Why Not Tamil Nadu Learn Hindi? A Prayer to DMK

            A reader may be surprised at the title of this essay on two accounts:

(1)   What? People of Tamil Nadu require anyone’s permission to learn Hindi? And

(2)   When the DMK(Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) headed by Mr.M.Karunanidhi is ousted out of power, why this guy prays DMK instead of ‘Amma’ Ms.J.Jayalalithaa, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the supremo of AIADMK( All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and a supplementary question may arise as

(3)   Why is learning Hindi is a problem in Tamil Nadu?

Why not Hindi be taught in schools?

I  am not to justify the reason why Hindi should be taught at schools of Tamil Nadu, but wish to raise a question “ Why not Hindi be taught in schools in Tamil Nadu as it is in vogue in other states?”

In view of the changing shift in socialization, mobility of the student population across the country, and in view that Hindi is spoken in almost eight states of India (leave alone the fact that it’s the National Language and the official Language of the Government of India), why not the language policy of Government of Tamil Nadu be revisited?

I wish to underscore that the language policy of Tamil Nadu to promote Tamil and English and to exclude Hindi was a deliberate attempt by the founding fathers of the Non- Brahmin Movement, Self-Respect Movement, Justice Party and the Dravidar Kazhagam that rejected the Oriental construction of a "Hindu ism based nation" with sanskrit and Hindi as the link language in the diverse Indian Sub-continent.

The Crux of the Issue

According to Harold F. Schiffman, the Professor Emeritus of Dravidian Linguistics and Culture ,University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, the ‘Anti- Hindi’ sentiment arises from the hypothesis that Dravidian culture once extended beyond the subcontinent and was represented in its highest development by ancient Tamil culture, but was attacked and destroyed by invading Indo-Aryans, so that Dravidians are now second-class citizens in their own homeland, at least compared to the descendents of the Indo-Aryans, the Hindi speakers. Even if this could have been right, is it valid to uphold the dogma in the 21st century, in the era of Globalization when every social, economic and political institutions are neatly integrated? When Potti Sri Ramulu asserted the Telgu based Andhra Pradesh from ‘Dravida Nadu’ and Karnatak yet another member of the club of the ‘Dravida Nadu’ have evolved its own language policy of not excluding Hindi, should not Tamil Nadu revisit the State’s Language Policy ingrained in the VIII schedule of the Constitution?

·         In the era of “Right to Education”, can’t a child be allowed to exercise his/her choice of learning or not learning Hindi, the National Language of India?

·         Why not a simple referendum conducted and gets the approval of the people? (A Flimsy argument that MLA’s and MP’s are the sole power of attorney of freedom of expression could be just an lame excuse)

·         Will not this bring in ‘Navodaya Schools’ in every nook and corner so that the children of the marginalized and the weaker section get benefited apart from learning Hindi?

·         Why not at least give a choice? If people still are assertive of their Anti- Hindi sentiments, why not they avoid learning Hindi by their choice instead of through a 'prohibition' of the State? What applies to Alcohol can’t apply to Hindi?

·          When almost all the the children and grand children of all political party leaders of Tamil Nadu are fluent in Hindi, is it not a moral crime for the great men to prevent the children's accessibility to India’s National Language?

What would be the Stand of Jayalalitha vis-à-vis Hindi?

            Undoubtedly, since Ms.Jayalalitha have identified her with Nationalist Identity associated with oriental flavour, the BJP could be her ideal choice, which also advocates the resurgence of “Nation State” through religious consciousness. she would never oppose Hindi. Hence Hindi should have a central place in the agenda of National Integration and therefore both Jayalalitha and her natural ally, the BJP should be perfectly comfortable with Hindi. Hence, for Ms.jayalalitha, implementing Hindi as one of the three languages to be studied at school levels would be a cake walk and also a pleasant exercise. However, when she has revamped AIADMK’s ideology replacing with her own whims and fancies, she would never dare to venture into altering language policy because, her political opponent the veteran DMK leader would reduce her party to rubbles with his knack of kindling emotional politics against her, with his successful ammunition of "Anti-Hindi Sentiments".

The Compelling reasons of getting DMK’s consent

With due respects, not only me, even Ms.J.Jayalalitha should have to seek the blessings of the DMK in this regard because they are the ones who authored the ideology of Language, Ethnic identity against the National Identity, which might have had the logical, rational justification before five decades.

            Anti-Hindi agitation of 1960's have been made an  an emotional issue. The DMK has conscientiously using language identity and   the ‘purity of tamil’ as the vehicle for their political consolidation and have infact evolved a successful model that has been both dormant and active intermittently. In short the DMK has the switch for this nuclear button of kindling emotional politics and sentiments that even Jaya cannot withstand.Therfore it becomes necessary that before touching the language policy for  accommodating Hindi, the blessings, assent and the approval of DMK becomes inevitable.

The Possible Road Map

            Again, I am reaffirming that my attempt through this essay is to plead for a revisit of the language policy of Tamil Nadu as it is almost five decades after the “Tri- Language Policy” put forth by Nehru has been rejected by the DMK outrightly. Why not give it a re-look? A trial should cost nothing? This is where political courage is essential. Would our leaders exhibit their courage?

An Easy Way to begin

            Why not the leaders of National Parties ( if they are really national) come forward and get together and organize an all party meet and discuss the issue? Or why not the national parties ask the local bodies under their control ask their representatives to get a resolution passed in favour of “having Hindi as the third language in the primary Schools of the villages in Tamil Nadu”? This would certainly be a good beginning.

            If not now then when?

 Other references: 1. http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/public/finalmarch.pdf and

2. http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/public/

Note: Please note that I am not taking sides. I just wish that learning Hindi or not learning Hindi at school level as a third language should be decided by the parents (if not children) and not the Government in the changed order of the world today. Again, I don’t advocate  Hindi must be taught or not. This is just an opinion which may be accepted or rejected. I feel it is pertinent to write this piece, especially after I have had a bitter experience while working in the Northern part of India without the knowledge of Hindi.