Comments - Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by Ameyawaghmare

Hiten

Hiten — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Ameya

No doubt Hindi is our national language but we should not neglect other regional languages. We should protect our regional culture and languages.

Ameya Waghmare

Ameya Waghmare — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Hiten, thanks for the first comment! But, what practically do we do for protecting regional culture?

Prabhunarayan

Prabhunarayan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

People like Thackeray divide the people on the bases of region, religion and language. In the name of protecting the culture they divide the people for electoral gains.

Ameya Waghmare

Ameya Waghmare — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Prabhunarayan, every state - level politician is concerned about the state level activities. Yes, people like Thackeray are dividing on the basis of language, but prior to that it was SP in Mumbai who came with proposal to remove Marathi from BMC and send 20,00 goons if UP day is not celebrated. Both sides are wrong.

Prabhunarayan

Prabhunarayan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Ameya

Our constitution has given the right to protect regional culture and they should be allowed to do so. We can’t impose any language or culture on them. It is against the basic principles of our constitution.

Ameya Waghmare

Ameya Waghmare — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Prabhunarayan, we certainly can’t impose any language? Is it really ANY language including Hindi? i am not talking of imposing, but making learn one regional language compulsory in the Hindi speaking states in school curriculum. Once they leave school, they can forget.

Yash

Yash — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Pluralism is the soul of this country. Let the different tribes and cultures survive here.

Ameya Waghmare

Ameya Waghmare — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

yash, exactly! And that is why I think this step is important to practically have pluralism across the nation.

Andy

Andy — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Waghmare

What is this Hindi imperialism? Hindi is the language which binds the whole of the India. Hindi should be taught through out the country compulsorily.

Ameya Waghmare

Ameya Waghmare — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Andy, you have given your definition of what Hindi is. It is already taught all across the nation compulsorily. And that is why I think, at least one regional language deserves to be made compulsory in school level curriculum. They may be given any one choice out of the so many languages.

Leena

Leena — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The primary function of any language is communication.

Hindi is taught compulsorily in all states because being the national language it is a common language used for communication in all states. Regional languages have their own importance in their mother states and they should be a compulsory part of the school curriculum. But I don’t think that one of these languages should be made compulsory in the school curriculum of the hindi speaking states because they are not used in these states. Of course, a child can learn any regional language out of personal interest. Making a regional language mandatory will add to the study load of a child who must be already overburdened with a lot of other subjects and activities.

Ameya Waghmare

Ameya Waghmare — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Leena, your two statements are kind of contradicting. First you say, ”it (Hindi)is a common language used for communication in all states.”

Second, ”Regional languages have their own importance in their mother states ” I suggest you visit the interiors of Gujarat, MH’s Vidarbha and Marathwada region, all 4 south Indian states and even their major cities.

Leena

Leena — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

”But, then shouldn’t at least one regional language of India be compelled in the Hindi speaking states? What is the problem if Hindi speaking states are compelled to learn one regional language, viz. any one of the following: Punjabi, Kashmiri, Bengali, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannadiga, Telugu, Oriya, Tamil, Malayalam. ”

Ameya, referring to the above statement of yours, what I meant was, as regional languages have their own importance in their mother states, they shuold be compulsarily taught in the respective states. But as Hindi is the national language, it should be taught in all states of India. On the other hand,the Hindi speaking states already have hindi as their native language and they need not compulsarily learn any other regional language.

Ameya Waghmare

Ameya Waghmare — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Leena, that is what I am saying that Hindi is getting an upper hand. And ye, Hindi is not the national language of India! Hindi and English are the official languages of India, whereas every state has it’s own official language. There is no such ”national language’ as you are claiming. there is a list of recognized language. In TN, there were anti - Hindi agitations and you will sense a resentment against Hindi even till date. And why will they not? Tamil is a Dravidian language whereas Hindi is Indo - Aryan, so whats wrong if they are against imposing of any regional official language of north India?

