FESOK opposes Centre's Hindi compulsory policy
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 09 2022: Strongly opposing the move to make Hindi compulsory for students up to class 10, which was also backed by all the eight north eastern states, Federal Students' Organisation, Kangleipak (FESOK) has categorically stated that the move is an attempt to assimilate the language and culture of smaller communities.

In a statement, FESOK maintained that the move is part of the Centre's one nation, one religion, one language and one culture policy.

Making Hindi compulsory will lead to assimilation of languages and cultures of smaller communities.

Language is part of the culture of a community and imposing Hindi in school education is a challenge to the culture and educational right of the people.

In India, out of about 1650 languages, around half are endangered languages.

At least 196 languages are the verge of extinction and 80 of them are from the north east.

As per UNESCO report in 2009, among the endangered languages of the country, north east region of India has the highest number.

In the state too, seven of the 36 recognised languages are on the verge of extinction.

The Central government had in 2017 tried to impose Hindi in school education but it failed following strong objection from south and northeast India.

Though the government is speaking of promoting regional languages, no initiatives have been taken up to promote even the 22 scheduled languages.

Instead, the government is selectively trying to push forth Hindi language, the statement said.

Recalling how Bangladesh was bifurcated from Pakistan after the latter tried to impose Urdu, the statement urged the chief ministers of the eight northeast states to take a joint stand against imposition of Hindi.

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