'Sudharma': India’s only Sanskrit newspaper completes 55 years of printing; publishes only inspiring news, read worldwide from the USA to Japan

BENGALURU: House No. 561 on 2nd Ramachandra Agrahara in Mysuru has no nameplate but is an address recognised globally. It’s where Sudharma, India’s only Sanskrit daily newspaper, is typeset.

Sudharma celebrated its 56th year of unbroken publication on July 15.At its helm is scholar Jayalakshmi Sampath Kumar, a woman whose resolve and passion have kept the ancient language of Sanskrit alive in modern newsprint, defying odds and rewriting history.For the 59-year-old, editing ‘Sudharma’ is not just a job — it’s a sacred vow. “It’s like breathing life into a language every single day,” she says, her eyes gleaming with purpose.

She spends 14 to 15 hours every day at work, from chasing news late into the night to rising at dawn to craft stories in crisp, accessible Sanskrit.

Jayalakshmi says that her father-inlaw, late Varadaraja Iyengar, and her husband, late KV Sampath Kumar, ensured Sudharma never missed a single day of publication since its inception in 1970. “I am carrying forward their dream,” she says, in a steady voice tinged with pride.

Varadaraja Iyengar, a visionary Sanskrit scholar and book publisher, was instrumental in launching the Sanskrit news bulletin on All India Radio. He founded Sudharma on July 15, 1970, challenging the notion that Sanskrit was a “dead” language. Priced at a modest two paisa for its inaugural issue, released at the Government Maharaja Samskrita Maha Patashale, the newspaper took upon itself a mission to democratise Sanskrit, making it a living, breathing medium for the common reader.

Even during the tumultuous months of Emergency, when several printing presses fell silent, Sudharma stood resolute, its pages a testament to resilience.Jayalakshmi’s journey with Sudharma began in 1992, when she married KV Sampath Kumar, the son of the founder. A Sanskrit scholar herself, she was no stranger to the language, having studied it since childhood. At Sudharma, she honed her craft by immersing herself in the daily’s operations — writing, editing, printing, and engaging with readers.

When life took a cruel turn with Sampath Kumar’s passing on June 30, 2021, Jayalakshmi stepped into the editor’s shoes, undaunted.“Running a Sanskrit daily is unlike operating any other newspaper,” Jayalakshmi explains. In one page, Sudharma packs eight stories, each crafted in simple Sanskrit to promote the language’s accessibility. “Our goal has always been to make Sanskrit relatable,” she says. The editorial policy is unique: no crime or negative news, only stories that inspire and educate.Sports, especially modern ones like tennis, find prominence on Sudharma’s pages as they offer a chance to coin new Sanskrit words for contemporary concepts. “We’re not just reporting news; we’re expanding the language’s vocabulary,” she says with a smile. The daily’s reach extends far beyond Mysuru. Since launching its e-paper in 2008, Sudharma has garnered over 5,000 subscribers, many from countries such as the USA, UK, and Japan, where Sanskrit scholars and enthusiasts eagerly await each edition.

A subscription, priced at Rs 600 annually for both print and online versions, keeps the presses running.The newspaper also introduced a Sanskrit calendar in 1995, a cultural gem that details Indian festivals, historical notes, and mythological insights, further enriching its readers’ connection to India’s heritage.In 2020, she and her husband were honoured with the Padma Shri, a nod to their unwavering dedication to preserving Sanskrit.A team of erudite scholars, including Vidwan HV Nagaraja Rao, the honorary editor who joined a day after Sudharma’s launch, supports her. “From day one, our mission was to deliver news in simple Sanskrit,” says Nagaraja Rao, who has translated numerous works between Kannada and Sanskrit. Sanskrit language stalwarts VD Hegde, TV Satyanarayana, Srivatsacharya, HM Sudheer, and Balachandar contribute through editing, translations, and articles, ensuring Sudharma remains a beacon of scholarship.