Hindi - Myths and Reality

1. What is Hindi Divas? Why is Hindi Divas organized?

Hindi Divas is organized by Government of India on 14^th September every year. Hindi Divas is organized at all Central Government offices across the country and general public is encouraged to participate in it. This event is organized to promote usage of Hindi in administration and for general communication by all Indians, irrespective of whether Hindi is their mother tongue or not. This event is funded by the tax payer's money, most of whom are not Hindi speaking.

2. Why do we need to oppose the Hindi Divas / Saptah celebrations? Why should we oppose this official patronage to Hindi?

Although India prides itself as a democracy in the community of nations, it is a sad fact that the Indian constitution calls Hindi together with English as the only two Official Languages of the Indian Union, to the exclusion of the mother-tongues of more than 75 % of India. A close look at India's language policy betrays the sad but dangerous truth of Hindi imperialism, which is but the new face of English imperialism. The very rule that knowledge of Hindi (or English, but preferably Hindi) is an absolute must for entry to Central Govt. jobs is a defeat of democracy. The concept that there should be one and only one administrative language for central government purposes simply does not apply to countries with plural cultures, languages and peoples. Disregarding this basic fact, the central and state governments have geared up to destroy our language and culture, to name our places in Hindi, to use only Hindi in our central govt. offices, to impose Hindi in very way possible, through every available channel, every available medium. Since Hindi imposition is anti-democratic and defeats the pluralistic nature of our country, we need to oppose Hindi imposition. Since Hindi Divas / Saptah are instruments of the Union Government to impose Hindi, we need to oppose this event.

3. Is Hindi the "National language" of India?

India as a nation comprises of various languages and cultures. Every individual represents his language and culture likewise language and culture are symbols of ones identity. India considers itself a federal republic because it comprises of different states which have their own language and culture. There was a strong cultural and administrative reason to form the states based on linguistic affiliation, because of the vast diversity in culture and language. Thus each state has its own official language which mostly differs from that of other states'. That language is the lifeline of the people of state and it represents its culture, since language is the media for communication and inheritance of culture.

Hindi was accepted as official language in some states and it represented the culture of only those states. Nowhere in the constitution is Hindi mentioned as the "National language". According to Indian Constitution, 22 languages are accepted as scheduled languages. Among these 22 languages a single language does not represent India's culture in its entirety. A situation where a single language can represent India's culture can only be made possible by suppressing India's diverse cultures. Hence Hindi is NOT the "National Language" of India.

4. Being a strong votary of Hindi as the national language is considered the litmus test to one's patriotism towards the country? Is this right?

This is absolutely wrong. Efforts of Hindi speaking people to force non-Hindi speaking people to accept Hindi as the sole National language is against the national spirit. In fact those who do this are not patriotic. Linking acceptance of Hindi as National Language & the knowledge of Hindi to a citizen's nationalistic credentials is dangerous and unacceptable.

5. How is Hindi being imposed on on-Hindi speaking people in India?

Hindi has been and is being imposed on non-Hindi speaking citizens of India through various means.

The three main vehicles of imposition are:

1. Through Administrative system
2. Through Education system
3. Through Media and Entertainment

1. The central government through its directives has been encouraging central government offices, banks, insurance companies to transact in Hindi. All these were under the control of the Central Government for almost four and a half decades. The control on these institutions has been fully utilized by the Central Government in its attempt to use Hindi for all official transactions / communication. These departments provide incentives for employees who implement Hindi, promote those who ensure Hindi implementation, provide leave to attend special courses in Hindi, etc.

2. Central Government through its three language formula has been systematically forcing Hindi on non-Hindi speakers. Students in the Hindi speaking states never learn a third language whereas students in the non-Hindi speaking states were / are being forced to learn Hindi. Also, wrong information is being taught to students across the country that Hindi is the National Language

3. But the most successful way of imposing Hindi on non-Hindi speaking people has been through media and entertainment sector. For almost four and half decades after independence, due to the socialist moorings of the Union Government, there was monopolistic control of radio & television by the Central Government through AIR and Doordarshan respectively. This has been utilized by the Central Government in providing news and entertainment to non-Hindi speaking people ONLY in Hindi for almost 40+ years. This has resulted in creating a huge market for news & entertainment in Hindi which both the Government and the private sector are NOW encashing at the expense of other language media and entertainment industries.

