Be Modern and Use Sanskrit to Decolonize Your Mind: Oscar Pujol

Aparna Sridhar February 2, 2020

Oscar Pujol is a Catalan Indologist. He spent 17 years at BHU, Varanasi, taught Spanish there and obtained a Ph.D. in Sanskrit. He has written numerous papers on many aspects of Sanskrit language and philosophy. Amongst his many contributions to India and Sanskrit is a Sanskrit-Catalan dictionary containing around 64,000 entries, which took him around 12 years to complete. After having worked as Director of Education Programmes at Casa Asia, Barcelona, he is now setting up Instituto Cervantes at New Delhi.

Oscar Pujol with the King and Queen of Spain

I read that you found a copy of the Gita in a hotel room and liked the 3rd chapter. Why did the chapter appeal to you?

You have compiled a dictionary of Sanskrit. Is it Spanish to Sanskrit and Sanskrit to Spanish? How did you select the words? Was it based on usage?

You have traced the influence of some words in Sanskrit on some Western languages. How did you conduct that research?

What are your plans in the near future now that you have moved to Delhi?

Every single job application or academic application today while asking for languages known mentions French and Spanish. Never Sanskrit. How do you think we can change that? Make Sanskrit both ancient and modern?

Who are the people from Spain who are interested in learning Sanskrit? Are there many?

Many Indian musicians are travelling to Spain and jamming with Spanish musicians. Do you find similarities in our music?

LIVING IN INDIA

What was the most memorable part of living and learning in Varanasi?

Was it difficult bringing up your child in Varanasi?

What does your wife find most appealing about Bharatanatyam?

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