Mattur-The Only Sanskrit speaking Village of India

Sanskrit is the ancient most language of the world and also stands in the list of 22 scheduled languages of the Indian sub-continent. A lot of effort has been made to popularize and preserve this language in the entire country but the twin villages of Karnataka have made remarkable efforts.

Located on the banks of Tunga River, almost around eight kilometers from Shimoga, Matttur has a population of around 5000 people who are mostly Brahmins. They use Sanskrit even in their day to day affairs. And what’s more, there is one software professional coming from each family. The children are taught Vedas till they turn ten by the elderly people of the village.

One is amazed to know that these Sanskrit followers who are clad in white dhoti and drapes are well-connected to the modern world too. It is a normal scene to watch people riding bikes, wearing T-shirts, expanding the computer script in one hand and handling Sanskrit palm leaves from the other hand. They may be wearing jeans and flaunt expensive mobile phones but they are very well attached to their soil. A lot of IT professionals who are born here work in many foreign countries.

The language of the Gods or the deva bhasha, Sanskrit, the root of many languages is spoken by less than one percent population of India. Under such circumstances, the people of Mattur are making a commendable effort in passing on the legacy to not only the next generation but are also willing to teach Sanskrit to all who are interested. All the very best people!