Shillong MP, Vincent H Pala has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to impose Hindi as compulsory language in the Northeast in order to preserve the country’s unity amidst its diversity.
In a letter to the PM, Pala reminded him of the special feature that the country has and how the Constitution recognises the plurality by having provisions for safeguarding the many linguistic and cultural strengths. He said in recent days there have been attempts within states by more dominant communities to impose their language and script on smaller communities, in particular over the tribal communities that largely do not have a script.
He mentioned about how the Meghalaya statehood movement commenced after the attempt of the Assam Legislature to make Assamese the official state language and expressed concern that the tribes inhabiting the state and other states are now facing the same threat once again.
“History is repeated with similar attempts elsewhere of where such attempts have created disharmony within communities that have otherwise thrived together for decades,” he said.
While admitting that English is a colonial legacy, Pala said it also has benefits across the country. He said it is troubling that there are attempts made to diminish the importance of the English language which has helped unite the country.
Stating that demands for a uniform imposition of Hindi as the lingua-franca is a concern for communities that have their own mother tongues and who acknowledge English as a much more relevant language for its universal usage he said this may threaten the diversity of spoken languages that India has prided itself on and that are already endangered.
He further said this move also threatens the tribal minorities in their attempts to define a script for their languages so that they may be preserved.
“While it is important to gradually move towards a national language that is usable throughout the country, it is equally important to assess the impact of such initiatives on the many indigenous languages that form India’s vast and vibrant cultural heritage and legacy,” he added.
