No end to language war in India

JUST when I thought I had seen the back of the “porridge ous - bread ous” divide between those of South and North Indian heritage in this country, I was surprised to find that the linguistic disharmony is still prevalent in India.

Older readers will recall the acrimony and hostility that existed within sections of the north (Hindi-speaking) and south (Tamil and Telugu-speaking) communities in South Africa until a few decades ago. As if it was not already bad enough that those who were not white had to contend with the injustices of racism based on skin colour; and that many Indians still followed the caste system that was imported from India; conservative Hindi and Tamil/Telugu families had other geographical prejudices.

Most pained by the north-south divide were those who fell in love outside their language of heritage and were ostracised. I know of many children who were disowned by families for seeking love across the language barrier.

One upstanding Tamil community leader would have nothing to do with his son for marrying a girl from a Hindi-speaking family - and so deep was his antagonism that he held a vendetta until his death against all those who had attended the marriage ceremony. More than 16 decades after the arrival of Indians in South Africa, the lines between those who trace their lineage either to the north or south of India are somewhat blurred.

Hinduism and humanity have come to the fore as unifying forces for the children of indentured labourers or girimitiyas. Why, even the ultra-purist or pukka Merebank Tamil School Society, which at one time did not sanction anything Hindi in its MTSS Hall, has had to kow-tow to economic pressure and today happily goes along with chutney numbers being belted out during hurdee/haldee evenings.

But I found on a short visit to South India last month, some Tamils are still anti-Hindi. There is still an extreme division between the Aryans of north and Dravidians of south. In the south’s past, there have been cases of violence and protests over the issue of the Hindi language. Hindi has been excluded as a language of education in Tamil Nadu and is hardly in use as a medium of communication.

The Tamil belief is that their Hinduism is superior to that of the north and Tamils are a unique nation. The Dravidians claim they did not approve of a caste system. They say the Aryans not only drove the Dravidians down south but also imposed their brahminical Hindu religion and caste system on the Dravidians.

The caste is believed to have been established by Aryans based on their concept of white-skinned and dark-skinned people. People of the south are anti-Brahmin and are against fundamentalism and Hindutva. During the British Raj, English was the official language. The Indian independence movement made efforts to make Hindi as a common language to unite linguistic groups against the British government.

As early as 1918, Mahatma Gandhi established the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha (Institution for the Propagation of Hindi in South India). In 1925, the Indian National Congress switched the language of its official business from English to Hindi. The idea of making Hindi the common language forcefully, was not acceptable to Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy, commonly known as Periyar, a social activist and politician, who led anti-Hindi protests in the late 1930s.

He claimed that the introduction of Hindi was a dangerous mechanism used by the Aryans to infiltrate Dravidian culture. The row against the compulsory learning of Hindi in Tamil Nadu has flared up again. When I was in Chennai last week, the war of words between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre over the alleged imposition of Hindi language refused to die down.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said his state was prepared for “another language war” as tensions rose with the Centre (BJP government) over the alleged “imposition of Hindi” through the National Education Policy (NEP).

Stalin accused the centre of politicising education and withholding crucial funds from the state.

Earlier, Stalin said Tamil Nadu would not sign the NEP, even if the Union government offered substantial financial assistance. Incidentally, in the 1950s, Stalin’s late father, M Karunanidhi (who later Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu), protested by painting over Hindi signboards. The three-language policy is a long-standing flashpoint between southern states and the centre.

The issue resurfaced five years ago when the NEP was announced. Tamil Nadu and the Centre are in contention over the NEP's three-language policy, which mandates the study of Hindi, English, and a regional language. Tamil Nadu has historically had a “two-language” policy - Tamil and English.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has declared that the state would not receive millions of rupees earmarked for educational projects unless it adopts the National Education Policy in its entirety. The Central government maintains that the three-language formula respects linguistic diversity while equipping students with the skills needed for a competitive world. Learning their mother tongue, English, and an additional language empowers children to thrive in an interconnected global economy.

Tamil is one of India's "national languages" but only Hindi can serve as the common language of coordination in the country, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) said and asked the DMK not to "separate" Tamil Nadu from the mainstream of the country's progress by rejecting it. VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain slammed the DMK for regularly objecting to Sanskrit and said the party was "blinded by vote bank" but it could not cut off Tamil Nadu "from its roots by separating it from Hindi and Sanskrit".

Meanwhile Stalin has himself been accused of politicising education to fit narrow party-political narratives. The BJP has never won elections in Tamil Nadu.

In 2016, it contested all 234 seats but won zero.

In 2021, the BJP fielded candidates in 20 seats and won four. The BJP won no Lok Sabha seats from Tamil Nadu in 2019 and 2024. One of the biggest problems with linguistic diversity in India is the lack of a common language. Although Hindi is the official language of the Union, many states have their own official languages, which lead to communication barriers between people from different states.

It is not uncommon to see people struggling to communicate with each other because they speak different languages. The linguistic diversity of India is a fascinating and complex topic, and it reflects the country's rich cultural heritage and history. While it can create challenges in terms of communication and unity, it also offers many opportunities for learning, growth, and understanding.

To preserve linguistic diversity, it is crucial to promote quality education in mother tongues and minority languages, support cultural activities and media in these languages, and ensure the representation and participation of linguistic minorities. Additionally, implementing initiatives for language preservation and revitalization can safeguard endangered languages for future generations.

As India continues to develop and evolve, its linguistic diversity will undoubtedly remain a defining feature of its identity and culture. Meanwhile, poor English skills can act as a barrier to personal and professional growth. I realised that in the digital age of global communication, proficiency in English is no longer a luxury but a necessity.

Many of the waiters in my hotel in Chennai who were of North Indian descent had limited English proficiency. I am aware that the English language, with its complex rules and nuances, presents a maze of difficulties for those who are not well schooled in the language. When I asked for directions to a “medical” (the common term for a pharmacy), I was told to go to the “backside of the temple”.

The chemist I sought is situated in a narrow street that runs behind the local temple.

Yogin Devan is a media consultant and social commentator. Share your comments with him on: yogind@meropa.co.za

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

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