Sanskrit declaration at Varanasi airport draws criticism from online users
Sanskrit has been introduced as a language for notifications concerning Covid-19 at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. Although passengers have previously heard announcements in both English and Hindi, the new addition has generated attention online.
The Varanasi Airport’s official Twitter account posted a video of the announcement in Sanskrit. The Sanskrit announcement can be heard at the airport while travellers are moving in the video. “The Covid regulations are now also being announced in Sanskrit at Varanasi Airport, in addition to English and Hindi. To our esteemed clients at the airport. The airport tweeted in Hindi, “As soon as they arrive, they would sense that they have entered the rear place of Kashi – Sanskrit language.
Netizens were split on the decision. A few users applauded the introduction of Sanskrit, but others criticised it, calling it “dead” and wondering “who will understand.”
“The craziness of this defies words,” wrote musician and novelist T M Krishna. Let’s also incorporate Pali and Prakrit, he continued in the comments section. In Sarnath, Ashoka constructed his most famous pillar and Buddha gave his first speech. There is a lot of content in both languages! Making a warning about public health and safety in Sanskrit is just plain foolish.
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