Language dispute can be solved amicably if…

India’s language issue: A complex and diverse challenge

Language issue in India has always been woven with diversity and complexity.

In recent times, the political arena has witnessed a renewed tug-of-war over language policy, with the BJP and Dravidian parties locked in a battle that goes far beyond mere words.

In my earlier article, “BJP: Hunting with Hindi and Running with Regional Languages“[1]], I had delved into how deep-seated distrust from non-Hindi-speaking states, especially from DMK and its allies, towards the BJP (and even the Congress, though in the past), has fueled this conflict.

The heart of the dispute

At its core, the issue isn’t solely about linguistic preference; it is a manifestation of longstanding political mistrust. And unfortunately DMK and other Dravidian parties derive huge political capital out of this.

BJP’s push for Hindi as a unifying language, sidelining English, is seen by many non-Hindi speaking states as an imposition, a subtle form of cultural and political centralization. And they have a point.

For Dravidian parties, this is not just about language but about protecting regional identity and autonomy. Their historical opposition stems from a perception that any aggressive promotion of Hindi is an attempt to overshadow regional languages, directly or indirectly, and by extension, regional voices.

Let me quote from my previous article[1], how the fear of the non-Hindi-speaking states is justified:

“India accepted English as a link language indefinitely since Independence, though as an interim arrangement. Congress in the 1960s and BJP recently, have been trying to make Hindi the sole national language (by indirect means), terminating the use of English as a link language, and have been meeting with stiff opposition from TN.”

“BJP … either it fails to realize that this move will also affect the livelihoods of people, esp the poor, in these states very substantially, favoring the people from Hindi-speaking states (as performance in their examinations or on their Government jobs doesn’t require them to learn any language other than their own (at any level of proficiency), whereas those from non-Hindi speaking states have to learn Hindi apart from their own language, creating a significant handicap for the latter ‘ab initio’), or it doesn’t care. I hope it’s the former and not the latter.”

“Already, the Central government has been posting employees from other states to TN and other non-Hindi speaking states, even for jobs in Class 3 & 4 levels, which are the levels at which these employees come into direct contact with the general public… And on top of it, when the government says knowledge of English is not required in such staff, it will only lead to very strong discontent among the locals.“

“The fairest rule should be that Class 3 and 4 level jobs in Central government should be filled by locals.”

“TN and other states opposing Hindi as the sole national language want English to continue as link language (and not Hindi) between their states and the Centre for ever.”

“If Hindi is a passport to North India, English is a passport to the world. Just because we got liberated from the British, we don’t have to throw away everything they left behind. Did we demolish the infrastructure they built?”

I have given only a few quotes from my previous article[1]. Please read it in full to understand how the non-Hindi-speaking states have a very valid point.

A Constitutional amendment: ensuring linguistic balance

One practical, forward-thinking solution is to introduce a constitutional amendment, passed with a 2/3rd majority including BJP and Congress (if not unanimously), that formally guarantees both Hindi and English as official and link languages of the nation for ever. Such an amendment would serve several key purposes:

• Reassurance to non-Hindi-speaking states: By enshrining English alongside Hindi, the amendment would signal that the central government has no intention of sidelining the interest of non-Hindi speakers. English has long served as a neutral administrative and educational medium, and its guaranteed status would help ease fears of linguistic domination of Hindi.
• Mandating national consensus: The need for a 2/3rd majority (or unanimity, if possible) will ensure that any change in language policy must reflect a similar broad-based consensus. This would force all political players to engage in genuine dialogue and compromise, rather than resorting to rhetoric.

Integrating the NEP with a 3-language policy

While safeguarding the status of English is critical, the broader challenge lies in integrating India’s linguistic diversity into its education system. The National Education Policy (NEP) provides an ideal framework for this, but only if it adopts a balanced, 3-language approach.

Under this policy:

1. Three languages for all: Hindi, English, and the regional language (when Hindi is someone’s mother-tongue, another Indian language) would each play a vital role in the curriculum. This triadic model not only promotes national integration but also respects regional linguistic identities.
2. Conditional acceptance: The government could set the condition that the Dravidian parties, which have long opposed what they view as Hindi hegemony, formally accept the NEP’s 3-language policy as a necessary compromise. Once it’s clear that the Centre is committed to retaining English as an official language, suspicions and fears are likely to diminish, paving the way for a more cooperative approach. Even if Dravidian parties continue to oppose, the people will see the hollowness of the objection.

The problem with calls to phase out English

Remarks by important leaders like the HM, Amit Shah, suggesting that English should eventually be phased out, only serve to exacerbate tensions. Such voices risk alienating non-Hindi speaking states and further entrenching regional distrust.

For an amicable solution to emerge, it is imperative that these calls should be stopped, esp by the leaders of national parties (viz., BJP and Congress).

Removing English from the equation would undermine efforts to bridge the linguistic divide, as English has proven to be a neutral and unifying force in a multilingual nation, and the nation has benefitted immensely from English. Everyone should accept this.

Moving towards a consensus

A balanced language policy is about more than just deciding which language to promote, it’s about recognizing and respecting the diverse cultural and historical narratives that connect India.

By enshrining both Hindi and English as official languages through a constitutional amendment, and by adopting a robust 3-language framework that mandates both English and Hindi under the NEP, India can begin to mend the fissures that have long divided its linguistic communities.

This approach calls for bold political leadership and a willingness to engage in genuine compromise. It is an invitation to move away from zero-sum debates toward a future where language policy reinforces unity without erasing diversity.

In conclusion

The language wars in India are symptomatic of deeper political and cultural fault lines. However, a pragmatic solution is within reach, a solution that lies in a two-pronged strategy: a constitutional amendment guaranteeing Hindi and English as official languages, coupled with an educational policy that embraces a three-language model mandating both English and Hindi. Such a compromise has the potential to transform a contentious issue into a unifying force.

I invite policymakers, scholars, and citizens alike to revisit the arguments laid out in my earlier article and to consider this balanced approach as a genuine pathway toward resolving one of India’s most enduring debates[1]. The time for reconciliation is now, and language, when managed wisely, can be a bridge rather than a barrier.

Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

Reference:

[1] BJP: Hunting with Hindi and running with regional languages – Dec 5, 2022, PGurus.com

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