When Tamils were forced to learn Hindi, they revolted. When they were forced *not* to learn hindi, again they revolted

by Guest Tue Nov 26, 2013 9:54 am

Tamils were voluntarily learning hindi at the time of Pandit Nehru. But after Pandit Nehru's death, the new PM Lal Bahadur Shastri tried to impose hindi on Tamils by declaring the study of hindi to be compulsory. (In this he was supported by many tamil intellectuals like Rajagopalachari.) Tamils reacted violently to the language opposition and the compulsory study of hindi was stopped.

But then the state government of TN, under political parties who had made language a political issue, banned the study of hindi in government schools. In all the other South Indian states, a student has the option to learn hindi in government schools, but not in TN.

It is sometimes argued that those who wish to study hindi can do so by opting to study in private schools. The problem with this argument is that the common man in TN cannot afford to send his children to private schools where the tuition fees is significantly higher than in government schools. So most tamils are being forced not to study hindi due to the misguided state government policy.

Tamils again revolted against the ban on not studying hindi (in government schools--which essentially amounts to a ban on not studying hindi in school since the common man cannot afford to send his children to the more expensive private schools), and as i have shown in many posts on this forum, there is extremely high enthusiasm for the study of Hindi throughout Tamil Nadu.

by Guest Tue Nov 26, 2013 11:30 am

Moral: People revolt when anything is 'forced' on them.

by Guest Tue Nov 26, 2013 11:46 am

"Let one thing be very clear. We HATE you. Now that that's been established, I will fight for your right to live here."

by smArtha Tue Nov 26, 2013 11:59 am

Vidya Bagchi wrote:"Let one thing be very clear. We HATE you. Now that that's been established, I will fight for your right to live here."

Majority folks don't have time and energies to fight for those they love. So it is too tall a claim to buy, if anyone says that they'll fight for those who they hate.

by Guest Tue Nov 26, 2013 12:02 pm

smArtha wrote:
Vidya Bagchi wrote:"Let one thing be very clear. We HATE you. Now that that's been established, I will fight for your right to live here."
Majority folks don't have time and energies to fight for those they love. So it is too tall a claim to buy, if anyone says that they'll fight for those who they hate.

tamils be special.

by goodcitizn Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:07 pm

I am sick and tired of such posts by Rashmun. Indians, not just Tamilians, have the right to decide what language is useful to them. It makes no sense for the government to spend crores and crores of taxpayers' money each year in the form of Hindi Prachar Sabhas in Tamil Nadu. That money would be well spent having the same sabhas in the BIMARU states where more than a third of their population cannot read or write Hindi.

If some Tamilians want to learn Hindi. Fine. Let them. If they want to learn English. Fine. If it is better for Tamilians to learn another south indian language instead of Hindi. Fine. Let them. There is nothing special about Hindi that warrants the state government to give any special recognition or preference.

by bw Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:50 pm

Rashmun wrote:Tamils were voluntarily learning hindi at the time of Pandit Nehru. But after Pandit Nehru's death, the new PM Lal Bahadur Shastri tried to impose hindi on Tamils by declaring the study of hindi to be compulsory. (In this he was supported by many tamil intellectuals like Rajagopalachari.) Tamils reacted violently to the language opposition and the compulsory study of hindi was stopped.

But then the state government of TN, under political parties who had made language a political issue, banned the study of hindi in government schools. In all the other South Indian states, a student has the option to learn hindi in government schools, but not in TN.

It is sometimes argued that those who wish to study hindi can do so by opting to study in private schools. The problem with this argument is that the common man in TN cannot afford to send his children to private schools where the tuition fees is significantly higher than in government schools. So most tamils are being forced not to study hindi due to the misguided state government policy.

Tamils again revolted against the ban on not studying hindi (in government schools--which essentially amounts to a ban on not studying hindi in school since the common man cannot afford to send his children to the more expensive private schools), and as i have shown in many posts on this forum, there is extremely high enthusiasm for the study of Hindi throughout Tamil Nadu.

revolted? where? when?

by Guest Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:03 pm

bw wrote:
Rashmun wrote:Tamils were voluntarily learning hindi at the time of Pandit Nehru. But after Pandit Nehru's death, the new PM Lal Bahadur Shastri tried to impose hindi on Tamils by declaring the study of hindi to be compulsory. (In this he was supported by many tamil intellectuals like Rajagopalachari.) Tamils reacted violently to the language opposition and the compulsory study of hindi was stopped.

