The perilsous march of Hindistan

The perilsous march of Hindistan

Context:

• Congress leader Shashi Tharoor recently questioned in Lok Sabha the purpose of making Hindi an official language at the United Nations.

The three-language policy:

• Parliament passed the Official Language Resolution in 1968, stipulating that a modern Indian language (MIL), preferably one of the southern languages, be studied in Hindi-speaking areas (along with Hindi and English) and that Hindi be studied in areas where it is not spoken (along with the regional languages and English).
• The three-language policy was meant for the entire country.
• However, the policy took a whole different shape as if it was a prescription for non-Hindi-speaking States alone.
• While non-Hindi-speaking States (except Tamil Nadu) adhered to the three-language policy, Hindi-speaking States too not only gave up on teaching a non-Hindi language in their schools but effectively delegitimised English.

What of those recommendations has the Centre accepted?

• Firstly, Students in colleges and universities in non-Hindi-speaking States will henceforth have the option of taking exams and interviews in Hindi.
• Secondly, it asks that government advertisements in Hindi newspapers be of “bigger size” and “at starting pages”, while those in English newspapers be of “relatively smaller size” and “in middle or ending pages”.
• Thirdly, it mandates the purchase of more Hindi newspapers and magazines in all Central government offices, public sector undertakings, institutions funded by the government, and private companies engaged in public service.
• Fourthly, In order to end the dominance of English, such schools should not be given recognition by the government which do not impart education in Hindi or mother tongue.

Factors responsible to Indian language policy:

• Firstly, English has become a global language and a certain fluency in it is taken as a given for mobility as well as for access to global knowledge.
• Secondly, many non-Hindi Indian languages are older than Hindi and their speakers are justly proud of their rich cultural and literary heritage.
• They strive to make their respective languages prominent in governance and education, while keeping English for what it is.
• These States lack both the desire and the need to learn Hindi.