Why is Hindi India's national language?
This question on The Sunday Times of India in its question-answer column called 'Open Space' made me curious enough to find out if the questioner, presumably a young student, has any links... Read The Article
Dear Mr Rajmanohar, It is really sad that U are attributing our independence also to Britishers.We got independence due to English from WHOM??. The Same English.
Also, Congress was not established to get independence.It was established to assist Britishers to govern.All the great congressmen like Gokhale, PherozShah Mehta always go to British govt to plead and it is not heard. Later when Nationalist like Bal Ganghadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai , Aurobindo Ghosh took control of Congress, it declared Swaraj and Swadeshi as aims.Later Gandhiji,Sardar Patel and lot of Indians who studied in India took the cause of Independence.
Regarding your economic theory, by surviving in BPO industry,we are not going to great.This is just providing food for some people.Its good but not the paneace for all out ills.We should be strong in Agriculture and Industries and that we can do without learning English. Mind it, Germany, Italy, France, Japan are not good at English but still great Economic forces.
( Posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 14:30 )
T S Niranjan
The article shouldnt have mentioned karnataka as the Hindi hatred is not all that bad there as it is in Tamil Nadu!
( Posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 14:24 )
You are right. It started in 1960s in TN. But other southies were late ra. No one hates hindi but the attitude of central govt. and confused northies.
( Posted by Ramu on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 16:13 )
R S GUPTA
Just one point...A Bengali in UP learns Hindi.A malayali in Bihar learns Hindi. A Hindiwalah from UP or Bihar refuses to learn Bengali or malayalam while in Kolkata or Kochi. This is the reason why Hindi-hatred is spreading. Let us not make any language our national language.All Indians are encouraged to learn two languages - English & his/her mother tongue. This will resolve all differences & make every Indian truly golbal citizen.
( Posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 14:23 )
Well said!
This is one of the primary reasons for such mistrust and hindi hatred.
So, I would request North Indian brothers to respect the local customs, traditions, language whereever you go. This would definitely resolve hindi hatredness.
( Posted by venkat on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 14:54 )
Sujay
Major reasons Hindi speaking guys get belted are - Arrogance + lack of sensitivity - Misplaced Superiority Complex - Living in heard & lack civic senses (see all the Pan spitting)
These guys who get belted do not learn the local language and are not sensitive to the local culture and geo-political dynamics. They will not celebrate local festivals, contribute to large scale corruption, keep spitting pan all over the place & love to scream there gut out when they speak on a phone…. Any community that has not accepted to gel into the native community they have always got beaten up.
Ask a north India to learn Kannada, Marathi OR Telegu these guys come up - Y Should I !!! I can survive with Hindi in Karataka, Mah & Andra Pradesh... (Arrogance)
Majority of North Indians are also proud the fact that they have come from these Lawless and corrupt states.... (Misplaced Superiority complex)
& finally like any other Indian community these guys love to live in herds...
When the under-belly of any state rumbles they become easy picking to be on the receiving end.
( Posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 14:20 )
Mr Sujay, I belive you have included only 1st half of the story. The later half I want to complete. Mainly, I want to draw the attention regarding FORCING people to learn regional languages. Can it be justified? Take the case of Bangalore, HORDINGS/BILLBOARDS were blackend for they were written in ENGLISH. REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS holded DHARNA on AIR office for BROADCASTING Hindi Programs. Regional Development Authority (of GOVT)also claims that outsiders comes into the State, enjoy state security and water. They have no right to convey only the latter half of the story. Do outsiders do not contribute for the success of the state? People residing in Karnataka State even though outsider, pays the highest tax on almost everything, including on SERVICE, FUEL etc. I never heard a single personality in the whole state to say a word on this. Also, one should not forget that even a single guy from outside that state is hired on a job in a company. Thta guy indirectly creates jobs for so many people like for car driver, news paper, security, domestic help etc.
If the regional organizations really love their culture/language instead holding DHARNAS and forcing people to learn regional language/culture, they should come forward and organize friendly way of doing it. It could be anything like distributing booklets containing history/value/living of that region. The booklet should also contain the smart way of learning local regional language from Hindi. This case is just like a child. If you apply anger/force on him not to do a particular thing, the child will always repeat the same. But if you explain the child politely he may not repeat it.
( Posted by Anupam Kr Sinha on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 19:09 )
If the hindi speaking ppl learnt the language, there wouldnt be any dharna , mr sinha !
( Posted by arun on Friday , January 19, 2007 at 10:42 )
Hindustani
Tamilians ask, why should they learn Hindi? I’m sure whoever ask this question has learned hindi either thru hindi prachar sabha or thru schools or thru any other means, but they have learned it. And still asking above question. Very funny.