But then the state government of TN, under political parties who had made language a political issue, banned the study of hindi in government schools. In all the other South Indian states, a student has the option to learn hindi in government schools, but not in TN.

It is sometimes argued that those who wish to study hindi can do so by opting to study in private schools. The problem with this argument is that the common man in TN cannot afford to send his children to private schools where the tuition fees is significantly higher than in government schools. So most tamils are being forced not to study hindi due to the misguided state government policy.

Tamils again revolted against the ban on not studying hindi (in government schools--which essentially amounts to a ban on not studying hindi in school since the common man cannot afford to send his children to the more expensive private schools), and as i have shown in many posts on this forum, there is extremely high enthusiasm for the study of Hindi throughout Tamil Nadu.
revolted? where? when?

Yet the current trend of Tamil Nadu students increasingly choosing to learn Hindi, with some even opting for Hindi as the medium of instruction, appears to make nonsense of the erstwhile DMK government’s stand. (See chart)

More than four decades after the DMK rode an anti-Hindi agitation to power in Tamil Nadu, it seems the state’s people are increasingly jettisoning their perceived hostility towards India’s dominant language.

With Hindi not even taught as a subject in Tamil Nadu’s government schools, many people from the state are studying the language through courses offered by the Central Hindi Directorate (CHD) and the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha.

Even more surprisingly, many are opting to study university-level humanities courses offered by the Prachar Sabha — BA, MA, MPhil and PhD in political science or history as well as BEd — with Hindi as the medium of instruction.

While the CHD offers only correspondence courses on the Hindi language, the Prachar Sabha has a network of centres covering even small towns and villages in all the southern states and Puducherry. It has also engaged scores of voluntary organisations and thousands of volunteers to spread the teaching of Hindi in these states. The CHD provides the funds to the Prachar Sabha.

CHD director K. Vijaykumar confirmed the trend. “Of the Prachar Sabha’s 18 lakh students country-wide, nearly 10 lakh are from Tamil Nadu alone,” he said.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110628/jsp/frontpage/story_14169671.jsp

by Guest Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:05 pm

Call it a generational shift or the compulsion of changing times, more students whose mother tongue is Tamil are now learning Hindi as their second language in schools in Coimbatore.

School teachers too feel that learning Hindi in addition to one’s mother tongue gives students an edge when it comes to relocating outside Tamil Nadu in later years.

Some parents like Tamilselvan Nachimuthu, a bank employee, are enrolling their children in private Hindi tuition centres. “If my daughter learns to speak Hindi, she would not have to be tongue-tied when I am transferred to a north Indian State,” says Nachimuthu whose father was a staunch supporter of the anti-Hindi movement.

http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article544856.ece

by Guest Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:06 pm

Chennai: Their grandfathers took to the streets, raised slogans and even went to prison, protesting against the “imposition” of Hindi in Tamil Nadu in the 1960s. More than four decades later, many Tamil kids are studying the “rashtra bhasha” even before they can pick up the alphabets of their mother tongue.

Raj and Aruna did not think twice when they got a note from their son’s school to specify the second language they wanted their kid to learn from first standard onwards. Their unanimous choice was Hindi.

In fact, about 90% of their son’s classmates will be studying Hindi as the second language, as young parents feel their children’s horizon should extend beyond the boundaries of the state.

“At a time when we are talking about a global village, we cannot say no to Hindi anymore. Once we cross the state’s borders, we need to know Hindi for survival. I don’t want my son to be handicapped due to lack of knowledge of Hindi,” said Raj, a software professional.

“Unlike those in government jobs, people working in the private sector have to shuttle from one state to another. Hindi comes in handy at such times,” said Aarthi, a HR manager in a private firm.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQkcvMjAwOS8wMi8wMyNBcjAxMTAx

by Guest Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:10 pm

Sreenivas, a 58-year-old student at Hindi Vidya Niketan, says he realised the importance of Hindi over a decade ago but could only find time to learn it closer to his retirement. "I have lived all my life in Chennai because I don't know any other language. But I made sure my daughters studied for Hindi exams even though they couldn't study the language in their school, which followed the state board curriculum," he says.

