Hyderabad:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu today struck a conciliatory note amid the raging language row, saying Hindi and English both have their uses and should be learnt.
“One should give importance to the mother tongue, but at the same time, one needs to learn Hindi as it is useful for communication in Delhi. Other languages we learn for livelihood… Hindi is the national language…English is international language,” he said, pointing out that Indians are now travelling abroad extensively for work.
India, though, does not have a national language. Both Hindi and English are official languages
“For livelihood, we will learn any number of languages. We won’t forget mother tongue. Language is only for communication. It is best to learn maximum languages, let us remember,” Mr Naidu said,
“Some people seem to think English is equivalent to knowledge. Language is only for communication. It does not bring knowledge. Knowledge is learnt best when studied in mother tongue… mother tongue is easiest to learn/ That is the experience anywhere in the world,” he added.
The DMK government’s opposition to the introduction of the Centre’s three-language policy and delimitation have been having ripple effect in the southern states.
In an election year, the DMK has pitched them as ruses to establish the domination of the north – through language and culture and politics. This has acquired resonance across the southern states, cutting across political boundaries.
A leader of Mr Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party, which is an ally of the BJP, has offered cash rewards and livestock as incentive for having children.
The Centre has been countering the charges on both fronts. It has pointed out that Hindi is just one in the 22-language bouquet of the Education Policy and is not mandatory in a three-language set-up.
It has also doubled down, insisting that Opposition-ruled Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Bengal switch to the three-language policy immediately.
