Sanskrit: Alive, not dead! Story of Gaiea's Sanskrit film

 

 

 

 

Devavani Sanskrit or the language spoken by Gods, is considered as the most ancient language of humanity that is in practice even today. The cultural history that can be retrieved with the help of Sanskrit, is no match to any other language. The fact speaks volumes about the significance of Sanskrit in understanding the journey of humans. Unfortunately, Sanskrit is perceived merely as an Indian language; an ancient language of the Indian land that can add value to Indian history through available literature. That might be true but at the same time it might also be limiting the scope of this ancient language that existed in ancient and historic times.

 

The Sanskrit shloka mentioned above means, "A person who travels around different countries, speaking to different intellectuals is similar to that one drop of oil that covers the water surface, forming a layer of its own." The understanding of the shloka particularly here, is that metaphorically the water here is referred to the ignorance that exists among the learned men and the drop of oil that will cover the ignorance will be in reference to Gaiea, a non Indian musical artist who is renowned for her recitation of Sanskrit shlokas.

 

Gaiea or Gabriella Burnel is a UK based singer, who only sings in Sanskrit. She first came into contact with Sanskrit as a little girl hearing it from her parents. She went on to study it at school, at the University of Oxford, and continues her learning to this day both in London and with yearly visits to her teachers in India. Besides, Gaiea also sings, teaches Alexander Technique (Alexander technique is a way of learning how you can get rid of harmful tension in your body) and Yoga, and leads monthly Vedic Chanting and Kirtan sessions in London and beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

Gaiea, who is often seen reciting Sanskrit shlokas so beautifully that even people born and brought up in the Indian land might not be able to do, has recently announced that she will be making a film based on various questions that have arose in her mind since several years of her learning the ancient language. In her latest poster, she reveals a few questions that formed the foundation of her research documentary; "How long have the sounds of Sanskrit been active and alive in the British Isles and Europe?", "What are the links between Sanskrit, British and European Heritage?", "Why is it so important that these sounds are acknowledged as living as opposed to part of 'dead' language?", and "And how are these sounds used in the daily lives of many here in the UK and Europe?"

 

Clearly, Gaiea's passion to learn Sanskrit took her across the edge, towards a completely different side of the ancient language. According to Gaiea, she was to carry out this particular study in India but the pandemic put a twist to her plan and absolutely new gates of research were opened. Before Lockdown, Gaiea was about to go to India to begin research for a documentary about Sanskrit, interviewing people across India, speaking in Sanskrit and visiting beautiful locations from Nepal to Kerala where there is a wealth of knowledge of Sanskrit.

 

But because of the pandemic instead of travelling abroad, she considered to scrutinize the land where she was born in and introduce her motherland to something the British had never known about Sanskrit. Gaiea was impelled to execute her research to the depth and width and breadth of Sanskrit that is alive all around the British Isles, even today.

 

 

 

 

 

The aim of Gaiea's documentary is to answer such questions 'how long have the sounds of Sanskrit been active and alive in the British Isles and Europe' and to look at links between the heritage of Sanskrit and British and European heritage. To interview experts, practitioners and simply lovers of this language and soundscape. To find out why it is so important that these sounds are acknowledged as living as opposed to part of a 'dead language', and how these sounds are used in the daily lives of many here in the UK and Europe.

 

Gaiea's research will introduce a completely different facet of Sanskrit that will not only be new to the rest of the world but also India. A novel chapter will added to the heritage of Indo- British bond. Gaiea's project will be significant for both the nations not only on cultural lines but also on political lines, considering the policy level shift in British International policy of the Indo - Pacific tilt. Besides, ethnically as well, Gaiea's project possesses significance in the changing scenario of UK, where we see growing concerns of London becoming 'Londonistan'. A new chapter of India - UK relations is on its way.

 

 

-- The article is based on Gaiea Sanskrit's (name of her twitter handle) tweet.