IT IS 'AHALYA BAI HOLKAR' AND NOT 'AHILYA BAI HOLKAR' AS IS COMMONLY REPRESENTED

IT IS 'AHALYA BAI HOLKAR' AND NOT 'AHILYA BAI HOLKAR' AS IS COMMONLY REPRESENTED 

The name ought to be Ahalya Bai Holkar and not Ahilya Bai Holkar as is commonly represented through lack of knowledge of Sanskrit. The author, Vikram Sampath, at least is erudite enough not to fall into this pitfall of linguistic aberration and ought to correct himself and the nation with it by writing and pronouncing the name correctly. If the incorrect naming has been our colonial heritage, then we ought to rectify course and set things straight as per our own linguistic heritage. The name 'Ahalya' is of revered memory in the Ramayana [correct pronunciation being Raamaayan] and has suffered alien atrocity in being altered to 'Ahilya', a fate that need not be its final one at our hands now seventy-five years after receiving Dominion Status and seventy-two years after becoming a Sovereign Republic. Dr. Sampath may start pronouncing the name as it ought to be and, so, set in the process of like utterance among the multitude that listen to his talks and interviews. If his pronunciation of English is faulty, that is easily understandable as English is not his mother tongue nor is he an Englishman groomed in regal English. But where words of Sanskrit origin are concerned, it is an inexcusable offence on the part of an erudite as he is to make such commonplace errors. Hope this message reaches him from some quarter and the right measures are duly adopted. Even where English is concerned there is room for improvement in diction which a conscientious researcher-scholar would revel in doing. May God grant long and fruitful years to Dr. Sampath in health, happiness and seminal service to the motherland through his path-breaking research and writing! Jai Hind! Vande Mataram! 🕉

Written by Sugata Bose