On the Language Debate

With linguistic identity dominating the news for the last week or so, thanks to the MNS "goondas" in Maharastra Assembly, old and dead ideas are getting renewed attention. One of them is that we need to have an Indian language as a link language. Since Hindi has been recognized as one of the two official languages (along with English) of the Govt of India and some 40% of India speaks it, we should all learn Hindi (Please note, Hindi is not the only National Language of India. Strictly speaking there is no National Language of India). This rehashed idea of the 60s will only give regional politicians more ammunition to agitate and gain political mileage. I am not saying they would be entirely wrong. I for one don't want anyone forcing me to learn any language, including my own mother tongue. It should be my choice.

Most of the online forums and even discussions amongst my friends elicits oft repeated line of how we are all Indians first, Tamils or Marathis or Kannadigas next. Though i appreciate the sentiment, i find the logic to be very short-sighted. I think when we talk about Unity in Diversity, it means you are Indian when you are Tamil or Marathi or Kannadiga. So, I find the logic that one should lose or atleast put ones identity behind to be Indian to be self-defeating. I think that does grave injustice to a unique kaleidoscope of a country like ours. When i say i am a Madrasi, it means i am Indian. That is how i see it and i feel that captures the beauty that is India. Instead if we keep falling back on the idea that we should have one national language (people oft quote china or other european countries, which is not exactly true since Mandarin is not the only language spoken in China and majority of Europeans are multi-lingual), we are only trying to kill that unique thing about India (where i can visit 10 different places within it and still experience 10 different cultures, languages, food etc.,) which other countries can only dream of.

Indians being Indians, we tend to mimic others rather than appreciate our own strengths. However, i am hopeful we would find our foothold with our growing economic strength and self-belief. Until then, we should crush people playing identity politics and not our identities.