7. What is the impact of the imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking people in India?

This three pronged approach (through administration, education and media / entertainment) to impose Hindi has met with success to a considerable degree in some of the states of India. Many of the languages like Bhojpuri, Maithili, Santhali, Rajasthani, Haryanvi, etc have been systematically reduced to "dialects" of Hindi. Many other languages like Punjabi, Marwari, Gujarati, Bengali, Marathi have lost their entertainment industries and are happy entertaining themselves in Hindi, an alien language to most people living in those states. Students in most of the states have been brainwashed that Hindi is the national language of India. Loyalty and patriotism to the nation has been reduced to acceptance of Hindi as the sole "National" and "Link" language. Any Indian having a different opinion on this is branded as not being nationalist enough! A bigger problem this has created is the false sense of superiority in the Hindi speakers. Their expectation that the whole of India speaks Hindi, their reluctance to learn the language of the place they settle in, arrogance that they display in their interaction with fellow non-Hindi speaking Indians is the biggest threat to national integration.

8. I never knew all this was happening. I am aware of this issue now. What should I do?

• Be aware that Hindi is not the ONLY national language of India. All the languages spoken in India are National languages. Please create this awareness in people around you.

• If you are residing in non-Hindi states, ensure that you conduct all the transactions at central government offices and banks in the language of the land or English. Do not use Hindi.

• Boycott Hindi films and music in non-Hindi speaking states. Encourage the media and entertainment industry of the place you live.

• Boycott schools and colleges that teach ONLY Hindi and not the local language in non-Hindi states.

• In non-Hindi states, converse with Hindi speakers in the language of the land or English. Do not converse / transact with them in Hindi.

Kannada must reign on state highways

The Bengalooru - Maisooru state highway (not BMIC, mind you - that requires a special blog) has improved quite a bit after long years of putting up with crappy work and uncaring governments. However, the current government has made a four huge mistakes w.r.t. the signboards on the highway.

Mistake #1

Do you understand what "TRUCK LAY BYE" means? It's a signboard which appears 4-5 times on the highway. Now, I've been around the world - travelled in four continents (two of which have quite a few english speaking countries) on this planet, and never found this sign anywhere else. People of Pandavapura, Srirangapattana, Melukote are supposed to understand this goddamned sign. It doesn't even have a translation in Kannada! It's a huge mistake that this sign is in ENGLISH. When the govt. itself has rules which dictate every signboard to be displayed in Kannada with Kannada being more prominent than English, it's a pity that it doesn't follow the rule itself.

Mistake #2

The signboards indicating names of places have both Kannada and English names written on them, but the English sign is on top and Kannada is at the bottom. For e.g., "Pandavapura" is written in English on the top and in Kannada script at the bottom. This is the second huge mistake. What is the explanation for having English on top? Fools may argue that it doesn't matter which is on top, but it does matter - the Kannadiga eye scans a write-up from top to bottom, and it's imperialistic to make the eye encounter English instead of Kannada. It's a continuation of British imperialism.

Mistake #3

The signboards referred to above not only have English names on top, but the English writing is in a bolder, bigger font compared to Kannada. One has to be near striking distance of a "Pandavapura" board to be able to read the Kannada script. It is clear that the govt. doesn't want people to read the Kannada name from a distance. This is the third huge mistake.

Mistake #4

The English translations of the names stink of British imperialism, and are tailored for pronunciation by foreigners rather than Kannadigas. For instance, "Sirangapatam" is the name given to Srirangapattana. Why be so slavish as to change the name of Srirangapattana so that it can be better pronounced by a British "dore"? This is the fourth huge mistake.

