Bodies oppose imposition of Hindi by Centre
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 17 2022: Denouncing the move of making Hindi a compulsory subject till Class X in North East states, Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) has asserted that such imposition is contradictory to spirit of unity in diversity and federalism enshrined in the constitution of India.

In a release, HERICOUN president Longjam Ratankumar said that such move might be a manifestation of out-dated, racial and colonial attitude of some groups of people and their desire of one nation, one language and one religion.

Pointing out that young students in North East states are still facing difficulties in learning Hindi language till Class VIII, Ratankumar questioned the rationale of trying to make Hindi language compulsory subject till Class X.Such move reflects hegemonic intention and policy of the Union government.

Elementary school students are facing huge burden in learning different languages, thereby creating difficulties in gaining knowledge and getting acquainted with the languages they are learning.

Teaching/learning of mother tongue/language deemed necessary for gaining knowledge by young students, would be the appropriate step, he opined, while adding that there is no harm in choosing languages according to the desires of the students.

The indigenous communities are getting increasingly suspicious that imposition of language smacks of covert process of force assimilation to eradicate culture, tradition and identity of the indigenes in the name of education, Ratankumar stated.

"Is India government initiating the policy after governments in the eight North East states gave a green signal", he posed, while demanding government of Manipur to clarify to the people whether the union government is planning to make Hindi a compulsory subject till Class X after the state government approved it.

There is no national language in a country like India and the idea of one nation, one language is contradictory to the spirit of unity in diversity.

Such notion is violating the rights of smaller communities and is against the principles of democracy, Ratankumar contended.

In another release, Ning-shing Lup Tekcham president W Chand Mangang strongly condemned the remarks of union home minister Amit Shah about making Hindi language compulsory subject till Class X in North East states.

He questioned why the government could not teach Hindi language in South Indian states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Such forceful imposition on small states like Manipur to suppress Manipuri language will not be accepted and Ningshing Lup will never remain silent if the government forcefully imposes Hindi language.

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