Hindi Imposition through the Back-Door???
I just came across an advertisement in the Hindu
and Times of India - This was released by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. This
advertisement is pertaining to the Readjustment of Representations of SC &
ST in Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Bill, 2013:
Interestingly,
the advertisement invites
suggestions to be sent in this connection but, surprisingly, insists that
suggestions can be sent ONLY in either
English or Hindi.
Coming as it does in the aftermath of the
recent attempt to change the rules of UPSC Exams (for entry into IAS, IPS,
etc.), this is truly shocking and a clear case of imposition of Hindi through
the backdoor.
After all, how many people from interior rural
areas of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, etc. would know enough of English or
Hindi? There must be a provision to send such suggestions in all the major
official languages of India such as Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Telugu,
etc.
Let me make one thing abundantly clear: I am not
trying to be a regional language chauvinist.
My only query: What happens to equity? If this
goes on in a similar vein, I'm sure there will be a series of anti-Hindi
agitations. India has enough problems of its own. Let the government not try and
create more problems!
Regards,