Imposing Hindi: Nehru promised keeping English, says Stalin
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Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the first PM of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru promised that English would continue to be one of the official languages as long as the non-Hindi speakers wish.
In a letter to the PM, Stalin expressed his disapproval of an alleged proposal by a parliamentary committee that Hindi must be made the medium of instruction in educational institutions under the Centre, Asian News International reported.
Stalin alleged that a committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah submitted that Hindi should be made compulsory as a medium of instruction in IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, central universities etc., replacing English, no matter technical or non-technical institutions as well as Kendriya Vidyalayas.
Stalin said that he learned that the committee suggested that candidates for certain jobs would be eligible only if they had studied Hindi. Also, English needed to be removed from its compulsory paper status. He argued that such recommendations are against the federal principles of the Constitution "and will only harm the multi-lingual fabric of our Nation," ANI quoted.
He said that there are 22 languages, including Tamil, included in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution, and there are more non-Hindi speakers than Hindi speakers in the country. Every language has its own importance and speciality, and therefore, the objective must be to protect them and use English as a link language rather than imposing Hindi.
The recent attempts to impose Hindi were rather divisive, putting non-Hindi speakers at a very "disadvantageous" position, he said. Nehru made the promise of continued use of English respecting the sentiments and understanding the need to maintain Indian unity and harmony. "Subsequently, the resolutions passed in 1968 and 1976 on official language, and according to the rules laid down thereunder, ensuring the use of both English and Hindi in union government services. This position must remain the cornerstone of all discussions on official language," ANI quoted the CM.
Promoting all languages will back the pride and strength of the nation. India remains a multicultural and multilinguistic because of its inclusive and harmonious policies. But the imposition of Hindi under "one nation" will destroy the feeling of brotherhood and will undermine the integrity of India, he said.
He wanted the Centre to include all languages in the Eight Schedule and promote them, keeping an open avenue of progress in terms of education and employment equal to all their speakers.
"I, therefore, request that the efforts to impose Hindi in various ways as recommended in the report may not be taken forward and the glorious flame of unity of India may be held high forever," ANI quoted Stalin.