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Post by Kayalvizhi Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:03 pm

We recently visited (March 2012) over a dozen Indian Government websites (by different ministries and departments) to check their language policy. We found that all those sites are in English and Hindi only. Some of you may ask, "What is the big deal?" The big deal is that while Hindi speakers can find information about what their government is doing in their mother tongue, non-Hindians have to rely on one of two foreign languages--Hindi or English? If a farmer in, say, non-Hindi Karnataka State, want to find some information on crops, he/she has to know either Hindi or English or get someone who knows Hindi or English for help. Indian government's position that it is not just in Hindi, it is also in English is ridiculous. English is not the native language of Karnataka, neither is Hindi. Translate all information into all languages listed in the Indian constitution and post them on websites so all citizens can benefit equally. Why that privilege for Hindi speakers only? Are they citizens of a higher grade? Are they paying a higher tax rate for that privilege? Everyone pay taxes at the same rate set by the government--there is no difference there. Why, then, there is a difference, a special privilege for Hindi people?

Some people may say, "It is so trivial. Why nitpick on these silly things?" It shows the attitude and mentality of the Hindi politicians who set the language policy because of their large numbers (although not a majority) in the Indian parliament. What they do in small things, they also do in big things. Things like non-Hindi Indian government employees forced to pass Hindi examinations and forced to write letters in Hindi.

Kayalvizhi

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Join date : 2011-05-16

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