They also feel pseudo-proud, as tamil being the official language of Singapore and Srilanka. But what is the use if nobody other than tamilian speaks it in these countries. On the contrary, hindi is spoken widly in singapore by indians with different mother toungue.And mind you, it doesn't have any official status unlike tamil.And still it is spoken that shows the sheer power of Hindi. This also shows tamil got the "official language" status in singapore and srilanka by leaking singaporiens feet or by terrorizing singhalies. Point is whether or not hindi is a "national language" , it is bound to spread as a common and neutral language of Indians.
Might be Hindi is not as old as other languages, so what, even English is not old but accepted as a global language then why not Hindi? Many OLD adivaasi languages still are spoken by adivasis, Tamil is nothing but just another adivasi language spoken by relatively more number of adivasis. This is exactly what neither you nor your leader like anna durai understood. You think if you are older , you should get the biggest position. This is something like asking for promotion on the basis of age and not on the basis of performance. Hindi is not old but played a bigger role in getting people united against British. It is not old but accepted by multi cultured, multi lingual Indians as a neutral language of communication with each other. Understand we, Indians, do not need a old language to communicate with each other, but need something which is neutral and accepted by multi cultured, multi lingual Indians. And Hindi fits to the criteria. Mind you ,it has never been enforced on anybody, it is free flowing.
( Posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 13:48 )
BIMARU is not developing becuase they speak Hindi.
If u speak like this them me too.
U say Tamilians sepak Hindi. I accept this when our people stay in North India. They have the intelligent and capacity to learn qucikly unlike u peoples.
If u come to Chennai and live for 1 month. U cant do anything by knowing Hindi man.
One has posted his view. Language should not be chosen by sheer mass. if it was chosen like that then RAT should be national animal and CROW should be the national bird. I think u also belong to the same by telling us adivasis. See after 20 yrs SOUTH INDIA will be 30 Yrs away from NORTH INDIA economically since we give respect and have a good culture unlike u telling adivasis.
( Posted by Selva on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 14:15 )
Dear Hindustani, Please be advised that we got Independence due to English. The Indian rich went to UK understood modern politics in English and launched the Independence movement. In fact the Indian Natioonal Congress was launched by Mr Hume who was an Englishman. In these days of globalisation amybe all Indians should be asked to learn atleast English. Maybe knowledge of Chinese and Spanish could also help our BPO industry. Kindly please consider my suggestions. Regards Rajmanohar.
( Posted by T P Rajmanohar on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 14:15 )
Hello Hindustani, Tamilians learn hindi by Prachar Sabha not to destroy Tamil but to be adaptive themselves to people in North India where majority speak Hindi...
However, Tamilians don't want Hindi Boards to appear in Railway Stations, Parks etc., Like wise, Tamilians don't need to have Tamil Boards in New Delhi Railway Station...
Please understand this on why Tamilians oppose Hindi in Tamil nadu, It is not that they oppose Hindi for the sake of opposing it.. They would like to have Tamil only as the reading language in Tamil Nadu plus English for communication with Outsiders. Every guy has a inherent feeling towards his mother tongue and the way it is expressed... North Indians should respect it..
u know why Tamil rebels were formed in Sri Lanka.. Because Srilankan Govt never gave this recognition to Tamil language...
I myself studied in prachar sabha and a Brahmin (which mostly periyarists hate) but I love Tamil as it is my mother tongue and don't need Hindi Placards in Tamil nadu
I would like to ask Hindi speaking people to try to learn other languages atleast in primitive form or know English...
If we need to have sign boards of Hindi in Tamil nadu, then we need to have sign boards of all 10 odd Official Languages.. like a rupee note in all places.. Why only Hindi then (along with regional language)...We will accept that solution.. as it gives equal respect to all languages...
Also, Please don't use misuse Hindi Prachar Sabha name.. u know they have 2 language papers of M.A difficulty level (tamil) in their poorvadh and uttaradh exams.. They also encourage Tamil..
( Posted by venkat on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 14:24 )
Raj
I do not understand that why people spend time on such petty issues.At one place, we talk of Globalization and other place, we are fighting over language.First, we need to realize that we are Indians and India is not what Britishers have given to us.We are Indian Nationals first and then belong to any language.
India is not what Britishers has given to us. What is told to us from History books about Aryan-Dravidian divide is handywork of British historians to divide the whole nation and degrade our culture. There was no Aryan Invasion and most of Antrhopolgist and historians have proved it.Even great sage like Sri Aurobindo Ghosh has proved this point. Our all Indian languages are great be it Tamil or Sanskrit.Both the family of Languages form the core of India.There is no one superior or inferior.All these language division is hand work of politicians and Communists. Regarding English, it is good to be learnt as language but it cannot be our National language.It is not born here and lost of our Indian brothers and Sisters does not understand it.If we want to be great nation, we need to go back to Indian Langauges (regional languages) and give due respect to all of them.It should not happen that in wake of Globalization, we forget our Indian culture and place out own people who does not understandd English at disadvantage.India cannot be great if only middle class rise on basis of English language.India can be great if all lower class rise to good level.
