Recently, a Reddit user’s frustration over Sanskrit being taught in schools has ignited a heated debate online, with many questioning the language’s relevance in modern education.

In a post titled “Why in the world is Sanskrit still being taught in schools?”, the user argued that Sanskrit, no longer spoken in daily life, is an unnecessary burden for students. “No one speaks Sanskrit any more. It’s basically an extinct language at this point,” they wrote.

While acknowledging the language’s historical and cultural significance, the author questioned its mandatory status in many schools. “Hours and hours are wasted on Sanskrit when the teachers themselves can't speak it fluently. Even if they could, what of it? What purpose does it serve?”

The user further criticised the way Sanskrit is taught, calling it an exercise in rote memorisation rather than true learning. “I learnt Sanskrit for five years, but I can't remember a single Sanskrit word,” they said, adding that most students forget what they studied after passing exams.

It's indeed a pertinent question: Why in the world is Sanskrit still being taught in schools? Agreed, Sanskrit is a great language, but like Latin, it's a moribund language if not completely dead. Today, it's anything but a functional tongue. No........

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