There is a visible cultural dilation on Chennai streets, once famously protective of all things Tamil. Five years ago, Arumugam, a 55-year-old auto driver from Ambattur, would have told you off if you asked him for directions in Hindi. Today, he parks his auto on the bustling North Usman Road and calls out to people: Kahan jaana hai? (Where do you want to go?) "It helps to know basic Hindi — kitna (how much), kam (it's not enough), dur (far), aa jao (come)," says Arumugam.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/chennai-says-it-in-hindi/830371/0

by goodcitizn Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:13 pm

C. Rajagopalachari reversed his view of supporting Hindi after its imposition in Tamil Nadu.

Read the article from the Hindu below. It is the linguistic chauvinism that drove out Congress from Tamil Nadu in the late 60's and the party has never attained any foothold in that state's politics ever again.

You are just another linguistic chauvinist. It is laughable that after 66 years of Hindi imposition most people in Tamil Nadu do not want Hindi in their curriculum. That shows how stupid the idea of Hindi chauvinism has worked against the Hindians in Tamil Nadu.

Back in 1956, the Academy of Tamil Culture passed a resolution urging that "English should continue to be the official language of the Union and the language for communication between the Union and the State Governments and between one State Government and another'. The signatories included Annadurai, E. V. Ramaswami `Periyar', and C. Rajagopalachari. On Rajaji's part this represented a certain change of mind; for he had once been a vigorous proponent of the `rashtrabhasha' himself. However, the organisation of the campaign was the work of the DMK, which through the 1950s organised many protest meetings against the imposition of Hindi.

http://www.hindu.com/mag/2005/01/16/stories/2005011600260300.htm

by Guest Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:18 pm

That Madurai and cinema are synonymous is a known fact. But can Hindi cinema and the temple city share such a relation? There was a time when Dharmendra and Rajesh Khanna charmed Madurai’s movie goers just like the evergreen MGR and Sivaji.

S.Perumal, an old-time film buff recalls the days when the city had a huge fan following for Amitabh Bacchhan and Dev Anand. “The 70’s was the peak of Hindi cinema in Tamil Nadu. During the release of Sholay in 1975, people burst crackers in front of the theatre,” says the 80-year-old.

RM. M. Annamalai, state president of Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners' Association, remembers the rousing reception given by the audience when he opened Sakthi-Sivam theatre with the screening of Amar Akbar Anthony in 1977. “There was maddening crowd and the movie ran for more than 100 days. It was one of the Hindi movies that attracted repeated audiences.” Yaadon Ki Baraat, Chupke Chupke, Dharam Veer, Bobby, Aradhana, Kati Patang, Qurbani, Amar Prem, Zanjeer and Silsila were the other Hindi flicks that ran to packed halls. Some of these films were also remade in Tamil -- Yaadon Ki Baraat as Naalai Namadhe with MGR in the lead role and Aradhana as Sivakamiyin Selvan with Sivaji.

“The time between late 60’s and early 70’s was a lull period in Tamil cinema. The songs got monotonous and there was no major breakthrough in story or music. That was one of the reasons why people chose to watch Hindi movies, mainly for the songs,” says Annamalai. “Tamil cinema got fresh music only after the entry of Ilayaraja. Before that, light music simply meant Hindi songs.”

“It was the magic of R.D.Burman. He introduced western components in Hindi songs and that struck a chord with audiences all over India. Music was electrified and people welcomed it,” says R.Murali, Principal, Madura College and an avid film goer.

The other major factor that made Hindi movies popular among the masses here is said to be the glamour quotient. People found the Hindi stars charismatic. Suguna, a homemaker who used to watch Hindi movies of those times, says, “Even if we didn’t understand the language, we would just go and watch it for the moustache-less boyish heroes and the glamorous get-up of the heroines, which was unknown in Tamil cinema then. Tamil cinema was hesitant to introduce new faces. We were still doing with Sivaji and MGR and the actors played college boys even after they turned 50.”

This glamour appeal of Hindi movies continued till early 90’s. Sankar, whose workplace was near the erstwhile Sha theatre still vividly remembers how the hall resonated with whistles and thumps when Madhuri Dixit made her appearance on skating rollers on the silver screen in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun. “The make-up and costumes were interesting in Hindi films. It had a stylish element to it. Tamil movies were more into realistic and rustic portrayals,” says Sankar.

