Mind your language: Why linguistic battles in ‘New' India won't work
'Some entitled bigots brand us chauvinists and anti-nationals for the 'crime' of demanding Tamil's rightful place in Tamil Nadu. The true chauvinists and anti-nationals are the Hindi zealots who believe their entitlement is natural, but our resistance is treason": Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.Language 'wars' are back on the national agenda and how. Linguistic chauvinism has always been a political weapon. Only now, has it resurfaced in a manner that exposes the underlying hypocrisies and narrow political agendas of leaders who seek to divert attention from the real issues of our times.Let's start with the home minister. Shah's grievances against English are rooted in the Sangh Parivar's Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan belief system, a belief that views English as being a colonial language antithetical to 'Indian culture'. Ironically, Shah enrolled for a bio-chemistry course at St Xavier's College in Ahmedabad, widely considered an elite English institution in the city. He later shifted to the CU Shah Science College in the city. His son, Jay Shah, now the president of the International Cricket Conference – the apex body of the original sport of the Empire – studied at Loyola Hall in Ahmedabad, another of the city's much sought after English medium schools.And yet, Shah has never hidden his disdain for English. Ahmedabad-based senior journalist Rajiv Shah relates an interesting story. Rajiv, who worked with The Times of India, was once told by Shah - then a minister in the Gujarat government - that he didn't read the country's leading newspaper because it was an English daily.Months later, during an election campaign, Shah spotted Rajiv at a rally and objected to a news item in The Times of India. The journalist asked the minister: 'How do you know of this news item when you say you don't read an English paper?''I don't read your paper, but there are many others who tell me what appears in it,' was the minister's sharp response.Like Shah, the Thackerays have also sent their children to English medium schools. Nor have they stopped speaking or giving interviews in Hindi. And yet, their politics revolves around a 'Marathi-first' agenda, if only to establish a distinctive identity in a crowded political marketplace. If for Shah, the 'Hindi-centric' worldview is designed to position the BJP as a 'nationalistic' force taking on an elite Nehruvian Congress, for the Thackerays, rekindling the language issue is an attempt to revive the 'sons of the soil' movement that was Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's original pitch.advertisementAnd while the Sena chieftain may have spewed fire on non-Marathi speakers, his first job as a cartoonist was with the English daily, Free Press Journal. Today, when the Sena has split wide open and is facing an existential crisis, the Gen-next Thackerays are seeking a reunion of sorts under the garb of linguistic pride.For MK Stalin too, raising the bogey of Hindi being 'imposed' on the people of Tamil Nadu is a familiar political weapon ahead of a big election year in the state. The rise of the Dravidian parties in the 1960s revolved around the strident anti-Hindi agitations meant to refurbish a resilient Dravidian culture. Six decades later, by claiming that the New Education Policy's three-language formula is another attempt to force Hindi on Tamil-speaking citizens, the DMK chief minister is reigniting a north-versus-south battle to consolidate his position as a flag-bearer of regional identity.And while espousing a 'Tamil-first' war-cry, the fact is that the next-generation of the DMK's first family is sending their children to study in foreign universities. Not to forget that most private schools in Chennai are inclined to offer a three language syllabus, including Hindi as an option.advertisementWhich is really the nub of the issue across the country. Politicians who rail against English, from old-style socialist Lohia-ties to Hindutvawaadis to regional warriors, all choose to send their kin to English-language schools.Amit Shah can rant against English, but he only needs to do a survey of his own Union Cabinet colleagues to find out how many of them, if any, have chosen to send their children to a Hindi or regional language medium school. At least half a dozen cabinet ministers have their children studying in prestigious foreign universities. English is no longer seen as a colonial relic but a language of aspiration and ambition. Travel to any corner of the country and witness the rapid expansion of English language coaching classes, all aimed at providing a 'new' India a chance to climb up the social ladder.Far from being ' ashamed' of speaking English, most young Indians seek to excel at it. Sadly, it's the quality of English teaching that leaves a lot to be desired in several parts of the country, one reason why Gujarat, for example, has lost out in the soft skills-driven service industry.advertisementInterestingly, Hindi is also now a language of growth and ambition in many corners of India. Just look at the success of so many films made in the south