Is it challenging for an author to choose the right words while writing?
There was a time when people wrote books using vocabulary that most of today’s generation can’t easily understand.
Can we just read those old texts and laugh because they’re hard to recognize or relate to? Definitely not!
Yes, there are people with a strong command of advanced vocabulary who genuinely enjoy reading such texts. But that’s only around 20% of the population—what about the rest?
Don’t they deserve the opportunity to enjoy reading as well?
In fact, many people have stopped reading books simply because the language feels too difficult. On the other hand, books written in simpler, more relatable language often become more successful. Why? Well, we already know the answer—it’s because more people can understand and connect with them. And that’s not a negative thing. It’s actually something to be appreciated.
A Reader’s Point of View:
It mostly depends on who’s reading the book. Everyone has different levels of understanding and different expectations when it comes to reading.
For example, my mom has a strong vocabulary and enjoys books that challenge her. But I’m not really a fan of complex words. What she finds exciting, I may find boring or too difficult.
I believe everyone should have the freedom to enjoy books. In school, we start building our vocabulary early on—but not all students learn at the same pace. Some are average, and some are what we call “geeks.” Sadly, average students often get mocked for not knowing enough words, while geeks are teased for being too into books.
So, there’s no perfect standard. As we grow, we realize that not everyone understands things the same way.
Take ancient Sanskrit scriptures, for example. They’re incredibly complex for most people to understand. That’s why they’ve been translated and explained in many languages—so their meaning can be passed on. All over the world, ancient texts are being rewritten in simpler language to help us understand the civilizations of the past.
Shri Madhvacharya did something similar—he interpreted ancient scriptures in a way that today’s scholars can understand. And because of that, this knowledge has been preserved and shared.
Isn’t that the whole point?
If Shri Madhvacharya hadn’t explained those ancient texts in simpler bhaashya (commentaries), would today’s scholars even be able to understand them?
When humans first appeared, they used drawings on cave walls to communicate or record memories. As we evolved, those drawings turned into language. And every generation developed its own style of literature.
Our ancestors spoke, wrote, and thought in the language of the gods—Sanskrit.
So here’s a question: If we all started writing, speaking, and thinking in Sanskrit again, would it change everything?
Or was it also a challenge for Shri Madhvacharya to carefully choose his words—so they could be understood by future generations?
Gauri K
Nice post!