Verdict by Q&A

• Who is the govt trying to impress by putting up these cryptic english signboards? The answer is - everybody who is not a Kannadiga.
• Is it trying to lick American asses? Yes.
• Is it trying to lick British asses? Yes.
• Is it trying to lick non-Kannadiga asses? Yes.
• Why does the govt. not understand that Kannada must reign on state highways? Because it lacks self confidence. First of all the govt. doesn't believe that Kannada (an instance of "anything our own") can be used for anything "high tech" like a good road. Secondly, it doesn't care for Kannadigas. Thirdly, it thinks people who use the road are English speakers.
  

Swabhimani Kannadigara Samavesha - Bellary 19-20 Aug 2006

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike is perhaps the only organization really working for the cause of Kannada, Kannadiga, and Karnataka in today's Karnataka. We still remember the way in which its kaaryakartaru went and poured black on MES activist Vijay More in Belgaum. The whole of Karnataka appreciated Vedike for standing for the unity of Karnataka and teaching Vijay More the lesson that Karnataka is not mutely watching the illegal actions of MES.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike is conducting its 5th Swaabhimaani Kannadigara Samaavesha in Bellary on 19th and 20th August this year. Perhaps nobody understands more than the Vedike how important it is to strengthen our border areas. Important issues related to Kannada, Kannadiga and Karnataka will be discussed in the conference. Vedike workers and the who's who of the Kannada world from not just all over Karnataka, but also from abroad will be attending it in large numbers.

The conference is open for participation for all Kannadigas. We wish the conference success, and urge you to participate. It's also a good idea to mix a visit to Hampi on the trip! For further details mail kannada@karnatakarakshanavedike.org.

The problem of Samskruta in Kannada

Samskruta is undoubtedly a language with great literature (note that I don't call Samskruta itself a great language; there is no language which needs to be specially called a great language; all languages are great in their own right).

But unfortunately, it is becoming more and more of a differentiator of the haves and havenots in Karnataka. We are witnessing an explosion in the number of Samskruta words being used in Kannada literature. Whenever a new word has to be coined or a headline or a sentence has to be made "more attractive", it has become common practice to turn to Samskruta.

Worth special mention is the fact that Kannada is not a language derived from Samskruta. This is a total misconception/lie which is going around within and outside Karnataka (See "Kannada Barahavannu Saripadisona" by D.N. Shankara Bhat). Thousands of years of work on Kannada Grammar has been proven mostly wrong by Shri. Bhat, who argues that earlier grammarians have tried to apply Samskruta Grammar to a language which has really not much to do with Samskruta.

The problem with Samskruta words being used in Kannada sentences is twofold:

• They don't fit in well into Kannada sentences because of Mahapranas, Samyuktavyanjanas and Samskruta's inherent differences with Kannada (See "Kannadakke Beku Kannadadde Vyakarana" by D.N. Shankara Bhat)
• They're alien to most Kannadigas (For e.g., "horabaanu" is understood by most whereas "baahyaakaasha" is not!)

People end up using Samskruta words while writing/talking in Kannada for 3 reasons:

• They don't know the Kannada equivalents or can't coin them
• They think Kannada equivalents clash with common-usage
• They want to show off

All the above reasons are invalid, and continuing usage of Samskruta words in Kannada is taking Kannadias away and away from their souls.

Note that there is nobody really forcing Kannadigas to use Samskruta - it doesn't have the kind of market appeal which English has. Here, it is only the lack of real understanding of Kannada which is killing Kannada and Kannadigas and therefore Karnataka.

So go ahead and add Samskruta to the list of Kannada's problems.

Nothing said above should be interpreted to mean that we should not use a single Samskruta words. As Shri Bhat argues, Samskruta words can and must be used after necessary modifications in Kannada when there's no other go; but this usage has to be conscious and not an offshoot of a feeling of eliteness.

I've not tried to document examples of Samskruta usage in Kannada in this blog. The percentage is too much. The best way is to read Dr. Bhat's books.

We've got more work to do than we thought. Over and above the fools who are arguing that English should be taught from day 1 in school, we also have to fight the fools who think it's impossible to coin acchakannaDa words without the help of Samskruta (I was one of them until today).