Also, as pointed by some of my friends- Sankrit is not dead language.It is most pure langauge as stated by Artifical Intelligence researchers.As Great Sage of India Aurobindo pointed out "Sanskrit ought still to have a future as a language of the learned and it will not be a good day for India when the ancient tongue ceases entirely to be written or spoken.it must get rid of the curse of the heavy pedantic style contracted by it in its decline with the lumbering.
( Posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 13:37 )
Balaji
I'm from Tamilndau and I speak 4 languages including Hindi. Some of the views expressed here really surprise me. Tamilians may have hated Hindi for idealogical and racial reasons in the past. But today most non-hindi speakers in the country don't hate Hindi but maybe starting to hate Hindi speakers. The reason is simple. While non-hindi speaking states in India's south and the west are growing at rapid pace, Hindiland seems to be far behind. It would be safe to assume that India's southwest belongs to the First world while north and the east are still in the Third world. This will indeed lead to hatred against Hindi speakers. Besides non-hindi speakers no longer need Hindi for anything. If these people are learning Hindi, its just because they are now far more advanced in education/economy that they can afford to learn Hindi just for fun!
( Posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 12:47 )
Sameer
If I had my way I would make English the national language of India, or divide the country into several parts based on linguistic identities. English is a much more scientific language than Hindi, and also has a worldwide acceptance. In fact in the global economy it has been considered our strength that so many of us know English, albeit we speak with different funny accents. That we accept this fact in India is exemplified by the fact that English is taught even in schools in rural India. It is much more pragmatic to learn English than Hindi. Of course a working knowledge of Hindi is necessary to operate within India, and I advise people to watch as much of bollywood and ekta kapoor as is practically necessary. With regards to the regional languages like assamese, or hindi, or tamil it is the responsibility of the state to ensure their growth, survival and propogation, either by making a parallel bollywood or by state sponsered education. Our nation has survived on practical adaptability more than a feeling of nationalism and oneness (a concept I find a load of bull). Having said that, in order to operate in any domestic economy a working knowledge of the domestic langauge is necessary and we all Indians find ourselves in a priviledged position to have the oppurtunity to learn several beautiful languages, straight from the natives. Its not like a Kannad teaching us French, or learning German from a Bengali. I fail to see what the huuhaa is all about.
( Posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 12:40 )
Pallav
If Hindi is not constitutionally recognised as National Language, as Bobita suggests, then someone should file a PIL in the Supreme Court against all those people and organisation which call Hindi a 'Rashtrabhasha'. It now appears to me that there was a quiet campaign going on all these while to spread Hindi in the guise of 'Rashtrabhasha'. It will also be interesting to find out who and how is Hindi promoted as a tool of national integration.
( Posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 12:37 )
Sanskrit family member
@Tamilians I can expect only a lame excuses from tamilians. Your history is vague, because you do not have any history. You people have started writing it now without any proper evidences. You might provide few evidences to prove tamil a oldest dravidian language and might even say all other south indian languages (kannada, telugu,malyalam )are derived from it. But the rest of south india will give you more evidences of their languages not derived from tamil.South indians history is all about confusion and does not have any consistency. On the contrary, our languages (hindi,bengali,marathi,gujarati etc) are all derived from sanskrit , a indo aryan language and there are enough evidence found in indus valley civilization, the oldest civilization on the earth ,which exist 5000 years BC.
( Posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 12:29 )
learn history properly b4 u decide if "others" have a history friend. The strongest links found so far to the Indus vally language suggests the language is Dravidian - yes it needs more proof, but then - none of the other family of languages have even this links with Indus Valley. Tamil has a Litrary proof of atleast 9990 years which is the period of the 3 tamil sangams that were over in 1 AD. The only reason that there is little other proof is cause hardly anything is spent by way of research into dravidian languages. For example a private researcher found undersea structures off the coast of Tamil Nadu and dated them to be roughly around 7000 years - and more importantly coinciding with the dates of legends of land lost to the sea due to Tsunami like incursions of Sea water. Sanskrit itself means 'refined' - or in other words developed from something else.....:-).....there is a saying in Tamil(written 2000 years ago-the manuscript still exists) that says - "Kal thondri Mann thondra kalam mun thondria kudi num tamil kudi" - meaning Our tamil race was founded b4 the sand and rocks formed on the earth !
( Posted by Dravidian Family Member on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 13:30 )
As you claim your race began before sand and rocks were formed, then you guys must have been created under water. Then we need a piedpiper to take you back to the water. You put the Nazis to shame.
( Posted by Davidian Family Member on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 16:08 )
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