North East Students Committee Against Imposition of Compulsory HindiMILs

02 March 2013

To,
The Vice-Chancellor,
University of Delhi,
Delhi-110007.

Memorandum

Subject: Regarding the proposed plan of implementing compulsory Hindi/MIL in the first year of the four-year undergraduate courses to be offered by the University from the coming new semester 2013-14.

Respected sir,

With great concern and belief we write this brief Memorandum hoping your esteemed office will re-look at the stated subject in light of the various foreseeable implications – academic inconveniences and otherwise - it would have on thousands of aspiring Indian students from the north east – especially the indigenous peoples - should it be implemented as it is.

The impracticability of such a policy at the University level is that it not only likely generates sentiments of alienation and discrimination in those whose desire to study in Delhi University but also rendered untenable by the said language requirement and not due to any other factor(s). This is chiefly because most of the students whom we represent do not have the necessary competency in Hindi or any of the MIL so as to be able to clear it. Why it is so is a complex question which your esteemed office, we would like to think, is better equipped to answer than we could. Surely, the students cannot be blamed in any way for not possessing the required competency to clear the level of language papers (Hindi/MIL) that will be prescribed for the Foundation Course in the first year of the four-year Undergraduate Courses.

It is also interesting to note how there are only three languages –Assamese, Manipuri and Bodo - in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India that are spoken by the Indigenous peoples inhabiting the expansive territory of India's north-east, and who collectively comprise the maximum number of student population from the region in Delhi university. And most of these students do not have Hindi or any of the MIL up till their secondary education. This is because their schools are private schools not affiliated to any of the central boards. Even with the ones affiliated to the respective state boards there is an optional English, which almost all the students belonging to the group we represent opt for.

If integration is a concern, we wonder how this policy of compulsory Hindi/MIL at the University level of education will achieve that. We are afraid it would instead be counter-productive as even those hundreds of students who otherwise learn how to speak Hindi while studying in the various undergraduate courses of the University will now move away from Delhi University, and perhaps even from Delhi. If that happens, which we do not doubt it will, it would be because of this policy of the University, which, technically speaking, is tantamount to violation of the spirit and letter of the constitution that guarantees equality while prohibiting discrimination.

That, we are aware of the constitutional mandate to promote the Hindi Language and other National Languages, but it is unreasonable to conceive it and implement in the way it has been, and at this level of formal education. Surely, there are other ways of fulfilling the constitutional requirements without necessarily alienating and denying any Indian student his/her right to quality education because of his/her incompetence in Hindi or any of the MIL.

That, as free citizens of India with equal rights in all spheres of national life, as guaranteed by the constitution, we wish to impress your esteemed office to:
1. Consider our genuine inconveniences as raised above or otherwise.
2. Re-look at the proposed structure and work out a suitable option for those whose first language is not Hindi or any of the MIL.

We would be much grateful for any positive consideration and necessary action in this regard.

Yours sincerely,
North East Students Committee Against Imposition of Compulsory Hindi/MILs
Arunachal Student’s Union, Delhi
All Assam Student’s Union, Delhi
Manipur Student’s Association, Delhi
Meghalaya Student’s Union, Delhi
Delhi Mizo Zirlai Pawl
Naga Student’s Union, Delhi
Sikkim Student’s Union, Delhi
Tripura Student’s Union, Delhi

Copy to
1. Vice Chancellor, Delhi University.
2. Dean of Student’s Welfare, Delhi University.
3. Dean of Colleges, Delhi University.
4. Director, South Campus, Delhi University