English
is the language of livelihood
Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan recalls Ram
Manohar Lohia’s insistence on Hindi for the bureaucracy. Paswan says dominance
of English remains intact and the bureaucracy remains essentially anti-Hindi.
According to him in the last few years, the number of English-medium schools
has only risen, which is only natural because English has become the language
of livelihood.
How old is English? It was imposed on us in
1857; within 90-years it took such a deep root that it can’t be uprooted at all.
Paswan realizes this fact. He broods over the fact that Hindi continues to have
servile status while English continues to be language of aristocracy. But
ministers like Paswan talk only about Lohia’s views about language and
secularism but forget his stand against corruption.
Time and again this 'English versus Hindi'
comes up when, especially, some North Indian feel that their (his or her)
mother tongue should have a preeminent status in the country. This is a
wasteful debate. It will be better for such individuals to accept that English
language proficiency is essential as it has become the language that ensures
progress in a wide range of pursuits, and in parallel, that Hindi is not the
mother tongue of the larger section of India's population. Hindi cannot be
imposed on those who have no need or any desire to learn that language.
Anti English sentiments have become politically
traditional; some segments of politicians are beating this dead horse with the
fond hope that they have some space in political validity or relevance. English
is getting spread because it is the language of national (in an essentially
dominantly multi-language country) and international business, communications, science,
technology and all departments of knowledge. All lower and upper caste Indians
are seeking good employment everywhere in the world and are avidly learning
education in & through English, being a definite facilitator. Even
villagers are wanting to learn English and sending their children to schools
good in that international language; It is people's Demand in a Democracy. Anti
English sentiment and propaganda are an adjunct vote catching device; widening
the political prospects of certain otherwise irrelevant people. As a political
tool hatred has strengthened and widened it role; hatred of English is so in
India.
There is nothing wrong in English as that is
the link language in India. By trying to impose Hindi we are going to divide
the Country further. Already the Britishers divided us by Religion; our own
forefathers divided it by Language and our vote bank savvy politicians divided
us by Caste and Creed and now the Hindi is going to divide us further. Instead
of focusing for all round development we are wasting our precious resources and
energy in petty politics.
Now GOI had instructed all Banks to have all
their systems in bilingual, English and Hindi instead of English and Local vernacular.
If anyone wants to enrich his or her knowledge of Hindi he or she should do it himself
or herself but not by imposition.
It is better that English dominate than Hindi.
At least English is the language of progress. English, by its historical
nature, must dominate as the official language of transaction with equal
difficulty for all. Hindi may be the national language but its position as a
official language is only for the Hindi speaking States. If Hindi is made as
the National official language, it will give unfair advantage to the Hindi speaking
States over others and that won't be a level playing field for non-Hindi speakers,
therefore not acceptable. We don't need a Hindi hegemony that will divide
people in their expressions and abilities.
English was imposed on us in 1857, 160 years.
But Hindi is imposed on Southern states only after independence 1947, 70 years.
The children of anti Hindi ministers themselves are in English medium schools.
We have enough serious problems in the country and
no one has the luxury of time to waste like politicians wasting time of tax payers.
What a ridiculous diversion from the main stream problems facing this country.
Our politicians should avoid talking divisive topics rather than unite this country
for their political ambition in the Hindi belt and Dalits vote banks. English
is a global language and let the citizens of this great nation decide what they
want to learn and which language they choose. Let the politicians concentrate
on other useful things where they have miserably failed. English is the
language of livelihood – very true.
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