Compulsory Hindi/MIL in DU : Politics of language ?
- Sangai Express Editorial :: April 13, 2013 -

Politics of language entering the portals of a university ? Compulsory Hindi/MIL paper in the undergraduate courses and Delhi University seems intent on scripting an audacious tale.

Bereft of logic and certainly defeats the very notion of India, where diversity is its essence.

Not surprisingly this has raised the heckles of numerous student organisations of the North East region and why not ?

The Central Board of Secondary Education and the Indian Council of School Education certainly do not have Hindi or any particular language as a compulsory paper and so do many other State based Councils/Boards.

Unlike many other universities, Delhi University is not State based or even region based. It has a pan India appeal attracting thousands of students from all the States of the country.

Obviously this unique appeal and standing has not cut ice with the present dispensation running the affairs of the university or else how does one explain the rationale of introducing Hindi/MIL as a compulsory paper in the undergraduate courses.

Not all the students who have made their way to Delhi University would have had Hindi or an MIL in their Class XII, with numerous other boards or councils offering subjects such as Alternative English in lieu of Hindi or an MIL paper.

Needless to say numerous students from the North East, making their way to Delhi University, would not have had Hindi or an MIL paper in their Class XII examination.

Why has no thought been given to this aspect ?

Again many students from the North East region would have a mother tongue which is not included in the MIL or Major Indian Language category. How about these students ?

Imposition has never worked and surely such an approach should be anathema to any seat of learning, especially Delhi University, which has a pan India appeal.

Time to look forward. Myopia is certainly not what the doctor would prescribe for a seat of learning.

Far from providing an ambience of learning and excellence, imposing a language on the students will only help in driving the students away from a language or a culture.

Imposing a language is something far removed from promoting a language.

What are the reasons which have prompted the authority of Delhi University to even toy with the idea of making Hindi/MIL compulsory at the undergraduate courses ?

Will such a move help in the Nation building process or will it have a negative impact ? These are questions which should be mulled over carefully before any decision is taken.

It is also important to clearly understand the profile of all the students before going ahead with such a decision.

The opposition raised by numerous student organisations from the North East is an important indication that the authority of Delhi University has obviously not mapped out the demographic profile of its students.

Surely not the way in which universities should be run and managed.

Excellence cannot be achieved by imposing. Instead of making Hindi/MIL compulsory, it would be much more positive for Delhi University to explore how it can give more choices to its students.

Imposition automatically means erasing all the opportunities which students can explore and study in sync with their aptitude and which will in turn provide them with the skills needed to pursue their career once they pass out from the university.