Sanskrit, Alive and Well

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Sanskrit, Alive and Well

The June 15 news story "Summer Camps Revive India's Ancient Sanskrit" unnecessarily branded and infused with ideological overtones the emerging Indian movement to renew the study of Sanskrit.

Staff writer Rama Lakshmi depicted the movement as tied to Hindu nationalist attempts to assert dominance in a pluralist nation. This is an unsubstantiated assumption that demeans the efforts of millions of Hindus to reconnect with their linguistic heritage, which is the wellspring of a plurality of Indic languages.

The article referred to Sanskrit as a "language long dismissed as dead." This is not so. Sanskrit is the liturgical language of Hinduism and is used daily by millions of Hindus worldwide.

-- Ishanaa Rambachan

Kensington

The writer is a member of the executive council and the media team at the Hindu American Foundation.

Satirists of Note

Michael Cavna's June 12 Style article on political satirists, "Comedians of Clout," made a start at covering this issue, but for my money there were several important omissions. For 27 years, the Capitol Steps troupe has successfully delivered sharp-tongued political satire to a national audience, through stage, television and radio performances. The Steps show is a must-see for many D.C. tourists, and their albums have legions of loyal fans across the United States.

If "The Simpsons" can parody local political satirist Mark Russell, why was he ignored? Has The Post also forgotten Joan Cushing, Mrs. Foggybottom? What about the Hexagon Players?

Let's take pride in the fact that several of these nationally known satirists have D.C. connections.

-- Scott Sedar

Washington

My Attention Span Burst

Regarding "The Bubble; How homeowners, speculators and Wall Street dealmakers rode a wave of easy money with crippling consequences," the first installment of the three-part, front-page series by Alec Klein and Zachary A. Goldfarb that began June 15:

Surely The Post can find some other relevant topics to cover besides the subprime market. This story has been hashed and rehashed dozens and dozens of times throughout the media (cable, newspapers, magazines, TV talk shows). Give me a break.

I was disappointed to pay for a Sunday Post and see this rehash. Such an approach could be contributing to your decline in print subscribers. How about some original content?

-- Bob Beck

Ashburn

Spoiler Alert

I was really looking forward to seeing the new M. Night Shyamalan movie, "The Happening," last weekend. I enjoy his movies and plot twists. I was intrigued when I spotted your June 13 review "Shyamalan's 'Happening' Lacks a Sense of Direction," but I did not read it because I did not want any surprises spoiled.

But my eyes fell on a photo caption that said, "A morning in New York's Central Park takes a turn for the bizarre after an airborne toxin is released."

I had no idea that the movie revolved around an airborne toxin. This must be a major plot point. Why would The Post reveal such crucial information?

The best part of Shyamalan's movies is not knowing what is going to happen next. But The Post ruined it.

-- Jeff McCarthy

Alexandria

Loud and Clear

In her June 16 front-page story, "FCC Chair to Support XM-Sirius Merger," staff writer Cecilia Kang twice referred to "radio transmitters" when she meant "radio receivers."

While the writer may not know the difference -- the broadcaster uses a transmitter to send the signal, and the listener uses a receiver to pick it up -- her editors should know the difference just from the root words or the context. Consumers neither want nor need a choice of transmitters; what they want is a choice of receivers to put in their vehicles to get the signal being transmitted by XM/Sirius.

Frankly, I expect better of The Post.

-- Martin Gear

Columbia

Listen Up

In the June 13 Virginia Briefing, Tom Jackman described a man arrested in an embezzlement case as "a former coordinator for deaf interpreters."

It should be "a former coordinator for interpreters for the deaf."

-- Jennifer Witteborg

Rixeyville, Va.