Language Debate: Unity or Imposition?

In a recent session during the Zero Hour, TMC member raised a significant concern regarding the use of Hindi for official government business, especially highlighting a recent incident in the Meghalaya assembly where it was announced that the Governor would address the House in Hindi. This move was supported by BJP leaders in Meghalaya, stating Hindi as the national language. However, countered the decision by emphasizing that English is the official language of Meghalaya and criticized the choice of Hindi for the Governor’s address as an imposition on the state’s linguistic preferences. He further expressed concerns over the recent passage of three new criminal laws in Parliament, which have been named in Hindi, arguing that this represents a broader issue of Hindi imposition across India, where Hindi is not the native language for many.

The TMC member also reminded the House that the Indian Constitution retains English alongside Hindi as an official language and criticized the government’s efforts to impose Hindi, which is spoken by approximately 46% of the population, on non-Hindi-speaking regions. He argued that this disregard for regional languages undermines India’s linguistic diversity and is an affront to the federal structure of the country. He advocated for the use of English in government business nationwide to respect the linguistic preferences of all Indian states.

Responding to these remarks, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar highlighted the constitutional duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language as stated in Article 351. While acknowledging India’s rich linguistic culture, Dhankhar called for a consensual approach towards language use in official matters, stressing the importance of unity and respect for all languages within the country.

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