Dealing with language fears

The unwillingness of the state of Tamil Nadu to implement the three-language formula springs from a quite reasonable apprehension that this will ultimately decimate English to a position of irrelevance as a pan-Indian official language. At the base of such apprehension is a lack of trust in the outlook of people who, being in power at the Centre, frame and implement linguistic policies, according to their own vision and predilection. People in Tamil Nadu may not be wrong in believing that the option of learning a third language may pave the way for eventual establishment of Hindi as the most dominant language for southerners, too.

- BY SATADAL BHATTACHARJEE

In a big and polyglossic country like India, language policy and language education are important and sensitive issues. In the recent past, the issue of learning, or not learning three languages under the National Education Policy, has become the centre of a stormy debate in the country. The debate and the cacophony linger on, because the complex issue, having political dimensions, is not going to get a solution very easily. In this context it is necessary to identify the root of the disputes around the matter.