation and practice. To ensure Sanskrit is passed down through generations, model Sanskrit villages will see the construction of Sanskrit Bhawans along with the establishment of government primary Sanskrit schools. So far, 5,000 boards with Sanskrit names have been installed at airports, railway stations, and other key locations.
Highlighting the language’s importance, Dhami said that in Sanatan culture, the Vedas, scriptures, Puranas, and Upanishads were all composed in Sanskrit. Calling it an eternal language, he added that under PM Modi’s leadership, efforts are underway to preserve and promote India’s cultural heritage.
The CM said the New Education Policy includes special measures to establish Sanskrit as a modern and practical language. Sanskrit universities are being equipped with modern resources, and digital initiatives such as online Sanskrit learning platforms, e-Sanskrit education tools, and Sanskrit apps are being developed. The central government has even begun translating Lok Sabha proceedings into Sanskrit.
The event was attended by MLA Brijbhushan Gairola, Rishikesh Mayor Shambhu Paswan, Deepak Kumar, and Uttarakhand Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dinesh Chandra Shastri.
Government working on major rehabilitation plan
Dhami announced that his government, with the Centre’s support, is working on a large rehabilitation plan for disaster-affected people. He paid tribute to those killed in Dharali Harshil with two minutes of silence, noting the heavy losses to lives, property, livestock, hotels, and crops. The government is providing ₹5 lakh as immediate relief to affected families. A committee headed by the Revenue Secretary will assess the damage and submit a report within a week.
Jobs and laws to protect cultural values
The CM said Uttarakhand was the first state to implement the Uniform Civil Code and that over 23,000 youths have secured government jobs since the introduction of the anti-cheating law. He stressed preserving Uttarakhand’s cultural values and demographics and vowed strict action against those maligning Sanatan Dharma under Operation Kalnemi.
NCC, NSS, and Scout Guide in Sanskrit schools
Cabinet Minister Dhan Singh Rawat announced that from next year, NCC, NSS, and Scout Guide activities will be introduced in all Sanskrit schools and colleges. Responding to MLA Gairola’s request, the CM also sanctioned ₹9 crore for the treatment of the Bhogpur Mahadev Khale.
List of the 13 Sanskrit Villages:
- Bhogpur (Dehradun)
- Mukhem (Tehri Garhwal)
- Kotgaon (Uttarkashi)
- Benji (Rudraprayag)
- Dimmer (Chamoli)
- Goda (Pauri Garhwal)
- Urg (Pithoragarh)
- Jaanti Pandekota (Almora)
- Sheri (Bageshwar)
- Kharkkarki (Champawat)
- Nurpur Panjanhedi (Haridwar)
- Pandey Gaon (Nainital)
- Nagla Tarai (Udham Singh Nagar)
The CM also interacted virtually with residents of these Sanskrit villages during the inauguration.
