Mentioning that the Hindi language accounts for approximately 40-43 percent of native speakers in India, the student organisation noted that there is a plethora of other native languages in India which are rich, thriving and vibrant in their own perspectives giving India an image of a diverse and multi-lingual nation.
TFM Desk
The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), 8 students’ bodies representing the seven states of the Northeastern Region (NER) on Monday submitted a representation to Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressing its strong opposition to the proposal to make Hindi compulsory till class X in all the 8 North Eastern States.
NESO, a conglomeration of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), the Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), the Garo Students’ Union (GSU), the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) registered the objection following the proposal in the recently concluded Parliamentary Official Language Committee that the subject of Hindi language, a component of the Modern Indian Language (MIL) will be made compulsory till class X in all the 8 North Eastern States.
Mentioning that the Hindi language accounts for approximately 40-43 percent of native speakers in India, the student organisation noted that there is a plethora of other native languages in India which are rich, thriving and vibrant in their own perspectives giving India an image of a diverse and multi-lingual nation.
In the representation, NESO asserted that in the NER each state bears its own unique and diversified languages spoken by different ethnic groups ranging from Indo-Aryan, to Tibeto-Burman, to Austro-Asiatic families. In the region, a native language or a mother tongue is an important marker for a community. Native languages are being further enriched in terms of all aspects such as in literature, academics and arts, it added.
The student organisation observed that the imposition of Hindi as a compulsory subject in the NER will be detrimental not only for the propagation and dissemination of the indigenous languages but also to students who will be compelled to add another compulsory subject to their already vast syllabus. The NESO is vehemently against this policy and will continue to oppose as it had done in the past, said the representation.
Further the representation said as per the understanding of the organisation, such a move will not usher in unity but will be a tool to create apprehensions and disharmony. Also, a move to make one of the MIL subjects as compulsory is more or less like belittling the indigenous language spoken and written by a particular community, it said.
The NESO urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to withdraw such an unfavourable policy but instead focus on how to further uplift the indigenous languages of the North East region such as incorporation in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution and facilitating more schemes for their development and progress. The NESO is of the view that indigenous languages should be made compulsory in their native states till the 10th standard and Hindi should remain as an optional or elective subject, it said.
Urging to take due consideration of its proposals and suggestions, the student body sought revocation of the Parliamentary Official Language Committee’s decision.