Signature campaign against imposition of Hindi at DU

Delhi, 4th November 2016

NEFIS TO START SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN IN VARIOUS CITIES AGAINST THE COMPULSORY IMPOSITION OF HINDI ON NORTH-EAST STUDENTS OF DU!
IROM SHARMILA SUPPORTS NEFIS’ INITIATIVE AGAINST THE DISCRIMINATORY ACT OF DELHI UNIVERSITY!

North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) activists will be organizing Signature Campaigns in various cities across the country as part of its campaign against the Delhi University’s attempt to impose Hindi on students coming from different linguistic backgrounds. The campaign which would be organized in Delhi, Manipur, Assam and Chandigarh has also received support from Irom Sharmila.

It should be known that as per the notification issued by Delhi University on 23rd August 2016, it would become compulsory for every student who has not studied Hindi till class 8th to pass a paper, Compulsory Test in Hindi (CTH) in order to gain his/her undergraduate degree. Earlier, the students from North-Eastern states and foreign students were exempted from taking the test, but this has not been notified in the Resolution No. 10 of Academic Council of 19th July 2016, which was subsequently passed by the University.

NEFIS had earlier submitted a memorandum to the DU Vice-Chancellor demanding that exemption which was earlier given to the North-East students should continue and immediate steps should be taken to develop the infrastructure, adequate faculty and syllabus for the languages of linguistic marginal/minority groups hitherto not offered by the university.

Signature Campaign thus would be to seek support from students from across different communities of North-East as well as students from other regions of India to stand against the attempts being made by Delhi University to linguistically discriminate against students coming from non-Hindi speaking backgrounds.

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

MEMORANDUM

Subject- The issue of Compulsory Test in Hindi (CTH) in the proposed new syllabus leading to linguistic discrimination on part of the university toward students of the non-Hindi speaking areas.

Respected Sir,

We are submitting this memorandum to register our deeply felt sense of resentment against the changes being introduced in the existing course structure by the University from this academic year. As per the notification issued by the University on 23rd August 2016, it would become compulsory for every student who has not studied Hindi till class 8th to pass a paper, Compulsory Test in Hindi (CTH) in order to gain his/her undergraduate degree. Earlier, the students from North-Eastern states and foreign students were exempted from taking the test, but this has not been notified in the Resolution No. 10 of Academic Council of 19th July 2016, which was subsequently passed by the University.

This step gives undue importance to Hindi vis-à-vis other languages of non-Hindi speaking regions, the steps for which to be taught in the University are not being taken. Instead of creating more infrastructure to offer languages of non-Hindi speaking regions, especially of marginal/minority communities, thereby generating enthusiasm in students to genuinely take interest in languages of different regions and communities, the University has once again imposed its diktat on students from non-Hindi linguistic backgrounds especially marginal/minority groups.

We consider this dismal situation a by-product of the long standing bias and neglect on part of the government of India and the respective state governments in not ensuring that the distinct cultural identity and dignity of the marginal/minority groups and communities is preserved. Delhi University acting in the same manner has once again tried to impose the culture and language of Hindi-speaking areas upon students from non-Hindi speaking backgrounds in the manner of a haughty conqueror. It is sad that now the university too has taken cue from the state in promoting cultural chauvinism.

Universities should ideally be the centers of progressive ideas and take the lead in rooting out the biases rampant in the society but unfortunately Delhi University is failing to live up to this expectation. The name ‘university’ itself suggests that it cannot belong to a narrow clique or vested interest group. A university is a place where all kinds of ideas come together and are allowed to co-exist and vie with each other. Through our protest we wish to impress upon your office that it is against the very spirit of the ‘university’ that a small clique/council/office/bureaucrats be allowed to legislate upon its future.

This is particularly so in the present case because the imposition of the language of majority/dominant community upon students would affect the fates of not just the present lot of students studying in the university. This in fact is a decision that would affect students to-be in future too and moreover students to-be not just from Delhi or the North-India but from all parts of the country.

Given the wide scope of the ramifications of this decision, it is beyond our comprehension as to why it is being taken in such a peremptory and bureaucratic manner. The gravity of this issue demands that a decision be taken only after rigorous debates, in consultation with wide sections of the society and keeping in mind the particular needs of the marginalized groups/communities.

Our demands:
1. Remove the clause of Compulsory Test in Hindi (CTH) that seeks to impose the compulsion to learn an alien language upon students from non-Hindi speaking backgrounds.
2. The exemption to students from North-East and Foreign students, who were earlier exempted from taking the test should continue. The exemption should be extended to the students coming from other non-Hindi Linguistic backgrounds
3. Take immediate steps to develop the infrastructure, adequate faculty and syllabus for the languages of linguistic marginal/minority groups hitherto not offered by the university.

Yours sincerely,

Chinglen Khumukcham,
Convener,
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS).

Statement of Solidarity and Appeal from Ms. Irom Chanu Sharmila

Friends, it is extremely heartening to see that NEFIS along with other democratic and progressive individuals have started a movement against Delhi University's recent decision to make Hindi language a compulsory paper at the undergraduate level. To compel non-Hindi speaking students at this stage of their education to learn Hindi and to appear for an examination that will determine their overall academic result and future prospects amounts to serious discrimination.

Indeed a very large number of students who are from different states of India and do not speak or write Hindi are going to be affected. In this regard, the silence of the MHRD, UGC and other concerned government authorities is shocking.

Delhi University's decision to introduce a compulsory Hindi paper clearly represents linguistic discrimination against North-East youth. Further, it also represents a violation of the democratic rights of all non-Hindi speaking students. I thus condemn the plan of the University authorities and the silence of the MHRD in this matter. It is shameful that at this late hour, when semester examinations are very near, students are being pushed to learn Hindi and to sit for a Hindi examination.

I urge North-East students and all other non-Hindi speaking students to take their struggle forward against this blatant linguistic discrimination that is being promoted in our central universities. I encourage the students to express their discontent and fearlessly fight for justice.

Irom Chanu Sharmila