When Hindi Divas (Day) is celebrated? September 14!
In Manipur Hindi Divas is celebrated only in the institutions dedicated for Hindi. Same is the case in all the states including the states of Hindi speaking belt, then leave alone those non-Hindi states. Special provision is given in Acricle 351 of the Constitution of India to promote Hindi. But, as mentioned above, the promotion activities and influence is very minimal. The activities of promotion of Hindi which is given in the constitution has remained a subject of controversy and a causing factor to political instability in India. Moreover, to those who oppose Hindi has taken these activities as means of dominance by Hindi speaking norther belt of Indian. These oppositions are justified on the ground of rich diversity in language, the diversity of 1650 mother tongues, like Sangam Literature in south India and lately joined North Eastern states (though not so as opposing as does by South Indian literature) and etc.
I don’t know whether it is soemthing to be shameful of or to be proud of for we Indians that India does not have a national language. Hindi is not qualified to recognize as a national language. Hindi in Devnagri script was adopted as official language within and outside constituent assembly on Sept, 14, 1949 though there was stiff protest from different regions of India especially from south Indian states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh during 1960s. Hindi was just made official language along with English for 15 years from the existence of Indian Constitution as given in the Article 350. Later, Hindi became a national official language in all the states governed by Union of India. Thus, somehow, Hindi became a sole language of India. So, the age of Hindi officially is 56 years and 4 months old. Though, ever since then Hindi is being alienated from us(Hindi speaking belt) day by day and replacing with English. India does not have one single national language because of the diversity of language in India.
In the higher education scenario of India, around one and half decades back students used to take Hindi as major course but no one is interested to take as an academic course. In a class dominated by English-challenged students who are mostly from outside Delhi NCR one of my college professors in Delhi University confidently said to just tear off Hindi newspaper and dump into trash-bin. What he wanted to mean was to familiarize with English newspaper. He was talking about English from functionality perspective in academics. The society itself is neglecting Hindi and preferring English. Many Hindi newspapers are using an unlimited number of pure English words in Devanagari script and thus replacing Hindi with English even in Newspapers. To see as whole, our society has dramatically influenced in all aspects. We can analyse this change from the language perspective. One can see the clear change in the languages pattern being spoken across different walks of life. The change is somehow by some or some uninteneded consequences generated from intended actions like clear priority on economic development over socio-cultural.
In academics, books are available almost only in English. There is no one who write in Hindi unless the subject is solely of Hindi context and language. Just like Education is a commodity, a language that is used in the everyday business world has become a commodity in this market world. Lanuage is now a clear medium of selling something. English has been a language of industrialisation and thus in this era of industrialisation English has become a language of functionality and productivity. Hindi has remained only in mainstream Literature or Linguistics. Now the society is in such a position Literature or Linguistics in Hindi has no room for livelihood in general perception. Now Hindi is alienated even among students in Hindi speaking belt because they are born to highly educated family or when they grow up parents talk to them mostly in English or parents admire their kids to speak English. A reason for mushrooming of private school in the name of English, is not hard to believe. Now most of the object names around us are in English. Even illiterate people using hundreds of names of objects around them in our day to day life in English such as Park, Station, lunch, dinner and so on in infinite number. I bet if you could hear anybody uttering Subratri. You could hear only Good Night which being replaced by. I hardly see any TV channel and any celebrity on the screen without English. English has definitely become a language of status; the accent of English has now been a matter of competition in the raw of social linguistic status. This has created a huge influence on Indian masses which is obsessed with Bollywood celebrities and TV channels.
Bihar, UP and Rajasthan are most underdeveloped states in India. Students from these states face maximum challenges in English in colleges. Therefore, development and English language seems to have a strong connection, but not necessary. Hindi has remained merely a language of identity but for no use of anything else. Hindi is no doubt facing an acute defeat in front of English, which is not suposed ot be. Hindi is approaching towards its dooms-day. Strong promotion of Hindi is need of the hour to make it more functional and spread its beauty.
In Manipur Hindi is second language, Manipur is first language while English is third language. But English is using a first language not even as second language. The perception that Manipuri language is quite independent and nothing to do with Hindi would be a wrong assumption, which sounds quite paradoxical as the fact is. Hindi and Manipuri have an indispensable connection ever since Muslims came to Manipur who made their account in Urdu during 1606s during king Khagemba’s reign and wider accommodation of Hindi during the discourse of adopting Hinduism in Manipur during 1717 by the king Pamheiba. Moreover, the strong connection with Bengalies of Silhet (Bangladesh now) and Assames through Tongjei Maril and importantly Marwaries during British regime had great impact in flourishing Hindi in Manipur. There are hundreds of Hindi words we are using as Manipur. Aloo, Bindu, itihas, Swarga, sorok/sarak, Kala/Sanskriti, Samadar, Sunya(zero), Akadasi (the meitei calendar nomenclatures) and so on. In academics also, Manipur grammar (Vyakaran) is all Hindi, hardly any Manipuri. Manipuri alphabets are almost 100 per cent pronounced same as Devnagri script. Students who are out of Manipur are facing extremely challenge in communication. This communication gap could also be one reason of being felt discriminated. Manipuries need strong engagement with Hindi apart from developing Manipuri to avoid replacement by Hindi and English. Sidelining Hindi as a way of promoting Manipuri would lead to a narrow future of Manipur.
Ehsaas | एहसास | کے ترجمہ 