ಮುಂಬೈ ಸ್ಫೋಟ - ಕಲಿಯಬೇಕಾದ ಪಾಠ

ಮುಂಬೈನಲ್ಲಿ ಇವತ್ತು ೭ ಕಡೆ ಸ್ಫೋಟಗಳಾಗಿ ನೂರಾರು ಜನ ಸತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಏನು ಕಾರಣ? ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಗೊತ್ತಿರುವ ಕಾರಣಗಳನ್ನು ಹೇಳಲು ನಾನು ಹೊರಟಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಆ ಕಾರಣಗಳಿಗೆಲ್ಲ ಮೂಲವಾಗಿರುವ ಕಾರಣವೊಂದನ್ನು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊಡುತ್ತೇನೆ.

ನಾಲ್ಕು ಜನರಿಗೆ ಒಬ್ಬ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯನಿರಬೇಕೆನ್ನುವುದು ಸನಾತನಧರ್ಮವಿಹಿತ. ಹಾಗಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಮಿಕ್ಕ ನಾಲ್ವರಿಗೆ ಅಪಾಯ ತಪ್ಪಿದ್ದಲ್ಲ. ಆ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯನು ಹತ್ತಿರದಲ್ಲೇ ಇರಬೇಕೇ ಹೊರತು ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿ ಏಲ್ಲೋ ಅಲ್ಲ. ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದುರದೃಷ್ಟವಶಾತ್ ಪ್ರತಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯರು ದೂರದ ಭಾರತ-ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನ ಮುಂತಾದ ಗಡಿಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋಗಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಬೇಕಾದ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಯಿದೆ. ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರವನ್ನು ಕಾಯಬೇಕಾದ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯರು ದೂರದ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದ ಗಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋಗಿ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದರೆ ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರವನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸುವವರಾರು? ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರದ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯರು ನಾಯಿಗಳಂತೆ ಜಗಳಾವಾಡುವ ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿಗಳಾಗಿರುವಾಗ ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರದ ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಹೇಗೆ ಸಾಧ್ಯ? ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯರು ಹತ್ತಿರದಲ್ಲೇ ಇರಬೇಕಾದದ್ದು ಮುಖ್ಯ.

ಭಾರತದ ಗಡಿಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯರು ಇರಬಾರದು ಎಂದು ನಾನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ; ಅಲ್ಲಿರುವವರು ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಇರಲಿ, ಇಲ್ಲೂ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯ ಪಡೆಗಳು ನಿಲ್ಲಬೇಕಾದದ್ದು ಅತಿಮುಖ್ಯ.

ಪೋಲೀಸರು, ಇವತ್ತಿನ ವಿಧಾನ ಮಂಡಲ/ಸಭೆಗಳ ಅಯೋಗ್ಯ ಬೊಗಳುವ ನಾಯಿಗಳು ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯರಲ್ಲ. ನಿಜವಾದ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯರು ಎದ್ದು ನಿಲ್ಲಿ! ಓ ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರದ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯನೇ, ಎದ್ದು ನಿಲ್ಲು!

ಓ ಕನ್ನಡನಾಡಿನ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯನೆ, ಎದ್ದು ನಿಲ್ಲು! ನಿನ್ನ ಕ್ಷಾತ್ರಧರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಪಾಲಿಸು! ಶತ್ರುವನ್ನು ಸದೆಬಡೆ! ಎದ್ದೇಳು ಕನ್ನಡನಾಡಿನ ರಕ್ಷಕನೆ! ಎದ್ದೇಳು!

Vijayakarnataka is dead; Times of India has started fixing Kannada news

On the day the Times of India (may its tribe decrease) took over the reigns of Vijayakarnataka, the newspaper died.

In a clear case of reporting only partial facts and facts which are inimical to the future of Kannada, Kannadigas and Karnataka, the 6 July 2006 edition of Bengalooru Vijaya, a supplement of Vijayakarnataka, reports that the 5th year celebrations of Radiocity 91 FM happened in Bengalooru. The paper completely hides the most important event of the day, viz. the attack by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike on the event site, the ensuing breaking of microphone sticks, the fact that the entire stage was uprooted by the workers of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike. It is known to everybody in Bengalooru, why Kannadigas all over the world that THE FUNCTION DID NOT HAPPEN, AND RJ'S AND THE AUDIENCE HAD TO RUN IN FEAR.