Hindi films were once able to penetrate the language barrier and thrive successfully in the South Indian market but now their charm has withered. “The North Indians living in the city are the major chunk watching Hindi movies. But there is also a slice of localities who like viewing Hindi films for the melodious songs. Only during weekends we get crowd, while it is lukewarm response on the other days,” informs G.Baskaran, Manager of Jazz&Arsh cinemas, one of the very few theatres in the city that screen Hindi movies now.

Many feel that the increasing show of Bombay or Delhi-centric metro-culture and the overdose of Punjabi story settings have caused Hindi movies to lose their appeal among the distant South Indian audience. “The old films had a pan-Indian appeal and audiences across linguistic boundaries were able to relate to it. The stories were based on the larger Indian culture. Family bonding and relationship were shown to be same all over the country,” says R.Murali. “But now, cinema has shifted from a macro-narrative to a micro-narrative format. Each cinema industry is going more into their specific cultural roots.”

“The earthy and rustic tones of Subramaniyapuram and Paruthi Veeran wouldn’t entice the Hindi audience. Likewise, the Tamil audience wouldn’t enjoy the overtly Punjabi plots like Love aaj Kal and Band Baaja Baarat,” says Suresh Krishna, who is a fan of Hindi films. “Youngsters in metros like Chennai and Bangalore are open to Hindi movies. But the Semi-urban South Indian movie-goer can hardly identify with Bollywood subjects these days.”

On the other hand, dubbed Hindi films seem to be doing well. “Movies like Ra.One, Krrish-3, Dhoom-2 and English Vinglish were screened in Tamil and they got good response,” says Prabhu, manager of Ganesh Adlabs. “Films like Chennai Express fared exceptionally well as the subject had the South-Indian touch and people connected with it.”

http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-falling-fancy/article5375743.ece

by goodcitizn Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:23 pm

Rashmun wrote:
bw wrote:
Rashmun wrote:Tamils were voluntarily learning hindi at the time of Pandit Nehru. But after Pandit Nehru's death, the new PM Lal Bahadur Shastri tried to impose hindi on Tamils by declaring the study of hindi to be compulsory. (In this he was supported by many tamil intellectuals like Rajagopalachari.) Tamils reacted violently to the language opposition and the compulsory study of hindi was stopped.

But then the state government of TN, under political parties who had made language a political issue, banned the study of hindi in government schools. In all the other South Indian states, a student has the option to learn hindi in government schools, but not in TN.

It is sometimes argued that those who wish to study hindi can do so by opting to study in private schools. The problem with this argument is that the common man in TN cannot afford to send his children to private schools where the tuition fees is significantly higher than in government schools. So most tamils are being forced not to study hindi due to the misguided state government policy.

Tamils again revolted against the ban on not studying hindi (in government schools--which essentially amounts to a ban on not studying hindi in school since the common man cannot afford to send his children to the more expensive private schools), and as i have shown in many posts on this forum, there is extremely high enthusiasm for the study of Hindi throughout Tamil Nadu.
revolted? where? when?
Yet the current trend of Tamil Nadu students increasingly choosing to learn Hindi, with some even opting for Hindi as the medium of instruction, appears to make nonsense of the erstwhile DMK government’s stand. (See chart)

More than four decades after the DMK rode an anti-Hindi agitation to power in Tamil Nadu, it seems the state’s people are increasingly jettisoning their perceived hostility towards India’s dominant language.

With Hindi not even taught as a subject in Tamil Nadu’s government schools, many people from the state are studying the language through courses offered by the Central Hindi Directorate (CHD) and the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha.

Even more surprisingly, many are opting to study university-level humanities courses offered by the Prachar Sabha — BA, MA, MPhil and PhD in political science or history as well as BEd — with Hindi as the medium of instruction.

While the CHD offers only correspondence courses on the Hindi language, the Prachar Sabha has a network of centres covering even small towns and villages in all the southern states and Puducherry. It has also engaged scores of voluntary organisations and thousands of volunteers to spread the teaching of Hindi in these states. The CHD provides the funds to the Prachar Sabha.

