A recent newspaper report based on the ‘writing competition’ conducted for classes 8 to 11 in Dehradun to inspire students in creative writing revealed sad and shocking trends in existing learning priorities; wherein most could not spell simple and common Hindi terms like: Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Sarkar, Upay, Shehar, Apradh, Akhbar, Nivedan, etc.  

Few even could not spell their names correctly in Hindi. This is just a glimpse of a bigger canvas covering ninety percent of schools. And, of course, the inability to recite tables in the national language is quite common.  

Such kinds of neglect of one’s own national language over foreign languages like French, English, German, Spanish, etc., are indeed dispiriting and disappointing. We may learn as many languages as possible, but not at the cost of degrading or discarding our own. This almost tantamount to disrespect towards our age-old learnings — a warning bell for the survival of golden traditions and values.  

Language of any race, region, or nation reflects its culture, history, and above all, its unique identity. Agreed, Bharat remained enslaved for numerous years, but our rich traditions and ocean of knowledge had been so deeply rooted that we stood tall as Vishwaguru for centuries. And Bharat remains proud of the same.  

While we relegated the rich Vedic Sanskrit language to the background during the slavery period, it survived despite repeated onslaughts of multiple sorts. However, as our Bharat closes in on a hundred years of freedom, we have attributed low priority to upholding the dignity and promotion of national and regional languages. The consequential outcomes are glaring now and are enough to shatter us all. Nations across the globe hold their language and culture in the highest pride and place, but we feel belittled by this account. Bharat inherited the brilliance of Swami Vivekananda, who impressed and inspired the world at the Chicago conference through his abundant knowledge and plain speaking. Do we lack all that charisma just due to a language barrier?  

It is only during the past 10 years that we have become serious about Hindi, Sanskrit, and regional languages, but a lot needs to be executed at the ground level. Celebrating and conducting national ‘Hindi Day’ is not enough. Such endeavours have not been productive. We have to set our basics right from the perspective of a fast-developing nation.  

To add insult, reports also mention that some schools impose fines for speaking in Hindi. It is unfortunate that even after over seven decades of independence, knowledge of English is used to judge the mental capability of students and others. Most people consider conversing in Hindi or regional languages as equal or respectable. Such has been the impact of Macaulay’s effect even after over two centuries —demeaning the nation’s education system and language to destroy its cultural values.  

No wonder, as the story goes, a proud Japan resident was blunt enough not to invite an Indian colleague to his residence, stating that “India kneeled down to invaders instead of facing them as a mighty, united Bharat”. The Japanese host felt sorry for enslaved Indians. Unfortunately, we suffer from similar divisions even today.  

Who is responsible for such a state of despondency? Probably we all, collectively.  

We as elders do not encourage youngsters in families to speak, read, or write in Hindi or regional languages. Parents, in fact, take pride in their children practising English over Indian languages. Such practices deserve discouragement. Take pride in using national languages while learning others to gain professional proficiency and broaden your knowledge. National language, like our nation, must be “First and Always”. No two ways about this for the ultimate ‘Viksit Bharat’.  

Doable steps  

First thing first: change of mindset for unwavering pride in the nation and national language. Use Hindi or regional languages as much as possible, while using others as needed. Subscribe to Hindi and regional newspapers and magazines, and encourage children to read them along with our popular novels and literature. Home and society serve as our first schools and practice grounds. Schools and institutions should organise monthly writing — short essays or paragraphs — and elocution competitions in Hindi and regional languages. All these add to vocabulary and improve expression. We need to create a culture for our own languages in campaign mode, starting from home, family, friends, and society.  

In addition, concerted efforts are required to prepare professional literature to teach and learn science and other subjects in Indian languages. Governments have a vital role to play in this regard, being duty-bound and committed.  

Schools and institutions should conduct competitions — writing, speech-making, and live discussions — in Hindi and other languages. It is indeed encouraging to note that a sizeable number of civil and other services aspirants are qualifying in greater numbers having opted for languages other than English.  

Deeply hurt by people’s indifferent attitudes, especially youth discarding their own languages for others, I took enormous pride and joy in devising a multilingual “Hindi-English-Garhwali-Kumaoni-Jaunsari” mobile-based instant dictionary ‘Aakhar’. It will be useful for instant use globally. Even my book on ‘Entrepreneurship’ was published in Hindi for better comprehension by common youth, to motivate them towards this vital subject. Several other institutions and individuals are also working in this direction, but much remains to be done for willing or forceful implementation and results on the ground.  

Union and state governments have major roles to play in facilitating the usage of our own languages along with a societal movement at individual and organisational/institutional levels.  

A recently held conclave of senior officers, academicians, and thinkers in Doon deliberated on the vital theme: “Bharat Vishwaguru banne ki raah par” (placing Bharat on a global leadership position). Most opined that we need to first put our own house in order as far as national priorities and public actions are concerned, especially in improving “civic sense” through rightful government-citizen partnership and participation. In fact, such initiatives must spring voluntarily to save our culture, future generations, and the making of a “Viksit Bharat”. Our languages link us all as Bharatiya and pave the way for ‘Viksit Bharat’ sooner.  

Hoping and praying to see the next decade bring a sea change in acceptance and adoption of our own languages. This is feasible only through a resolute voluntary urge within all Bharatiya, along with firm governmental action on the ground. 

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