Why didn't Vijayakarnataka report this at all?

• The Times group, which has taken over the paper, owns Radio Mirchi which has also come under the Vedike radar. Mirchi has been given an ultimatum to start airing 100% Kannada programmes or else...
• The boss of Vijayakarnataka is a Malayali. What else do you expect?
• Vishweshwara Bhat has become a pawn in the hands of TOI
• Ka. Ra. Ve. would have got quite a bit of publicity if it had reported it.
  

Arise, O Kannadiga! Look at the way outsiders are walking away with all this nonsense! Look at how your own fight for equality in your own land is being subdued by outsiders! If you have the slightest concern for Ka-Ka-Ka, stop buying Vijayakarnataka, stop buying the Times of India. They are out to destroy you column by column, news item by news item.

Reservations: the king's mistake and Sir M.V's stand

Perhaps the earliest instance of a Karnataka government screwing up on the issue of uplift of dalitaru is to be found in the wrong move made by His Highness Krishnaraja Wodeyar Bahadur of Mysore. Because of the king's unscientific though well-intentioned stand on the topic of reservations, Sir. M.V. resigned from the office of the Dewan of Mysore.

I quote Sir M. Vishweshwaraiah from his "Memoirs of my working life":

About the years 1916-1917 there was an agitation in Madras against the Brahmin community in view of the predominant position they enjoyed inthe Government services. This agitation spread to Mysore also. I was aware that non-Brahmin communities were backward on account of lack of higher education. The education problem had been vigorously attacked ever since I came to Mysore. I had arranged for the Mysore Government granting liberal scholarships to backward communities and depressed classes to encourage their education. Special steps were also taken to advance the prospects of mebers of backward communities in Government service. It was true that there was considerable inequality in preferment to offices and the Brahmin community had worked their way to the front. The policy adopted of spreading education rapidly was showing some results. As stated before, the school-going population had been nearly trebled. There was a desire in some quarters to hold back the proressive community by restricting their admission to educational institutions and otherwise reducing their opportunities for acquiring education. With this aim it was impossible to sympathise because it was an attempt to put back a section of the population which by its own special enterprise was going forward.

There was a definite proposal put forward by several leading members of the non-Brahmin community in Mysore to adopt the policy of the non-Brahmin leaders and their Press in Madras. A committee, presided over by Sir Leslie Miller, Chief Judge of Mysore, was appointed by His Highness the Maharaja to consider the question of adopting, in Mysore, measures similar to those advocated by the non-Brahmin leaders in Madras. My idea was that by spreading education rapidly and adopting precision methods in production and industry, the State and its entire population would progress faster. By ignoring merit and capacity I feared production would be hampered and the efficiency of the administration, for which we had been working so hard, would suffer. There was never any complaint that I favoured any particular community in making appointments. Nevertheless, I felt opposed to the establishment of the Miller Committee. His Highness the Maharaja seemed anxious to placate the backward communities and the leaders in the State who supported the policy advocated by the non-Brahmin leaders of Madras. After prolonged discussion and exchange of views for a considerable time, I obtained His Highness' consent to retire from service. Some time was required to arrange and place all new schemes in operation and other contemplated developments in a safe condition before I actually laid down office. So itw as agreed, some eight months beforehand, that I should retire at a convenient date at the end of the year. This arrangement was kept a closely guarded secret.

There is no doubt that Sir M.V. was right in his approach to solving the problem of the "backward communities". It is enlightening to note that one of the greatest sons of this soil opposed reservations - of the kind which is still in vogue - right back in 1916.

However, I am yet to understand Sir. M.V.'s stand on the application of Kannada in higher education. There seems to have been no work done by him which proves his undeterred belief in the fact (I'm saying that it's a fact) that Kannada is the only language through which his concept of "spreading education rapidly" would have been possible to his heart's content. If Sir M.V. hadn't realized it, he would have in due course of time. I think. Even if he wouldn't have, it's time we realize it.