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<h1 class="gmail-story-body__headline">Cow belt’s hypocrisy over three-language formula exposed </h1>
<h2 class="gmail-story-body__subheadline">The three-language formula
has been subverted in Hindi-speaking states where students opt for
Sanskrit but can neither read, speak or write in it</h2>
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<span>Ashlin Mathew</span>
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<time class="gmail-story-body__date">Apr 20th 2017, 09.26 PM</time>
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<p> </p><p>The last comprehensive language Census, carried out in
2001, had put the number of Sanskrit speakers in the country at just
14,000. These numbers were less than anticipated since many students in
the Hindi-speaking states, as well as the national capital Delhi, opt to
study Sanskrit.</p><p><br></p><p>In Delhi alone, in 2015-16, as many as
1,94,801 students were enrolled to study Sanskrit, which was being
taught in 98% of the schools. In 1,024 government schools in the
national capital, official records put the number of Sanskrit teachers
at 4,296 which translates into one Sanskrit teacher for every 45
students.</p><p><br></p><p>The figures acquire significance because of
the renewed debate on the three-language formula implemented in 1968,
following recommendation by the Kothari Commission. The recent debate
has been triggered by media reports that Hindi has been made mandatory
up to Class 10 and that the ‘President has accepted recommendations made
by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on <em>Raj Bhasha</em>’.</p><p><br></p><p>A
major recommendation floated by the Standing Committee was that people
occupying Constitutional posts should deliver addresses in Hindi, even
in cases they are not able to read and speak the language.</p><p><br></p><p>The proposal was made way back in 2011 and it is still not clear why the reports have begun to surface only now.</p><p><br></p><p>Predictably, however, the reports have still caused an uproar.</p><p><br></p><p>The
‘imposition’ of Hindi on South Indians, the predominant language in 10
out of 29 states, coupled with the reluctance of North Indians to learn a
‘South Indian’ language has thrown the debate wide open. The language
Census of 2001 recorded that 25% of the population had Hindi as their
mother tongue.</p><p><br></p><p>While Indian students have been expected
to learn their mother tongue, Hindi, and one other language under the
1968 formula, school-goers in Hindi-speaking states seem to have got
away by opting for Sanskrit and not learning English either.</p><p><br></p><p>In other words,<a href="http://www.nationalheraldindia.com/news/2017/04/20/*http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement3.htm"> judging by the Census figures</a>, a vast majority of students in the cow-belt are <a href="http://www.nationalheraldindia.com/news/2017/04/20/*http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement1.aspx">neither literate in English, nor proficient in Sanskrit</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>When
an attempt was made to end the use of English as the language for
official communication back in 1965, Tamil Nadu erupted in protests
which even sparked off riots in Madurai. Peace could only return after
then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri assured state residents that
English would continue to be used as the official language until the
nation reached a consensus over Hindi.</p><p><br></p><p>“I am happy with
the three-language formula, whereby every Indian child would
compulsorily learn three languages in school – English, Hindi and a
regional language of their choice (usually the language of the state).
Where the language of the state is already Hindi, children could be
encouraged to learn a South Indian language just as South Indian
children have to learn Hindi. This would eliminate concerns about
marginalisation. But Sanskrit could also be an acceptable substitute,”
Shashi Tharoor, the Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram, told <em>National Herald</em> in an email interview.</p><p><br></p><p>Tharoor
remarked that pushing people in high offices to make speeches in Hindi
was silly. “The language chosen should vary according to the fluency of
the speaker, the nature of the occasion and the identity of the
audience.”</p><p><br></p><p>Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta agreed with Tharoor.</p><p><br></p><p>“The
three-language formula exists and it is possible to find a workable
solution within the existing framework. There was no compelling need to
revisit the issue,” said Dasgupta.</p><p><br></p><p>A Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam (DMK) leader, NS Kanimozhi, however, reckoned that the
three-language formula has been “subverted” in the northern states.</p><p><br></p><p>“Why
should one language be given preference, when many languages exist?
Making anything compulsory doesn’t help. The three-language formula is
in place, but this formula has been subverted in northern parts of the
country, especially rural areas, where children are taught Hindi,
English and Sanskrit. No one cares to opt for any other language,”
Kanimozhi told <em>National Herald</em>.</p><p><br></p><p>Professor
Apoorvanand, a Hindi professor at Delhi University, believed that lax
enforcement of the three-language policy in the North was leading to
“many native languages dying out.”</p><p><br></p><p>“In many of the
states in South India, except for Tamil Nadu, Hindi is being taught, but
those from the Hindi-speaking areas are not learning any other
language,” the academic said.</p><p><br></p><p>“There was no need for
the notification now, but there has been a move to make the country
Hindi-dominated. It would create nothing but suspicion. Look at our
currency notes. Devanagari numerals have replaced the
Constitution-approved international numerals, which are of Indian
origin. It is an unconstitutional move,” Apoorvanand added.</p><p><br></p><p>A
supporter of the three-language policy, Congress MP Tharoor remarked
that “homogenisation” stood no chance in a diverse country like India,
saying, “If such decisions are part of a BJP-led project of Hindi,
Hindu, Hindustan, it will only divide the nation at a time when unity is
what we all need.”</p><p><a href="http://www.nationalheraldindia.com/news/2017/04/20/cow-belt-hypocrisy-over-three-language-formula-exposed-sanskrit-hindi-english-india-tamil-nadu">http://www.nationalheraldindia.com/news/2017/04/20/cow-belt-hypocrisy-over-three-language-formula-exposed-sanskrit-hindi-english-india-tamil-nadu</a><br></p><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
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