CHD director K. Vijaykumar confirmed the trend. “Of the Prachar Sabha’s 18 lakh students country-wide, nearly 10 lakh are from Tamil Nadu alone,” he said.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110628/jsp/frontpage/story_14169671.jsp

Did you ever stop to think that the opinion of the Central Hindi Director would be tainted in favor of Hindi? Why don't you ask the Hindi Prachar Sabha and CHD linguistic chauvinists to first teach the illiterates in the BIMARU states ( nearly a third of their population) to read and write Hindi? Wouldn't that be more beneficial to them since they live in the Hindi-speaking states?

by Guest Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:34 pm

goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
bw wrote:
Rashmun wrote:Tamils were voluntarily learning hindi at the time of Pandit Nehru. But after Pandit Nehru's death, the new PM Lal Bahadur Shastri tried to impose hindi on Tamils by declaring the study of hindi to be compulsory. (In this he was supported by many tamil intellectuals like Rajagopalachari.) Tamils reacted violently to the language opposition and the compulsory study of hindi was stopped.

But then the state government of TN, under political parties who had made language a political issue, banned the study of hindi in government schools. In all the other South Indian states, a student has the option to learn hindi in government schools, but not in TN.

It is sometimes argued that those who wish to study hindi can do so by opting to study in private schools. The problem with this argument is that the common man in TN cannot afford to send his children to private schools where the tuition fees is significantly higher than in government schools. So most tamils are being forced not to study hindi due to the misguided state government policy.

Tamils again revolted against the ban on not studying hindi (in government schools--which essentially amounts to a ban on not studying hindi in school since the common man cannot afford to send his children to the more expensive private schools), and as i have shown in many posts on this forum, there is extremely high enthusiasm for the study of Hindi throughout Tamil Nadu.
revolted? where? when?
Yet the current trend of Tamil Nadu students increasingly choosing to learn Hindi, with some even opting for Hindi as the medium of instruction, appears to make nonsense of the erstwhile DMK government’s stand. (See chart)

More than four decades after the DMK rode an anti-Hindi agitation to power in Tamil Nadu, it seems the state’s people are increasingly jettisoning their perceived hostility towards India’s dominant language.

With Hindi not even taught as a subject in Tamil Nadu’s government schools, many people from the state are studying the language through courses offered by the Central Hindi Directorate (CHD) and the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha.

Even more surprisingly, many are opting to study university-level humanities courses offered by the Prachar Sabha — BA, MA, MPhil and PhD in political science or history as well as BEd — with Hindi as the medium of instruction.

While the CHD offers only correspondence courses on the Hindi language, the Prachar Sabha has a network of centres covering even small towns and villages in all the southern states and Puducherry. It has also engaged scores of voluntary organisations and thousands of volunteers to spread the teaching of Hindi in these states. The CHD provides the funds to the Prachar Sabha.

CHD director K. Vijaykumar confirmed the trend. “Of the Prachar Sabha’s 18 lakh students country-wide, nearly 10 lakh are from Tamil Nadu alone,” he said.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110628/jsp/frontpage/story_14169671.jsp

Did you ever stop to think that the opinion of the Central Hindi Director would be tainted in favor of Hindi? Why don't you ask the Hindi Prachar Sabha and CHD linguistic chauvinists to first teach the illiterates in the BIMARU states ( nearly a third of their population) to read and write Hindi? Wouldn't that be more beneficial to them since they live in the Hindi-speaking states?

Educated tamils who know hindi can come to north india and become teachers and impart knowledge of science and math to north indians.

---
Kevin and Manova Jacob, who are studying for the Sabha's Hindi Parichaya (introductory course) exam at Balakrishna's academy, agree. "It is important to know the national language," says Kevin. For the mathematics graduate, Hindi is a conduit to north India, where he and his brother hope to find suitable jobs.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/chennai-says-it-in-hindi/830371/0

by goodcitizn Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:59 pm

It is unfortunate that some people call Hindi as the national language when it is only an official language sharing equal status with English. What next? Change the national anthem in Bengali to a different Hindi anthem?

If Hindi is so useful for people to communicate then its usefulness can only be measured by how it spreads through osmosis and not by imposition, particularly in southern states like Tamil Nadu where it is as much a foreign language as English and where the scale is tilted in favor of the latter.

by Guest Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:14 pm

goodcitizn wrote:It is unfortunate that some people call Hindi as the national language when it is only an official language sharing equal status with English. What next? Change the national anthem in Bengali to a different Hindi anthem?

