- It is no secret that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government at the centre is attempting to introduce much-needed reforms in the education sector in the last eight years or so. The thrust of the national education policy (NEP) reverberates with the potentiality of being a game-changer. Now, as in any democracy, opposition voices are condemning the move on expected lines. But the overall emphasis on furthering the mother tongue has railed some of the educationists, academicians, thinkers, and of course, the opposition hellbent on finding mistakes with the ruling dispensation. Let us not beat around the bush and keep mentioning that mother tongue alone would ensure an aspirational society like India would traverse a long way ahead.
PC: Sashikanth Yechuri
- Such a thought process appears naïve and far away from the reality defining the modern-day requirements of societies. Agreed, pedagogy in the mother tongue goes a long way in comforting the children to not only comprehend the subject in its entirety but also leave an indelible impact in shaping up any individual(s) as they grow. However, the English language’s acceptance across the world cannot be ignored as the same is rightly labelled as the universal language. Now, there is also a raging debate about the Hindi language being mentioned as the national language which riles others no end. Thus, striking a fine balancing act to ensure the mother tongue, as well as other language in India alongside English, is accorded primacy in equal terms is imperative.
- As such, the recent unveiling of MBBS Hindi textbooks is a positive development for students for whom this language was the medium of instruction in school. Mind you, students schooled in their mother tongue have a disadvantage in higher education where English is usually the medium of instruction and examination. Indeed, flexible language policies can greatly benefit such students, which is why this reform should be extended to other languages and disciplines too. However, it’s equally important to ensure that local language books maintain the quality standards of the sourcebooks. The corpus of local language texts must also expand so that a student who opts to study in the local language isn’t left behind the rest.
PC: The Hans India
- Welcomingly, the new Hindi textbooks having transliterations of terms like anatomy, physiology, etc. rather than pure Hindi translation should be treated as helpful in disciplines like medicine, where the larger body of knowledge is in the English language. Raising voices against English to promote the local language defeats the very purpose of harmonious coexistence and is in line with the present-day necessities. No wonder, parents across classes angle for English education for their wards for this reason. Everyone wishes to see all languages flourish in equal measure. Of course, English will continue to enjoy primacy universally in the foreseeable future as well. Yes, giving a fillip to the mother tongue will help, but not at the cost of replacing English.
