Sir,
Kudos to Mr. Takam Yayi for his brilliant letter “Nefamese has its own identity like Nagamese” (28 December). He has rightly stated that Hindi has been imposed from Delhi by policy makers of India. He has mentioned the different tactics that has been adopted by Delhi durbar to impose Hindi — NCERT textbooks, Bollywood films and songs. However, the meanest method that is being pursued by the authorities is to brainwash the Indian public. Thus Hindi is not only referred as “Rajbhasa”( as if the non-Hindi speakers are the “Prajas” or subjects of the cowbelt), the fanatic elements even go to the barbaric extent of declaring that only knowledge of Hindi can enable one to appreciate the essence of India! Thus it directly implies that those who are ignorant in Hindi are completely in dark about national affairs! If this is not a classic example of linguistic imperialism, then I don’t know what is. The authorities also do not hesitate to resort to muscle power to achieve its end. Thus it is often witnessed in different Railway stations and Centralised institutions of West Bengal that use of Bengali has been done away with. Rather posters are displayed all over exhorting people to learn Hindi! The mindset which is of the belief that multi-lingual, democratic India is a colony of cowbelt is advising others to learn the essence of India! What a farce and tragedy of justice!
However, the people of Arunachal Pradesh or West Bengal will be able to resist Hindi-imperialism if they learn to be faithful towards their mother tongue and cultural roots. I have been to Orissa, Gujarat, South India and seen it myself how the conscious, proud people of the said regions have resisted the intrusion of Hindi. Right from Government circulars, instructions in public places to school education — the respective indigenous languages of the soil rule the roost. If we draw inspiration from them, we can surely defend the onslaught of Hindi and prevent our native languages from meeting their doom.
Thanking You,
Yours faithfully,
Kajal Chatterjee,
D-2/403 Peerless Nagar, Kolkata-114.