Opinion

Decreasing interest in the use of Hindi is a grave concern.

Use of Hindi by youngsters is now limited due to various reasons including a perception of the language being low on status or not modern enough. These are grave misconceptions. With interest in Hindi decreasing, it is a matter of concern.

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In India, the linguistic map is rapidly changing because of urbanisation and globalisation. India today has more than 22 languages and other regional languages but Hindi is the language that can be understood by the majority of Indians. It is a major tool for communication to exchange ideas, feelings and emotions. However, in the fast-changing technology era, it is losing its importance. Its use by youngsters is now limited due to various reasons including a perception of the language being low on status or not modern enough. These are grave misconceptions. With interest in Hindi decreasing, it is a matter of concern.

Languages are a medium of communication and Hindi is that language which connects the whole country. As per data available nearly half a billion people worldwide speak this wonderful language. At the state level, it is the official language of Bihar, Haryana, Himachal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Secondly, Hindi also has a good presence on the internet these days and even Google recognises Hindi as the primary Indian language. Hindi is not only a language but it is our cultural heritage. Our young citizens are the carriers of the culture, history, and language of the future. If they lack knowledge about Hindi, the history of any culture could vanish. It is important for the younger generation to understand that to know your language is the key way to keep and preserve our culture.
In today’s world of globalisation, English is accepted as a universal language of communication. One has to learn good communicative English especially if one aspires to work for MNCs. However, it cannot be at the cost of our official language, Hindi. Worldwide, many countries preserve and give importance to their own mother tongue. For example, we have China and Russia as the biggest role models, who give importance to their language. Many other developed countries also do likewise, be it, Greek, Mandarin, Latin or French.

Without bias towards any language, I think the time has come for Indian citizens to move forward and make a concrete effort towards popularising Hindi not only in India but also at the global level. To bring Hindi back to its former position, it should be made compulsory in all schools and educational institutions. Secondly, all our adults, parents, teachers, politicians, government officials, Bollywood stars, and celebrities can inculcate a sense of respect for the language, promote it through their respective professions and try to use it as much as possible. Then only will the generations to come cultivate the language in a true sense.
The recently released draft of the National Education Policy also stresses on the importance of education in the mother tongue. Schools can take the following proactive steps in the interest of the nation

  • Students in schools should be encouraged to read Hindi literature too.
  • Hindi should be made a compulsory subject.
  • Schools must also provide Hindi newspapers for reading purposes.
  • Schools should organise various Hindi competitions such as debates, poetry recitations, letter and paragraph writing and also kavi samellans.
  • While teaching moral values, stories from Indian mythology can be narrated in Hindi.

Additionally, India attracts thousands of foreign tourists by virtue of its heritage and beauty. This is a great opportunity for our youth and citizens to interact with tourists and try and converse with them in Hindi. In this simple way, we can promote our language, enabling foreigners too to pick it up, thus also make for an easier and more interesting experience for them.

Via these small and large steps, the usage of the language will be strengthened in our land as well as worldwide, connecting all Indians and NRIs. It will help save our rich knowledge, culture, and wisdom for the coming generations.

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About the author:

Raman Bansal is Director at Scholar’s Pride School, Dhuri (Punjab).

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