If Hindi is so useful for people to communicate then its usefulness can only be measured by how it spreads through osmosis and not by imposition, particularly in southern states like Tamil Nadu where it is as much a foreign language as English and where the scale is tilted in favor of the latter.

i have always said that tamilians should have the option of learning hindi. By banning hindi in state govt schools (something not done in Kerala, AP, or Karnataka) the majority of tamilians are not able to exercise their option to study hindi. (The fees charged by private schools--where students have the option to study hindi-- is beyond the reach of the common man. ) This 'forcible ban' is being met by open rebellion as can be seen by the fact that the majority of hindi students in Hindi Prachar Sabha are Tamilians.

The people calling hindi 'national language' in the article whose link i gave are tamilians. They are, in my opinion, calling hindi the national language because hindi is spoken all across India. It is the most widely spoken language in India. And hindi movies are shown all across India.

by goodcitizn Tue Nov 26, 2013 9:24 pm

Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:It is unfortunate that some people call Hindi as the national language when it is only an official language sharing equal status with English. What next? Change the national anthem in Bengali to a different Hindi anthem?

If Hindi is so useful for people to communicate then its usefulness can only be measured by how it spreads through osmosis and not by imposition, particularly in southern states like Tamil Nadu where it is as much a foreign language as English and where the scale is tilted in favor of the latter.
i have always said that tamilians should have the option of learning hindi. By banning hindi in state govt schools (something not done in Kerala, AP, or Karnataka) the majority of tamilians are not able to exercise their option to study hindi. (The fees charged by private schools--where students have the option to study hindi-- is beyond the reach of the common man. ) This 'forcible ban' is being met by open rebellion as can be seen by the fact that the majority of hindi students in Hindi Prachar Sabha are Tamilians.

The people calling hindi 'national language' in the article whose link i gave are tamilians. They are, in my opinion, calling hindi the national language because hindi is spoken all across India. It is the most widely spoken language in India. And hindi movies are shown all across India.

There is no forcible ban. Students can opt for Hindi as their third language if they so choose.

Kevin and Manova Jacob don't sound like Tamilian names. They were merely repeating what the Hindi zealots have been mistakenly calling it a national language. And if these hand-picked interviewees are credible you should also buy into their story that Karunanidhi would have been India's PM had he known Hindi.

Like I have always said ... I am not opposed to Hindi or any other Indian language for that matter. They are all the children of India's heritage. However, I am against the imposition of one language over the others in a democratic secular country.

by bw Tue Nov 26, 2013 9:24 pm

i have not read about any such revolt for hindi on tamil tribune. unless and until that reliable and respectable publication reports it, i cannot take any of these reports too seriously.

by goodcitizn Tue Nov 26, 2013 9:25 pm

bw wrote:i have not read about any such revolt against hindi on tamil tribune. unless and until that reliable and respectable publication reports it, i cannot take any of these reports too seriously.

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:38 am

goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:It is unfortunate that some people call Hindi as the national language when it is only an official language sharing equal status with English. What next? Change the national anthem in Bengali to a different Hindi anthem?

If Hindi is so useful for people to communicate then its usefulness can only be measured by how it spreads through osmosis and not by imposition, particularly in southern states like Tamil Nadu where it is as much a foreign language as English and where the scale is tilted in favor of the latter.
i have always said that tamilians should have the option of learning hindi. By banning hindi in state govt schools (something not done in Kerala, AP, or Karnataka) the majority of tamilians are not able to exercise their option to study hindi. (The fees charged by private schools--where students have the option to study hindi-- is beyond the reach of the common man. ) This 'forcible ban' is being met by open rebellion as can be seen by the fact that the majority of hindi students in Hindi Prachar Sabha are Tamilians.

The people calling hindi 'national language' in the article whose link i gave are tamilians. They are, in my opinion, calling hindi the national language because hindi is spoken all across India. It is the most widely spoken language in India. And hindi movies are shown all across India.
There is no forcible ban. Students can opt for Hindi as their third language if they so choose.

Kevin and Manova Jacob don't sound like Tamilian names. They were merely repeating what the Hindi zealots have been mistakenly calling it a national language. And if these hand-picked interviewees are credible you should also buy into their story that Karunanidhi would have been India's PM had he known Hindi.

Like I have always said ... I am not opposed to Hindi or any other Indian language for that matter. They are all the children of India's heritage. However, I am against the imposition of one language over the others in a democratic secular country.

You are wrong. The vast majority of school students in TN attend state govt schools and in these schools, hindi is not offered as an optional language. In practice, this means an informal ban on learning hindi is being imposed by the state govt. Tamils have decided to revolt against this ban.