Rather than making the matters worse, I think it would be best to implement something that helps in better national integrity. Already, there is a wave of resentment against in Bangalore and Pune for not learning the local language despite their stay for more than 5 years or so and all this on the false claim of Hindi being the national language! Can a person from Bangalore/Pune/Chennai be able to live in Lucknow or Patna on only knowing English? English is also the other official language of India!

And regarding this statement of yours: ”Making a regional language mandatory will add to the study load of a child who must be already overburdened with a lot of other subjects and activities.”

Think of a student from Bangalore with Kannadiga as mother tongue! Isn’t Hindi a burden for him/her as it is also another regional language? He already studies one official language, English, so why study another??

ARVIND K.PANDEY

ARVIND K.PANDEY — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Why is learning Hindi seen as some sort of burden by the South Indians ? They should ,in fact, be in league with sense of pride for having a perfect knowledge of Hindi-the national language !!

Ameya Waghmare

Ameya Waghmare — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Arvind, It is not even claimed to be a burden by them. Then, why should the Hindi – speaking states have any problem learning at least one regional language of India at its basic level? They should also have a sense of pride in learning it and becoming true, pluralized Indians! This will only help in further integrity of language.

ARVIND K.PANDEY

ARVIND K.PANDEY — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

@Ameya

But it’s you who feel ”Hindi is compelled to learn in all states. the south Indians find it particularly difficult and a bit of burden as Hindi bears little or no resemblance with the 4 south Indian languages.”

What do you mean by compelled? Why learning one’s national language be seen as some sort of compelled affair ?

Anyway, like to inform you about three language formula :

Accordingly, the Gujral Committee recommended the following modified form of three language formula:

(i) In Hindi speaking States:

(a) Hindi (with Sanskrit as part of the composite course);

(b) Urdu or any other modern Indian language excluding (a) and

(c) English or any other modern European language.

143

(ii) In non-Hindi speaking States:

(a) Regional language;

(b) Hindi;

(c) Urdu or any other modern Indian language excluding (a) and (b); and

(d) English or any other modern European language. (4.240)

http://www.education.nic.in/cd50years/u/47/3X/473X0I01.htm

Ameya Waghmare

Ameya Waghmare — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Arvind,

Hindi is not the national language of India! There is no national language India has!

Yes, that is my viewpoint that learning Hindi is a burden for the southern states because their languages are Dravidian languages and have no connection with the Aryan languages. Please check this map, it says exactly what I want to say: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/South_Asian_Language_Families.jpg

And thanks for that info of three - language formula! Now, that was the sort of thing that exactly I was looking for. I wish the emphasis should be more on the regional languages of India. Furthermore, Hindi speaking states will find it easy to learn any of the Aryan languages like Marathi, Punjabi, etc. as they very close resemblance to Hindi.

Anyways, I wonder why have I not received a single ’yes’ on this question. The free classes started by MNS in Mumbai for learning Marathi free of cost have got a very meager response. We blame politicians for dividing the nation and all, but what about we people? We are also nothing less when it comes to dividing ourselves.

Also, please tell me how many south Indian presidents have given a single speech in Hindi? Not a single one. There are few southern politicians who have given speeches in Hindi. That is a fact and we can’t hide our heads in the sand for some real problems. The solutions best lie in education and that is why I feel this move will help national integrity better.

Finally, did the recommendation was left in the office papers only or the move is implemented?

Well, thanks for your informative comment. This piece was helpful!

Nuya Bidness

Nuya Bidness — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

What language are all the road signs in? What about job applications, government documents etc.?

Ameya Waghmare

Ameya Waghmare — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Hi Nuya! Welcome :-)

Road signs are in English and the official language of the respective states. Job application and government documents are in English and Hindi (both being the official language). Personally, I feel English is the best connecting language inside India and most young people find it very comfortable indeed! India has got outsourcing deals and call - centers because of it’s prowess in English, and China is taking similar move. So, I think opting for English is the best thing ahead!