but becoming blockbuster Hindi film releases. The traditional north-south divide is rapidly disappearing on the big screen, as it is indeed on the other great Indian theatre of dreams. The cricket field too: who would have thought at the turn of the century that Ranchi-born, Hindi-speaking Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be the ultimate Chennai hero?Mumbai, too, is now less of a Maharashtrian city than ever in the past: Hindi is not just the language of its famed film industry but also the street language of livelihoods, nurtured uniquely by waves of North Indian migration and assimilation. The Bombay versus Mumbai versus Bambai debate has hollowed out a buzzing cosmopolitanism, replacing any real angst over language divides. Yes, pride in the local language still matters, but it no longer needs one language to be pitted against another.Which is why those who might be fighting language wars need to realise that these are losing battles which may yield temporary political dividends but cannot be sustained beyond a point. Linguistic diversity is India's strength, being multilingual a competitive advantage. Politicians who have run out of ideas may seek refuge in linguistic chauvinism, most young Indians are job-seekers, not language zealots.advertisementPost-script: I once interviewed a senior politician who insisted on speaking in Hindi because he wanted to reach out to the 'masses'. Interview over, he introduced me proudly to his son: 'Please meet my America-educated young man!'(Rajdeep Sardesai is a senior journalist and author. His latest book is 2024: The Election That Surprised India)- Ends(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)Must Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
38 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Marathi row: Investor Shushil Kedia's office vandalised after his X post
Unidentified persons raised slogans supporting MNS chief Raj Thackeray and vandalised the office of investor Sushil Kedia in Worli area of Mumbai on Saturday, police said. Some individuals reached Kedia's office in the morning and threw stones, a police official said. (@sushilkedia/X) Kedia had challenged Raj Thackeray and asserted that he would not learn Marathi. He had approached the police after he was threatened over his post on X handle. Also read: CM Fadnavis on Marathi row: 'Won't tolerate hooliganism in the name of language' Some individuals reached Kedia's office in the morning and threw stones, a police official said. The attackers were raising slogans in support of Marathi and praising Raj Thackeray, he said. "I don't know Marathi properly even after living for 30 years in Mumbai & with your gross misconduct I have made it a resolve that until such people as you are allowed to pretend to be taking care of Marathi Manus I take pratigya I won't learn Marathi. Kya karna hai bol?" Kedia had posted on X. Accordingly, police had provided adequate security to Kedia's office, situated at Century Bazar.
Hindustan Times
38 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Yes, we are goons… slap but don't make video' : Uddhav and Raj at Thackeray reunion rally over ‘Marathi pride'
Citing 'protection of Marathi pride", Uddhav Thackeray appeared emphatic at the reunion rally with cousin Raj Thackeray in Mumbai on Saturday: 'Yes, we are goons; if we have to be goons to get justice, we will do goondagiri.' Uddhav and Raj Thackeray at their reunion rally in Mumbai's Worli on Saturday.(Screengrab from ANI) He was apparently addressing criticism about the Thackerays' men slapping and intimidating people, including street vendors, over their not speaking in Marathi. 'Slap, but don't make video' Raj, too, addressed this before Uddhav's speech, both speaking in Marathi: 'Be it a Gujarati or anyone else here, must know Marathi, but there is no need to beat people for that if they don't speak Marathi. Yet, if someone does some drama, you must hit them below their eardrums.' He followed up with advice: 'If you beat someone, don't make a video of the incident. Let the person beaten up tell that he has been beaten up; you don't need to tell everyone.' Two decades after their breakup over Shiv Sena succession, the patch-up comes on agenda of 'Marathi pride' after the BJP-led state government sought to introduce Hindi as a third language in schools. That decision has since been withdrawn. This rally was announced as a protest against the original move, and later converted to a celebration of the rollback. 