Also known as “Devabhumi” (Land of Gods), the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand will soon replace Urdu language signboards with Sanskrit, the language of sages, at railway stations.
The names written in Hindi, English, and Urdu, will now be replaced with Hindi, English, and Sanskrit as it is the second language of the hill station state.
The decision left several irked on social media, who called it a futile exercise as other important issues still remain under the rug.
— Abhijit (@abhijitc14) January 19, 2020
— AarAar (@harryrandhawa32) January 19, 2020
— Mariette Valsan (@MarietteValsan) January 19, 2020
— SK (@SkJain53577365) January 19, 2020
However, many welcomed the decision, citing the benefits of Sanskrit.
— Jd Kishan Singh 🇮🇳 (@kishan_jd) January 19, 2020
— Diwakar (@theshining_sun) January 19, 2020
— Prof(Dr). Anand Kar (@DrAnandKar) January 19, 2020
According to railway authorities, the decision has come with respect to the Railway Manual which holds that the name of railway stations on platforms should be written in the second official language of the state concerned after Hindi and English.
The state, known for hundreds of Hindu temples and shrines, is mentioned in the Hindu scriptures which reveal that sages visited the mountains in the region to meditate and attain salvation. Therefore, Sanskrit was made the second official language of the state in 2010 by then-chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
