'South Indian' or simply Indian?

Methodology of The Golden South Survey

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TOWARDS MEANINGFUL INTEGRATION

Language has been an important variable in ‘North-South’ relations.

How do people in the South view Hindi? Should Hindi be made compulsory or should people be persuaded to learn the language. It is significant to note that very few respondents felt that they did not want Hindi at all. A majority of the respondents felt that people should be encouraged to learn Hindi and it should not be imposed. The electronic media appears to have played a major role in ensuring the greater acceptability of Hindi in the south. It is also relevant to note that among the South Indians living outside of the southern region, more than two-thirds felt that Hindi should be taught as a compulsory subject. It is also pertinent that a majority of non-Southerners living in South India would like their children to learn a South Indian language. Language has cleared emerged as an important integrating factor.

The opposition to English also seems to be whittling down. Very few respondents felt that English should not be taught in schools. A majority felt that the regional language should be the medium of instruction with English being taught as a compulsory subject. Expectedly, those who had the benefit of college education were more supportive of English as the medium of instruction in schools.

Films too are an important instrument of integration. More than two thirds of the respondents in South India said that they watched regional language as well as Hindi and English movies. Only one of every five respondents said that they watched only regional language films.