'Will come to power together' Uddhav said that on the question of linguistic identity, "Raj, I and everyone else here is united.' "We have come together to stay together," he asserted, saying that they will capture power in the Mumbai civic body and Maharashtra together. In his speech, MNS chief Raj Thackeray credited Maharashtra's BJP Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for doing what, he said, thousands others couldn't. "Uddhav and I are coming together after 20 years… What Balasaheb Thackeray could not do that Devendra Fadnavis managed to do," Raj Thackeray said in his speech in Marathi at the massive event in Worli. The breakup had come while Bal Thackeray was alive, as he preferred son Uddhav over nephew Raj to hand over the Shiv Sena reins. Attack on BJP, allies "Your power is in the legislature. We have power on the street," Raj also said in his speech, taking credit for the government's withdrawal of the Hindi decision. Attaching another alleged agenda to the third-language move, Raj claimed, 'They just tested waters. Had this decision on Hindi been accepted quietly, the next step would have been an attempt to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra.' He spoke about migration from other states: 'Hindi-speaking states are economically backward. People are migrating from these states to non-Hindi-speaking states. Why has Hindi not helped them progress?' Both said that they had no problem with any other language, but Marathi must get foremost respect without any other language being imposed. Uddhav also criticised the BJP - in power in Maharashtra and the Centre - for allegedly imposing the agenda of 'Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan' on India. 'We will protect the ideology of Hindutva, in Marathi language,' he further said. He repeated the charge against Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of being a 'traitor' over dividing the Shiv Sena to get into power with the BJP. How reunion came about It was back in April, even before the latest language row, that Raj Thackeray spoke about uniting with his cousin 'in the interest of Marathis'. At a separate event, Uddhav Thackeray said he was ready to put aside trivial fights. Raj Thackeray had quit the undivided Shiv Sena in January 2006 and formed the MNS, which won 13 seats in the assembly polls three years later. But its performance has since been dismal – it won no seats in the 2024 assembly polls – even as it aligned with the BJP too at different points. The reconciliation was being speculated ever since Eknath Shinde split the Shiv Sena in 2022 by winning over a majority of its MLAs, leading to Uddhav's resignation from the CM's post. Shinde, who became CM then with BJP support, eventually got the party name and the original symbol. He is currently deputy CM to BJP's Fadnavis. 2024 turning point The 2024 assembly election was seen as a turning point towards a Thackeray family compromise. Uddhav's Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party of Sharad Pawar alliance had done well in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, but could not dislodge the BJP-led alliance in the state polls six months later. After Raj broached the topic of a patch-up in April, progress was slow, before emerged the June 17 government order making Hindi a mandatory third language. This was a familiar plank for the cousins, and they seem to want to capitalise on it much beyond a rapproachment now, hoping to be strongly back in the game.
Hindustan Times
39 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
'So what?': Raj Thackeray cites uncle Balasaheb's English medium school example amid Marathi pride debate
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday upped the ante against Hindi "imposition" in the state, reiterating his love for the Marathi language. MNS chief Raj Thackeray (left) and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray during a joint victory rally in Mumbai(HT_PRINT) He also emphasised that there was no link between Marathi pride and an English-medium education. Citing that he often gets arguments linking the two things, Raj Thackeray said, "They say that our children have learnt in English medium schools. So what? Dada Bhuse studied in Marathi schools and became a minister. Devendra Fadnavis studied in an English-medium school and became the Maharashtra CM. So what?" His remarks came during a joint rally conducted by his party and his cousin Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction in Mumbai's Worli, in a reunion of brothers that came following a rivalry of 20 years. Thackeray also said that his father Shrikant Thackeray and uncle Balasaheb Thackeray, both studied in English medium schools. "Can anyone raise a question about their love for Marathi? Tomorrow, I will learn Hebrew also. Will anyone raise a question about my pride in Marathi?" he asked. He also said that everyone in Maharashtra must know how to speak Marathi, but said there was no need to beat anyone up if they don't. His remarks came in light of increased incidents of people being targeted in Maharashtra for either not knowing or refusing to speak in Marathi. "Be it Gujarati or anyone else here, must know Marathi, but there is no need to beat people for that if they don't speak Marathi. But if someone shows useless drama, you must hit below their eardrums. I tell you one more thing: if you beat someone, don't make a video of the incident. Let the person beaten up tell that he has been beaten up, you don't need to tell everyone that you have beaten someone," he added. In April this year, the Maharashtra government implemented a three-language policy making Hindi mandatory as a third language in primary schools in the state. The move drew huge backlash from the Opposition and language advocacy groups, following which it was revoked. (With ANI inputs)
