Formula Of Nothing

Central government may have defused the controversy over “imposition” of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking regions in response to the protests in southern states, especially in Tamil Nadu, but that doesn’t mean it won’t come up again. Since independence the government has been flirting with the idea of promoting Hindi among non-Hindi speaking people. A clause in the Draft National Education Policy was the latest attempt. It had made teaching Hindi mandatory in the schools of non-Hindi speaking states as a third language. Students in Hindi speaking states had to choose one modern Indian language as a third language, besides Hindi and English. This was in the initial draft.

The re-uploaded draft does away with the clause of mandatory teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states, and gives option to choose a third language to both the regions. But everybody has to learn three languages in school. In U.S, it is mandatory for students to learn English and one other language. In Japan, it’s Japanese and English. The policy is same in European countries. What on earth, then, makes Indian government think that it is necessary to teach Indian children three languages? A child has to learn four languages if her mother tongue does not have official language status. It is always good to learn more languages, but making it mandatory does not make sense. I think making a child proficient in her mother tongue and one other language is enough. Today there are lot of options available to her if she wants to learn more languages.

As far as the issue of link language is concerned, bollywood is taking Hindi across the country. Most people know basic Hindi. Internet has made things much more easy. Do we really need to study a link language for five years? The government must do away with the Three Language Formula, and make two languages- English and mother tongue- mandatory in schools all over the country. It should focus on the development of those languages which do not enjoy official language status. Promoting a common language to keep India united is the old trick of 1940s and 50s. India has moved ahead, the government must catch up fast.