With respect to KV's claim that tamils are learning hindi because doing so would enable them to try and get a central govt job, the answer is that tamils are learning hindi for other reasons. Having no difficulty in communicating in India when outside tamil nadu probably tops the list of reasons for learning hindi, but there are other reasons also like the ability to enjoy hindi literature, etc. The fact that auto and taxi drivers in TN have started speaking in hindi with their customers (which they would not do earlier) is another indicator of the shift in the attitude towards hindi in TN.

--

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:11 am

If Bangladeshis do not care about Hindi, as KV claims in her latest post, it is very strange why hindi movies had to be banned in Bangladesh. Only recently has that the Bangladeshi govt allowed screening of Hindi movies after it realized people were continuing to watch pirated versions of these movies.

http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/bollywood-returns-to-bangladesh-after-39-years/

by Kayalvizhi Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:14 am

People,
What do you call a person who does not understand the difference between going to a Hindi movie and working in Hindi at job?

by Kayalvizhi Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:14 am

Rasmun,
Bing and find the answer.

Do Babgladesh schools teach Hindi???????????

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:18 am

Kayalvizhi wrote:Rasmun,
Bing and find the answer.

Do Babgladesh schools teach Hindi???????????

Since colloquial hindi and colloquial urdu are the same language, learning Urdu also means learning hindi.

by goodcitizn Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:31 pm

Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:It is unfortunate that some people call Hindi as the national language when it is only an official language sharing equal status with English. What next? Change the national anthem in Bengali to a different Hindi anthem?

If Hindi is so useful for people to communicate then its usefulness can only be measured by how it spreads through osmosis and not by imposition, particularly in southern states like Tamil Nadu where it is as much a foreign language as English and where the scale is tilted in favor of the latter.
i have always said that tamilians should have the option of learning hindi. By banning hindi in state govt schools (something not done in Kerala, AP, or Karnataka) the majority of tamilians are not able to exercise their option to study hindi. (The fees charged by private schools--where students have the option to study hindi-- is beyond the reach of the common man. ) This 'forcible ban' is being met by open rebellion as can be seen by the fact that the majority of hindi students in Hindi Prachar Sabha are Tamilians.

The people calling hindi 'national language' in the article whose link i gave are tamilians. They are, in my opinion, calling hindi the national language because hindi is spoken all across India. It is the most widely spoken language in India. And hindi movies are shown all across India.
There is no forcible ban. Students can opt for Hindi as their third language if they so choose.

Kevin and Manova Jacob don't sound like Tamilian names. They were merely repeating what the Hindi zealots have been mistakenly calling it a national language. And if these hand-picked interviewees are credible you should also buy into their story that Karunanidhi would have been India's PM had he known Hindi.

Like I have always said ... I am not opposed to Hindi or any other Indian language for that matter. They are all the children of India's heritage. However, I am against the imposition of one language over the others in a democratic secular country.
You are wrong. The vast majority of school students in TN attend state govt schools and in these schools, hindi is not offered as an optional language. In practice, this means an informal ban on learning hindi is being imposed by the state govt. Tamils have decided to revolt against this ban.

With respect to KV's claim that tamils are learning hindi because doing so would enable them to try and get a central govt job, the answer is that tamils are learning hindi for other reasons. Having no difficulty in communicating in India when outside tamil nadu probably tops the list of reasons for learning hindi, but there are other reasons also like the ability to enjoy hindi literature, etc. The fact that auto and taxi drivers in TN have started speaking in hindi with their customers (which they would not do earlier) is another indicator of the shift in the attitude towards hindi in TN.

--

LOL! Nobody is revolting. Only your jaundiced and prejudiced posts are revolting.

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:39 pm

goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:It is unfortunate that some people call Hindi as the national language when it is only an official language sharing equal status with English. What next? Change the national anthem in Bengali to a different Hindi anthem?

If Hindi is so useful for people to communicate then its usefulness can only be measured by how it spreads through osmosis and not by imposition, particularly in southern states like Tamil Nadu where it is as much a foreign language as English and where the scale is tilted in favor of the latter.
i have always said that tamilians should have the option of learning hindi. By banning hindi in state govt schools (something not done in Kerala, AP, or Karnataka) the majority of tamilians are not able to exercise their option to study hindi. (The fees charged by private schools--where students have the option to study hindi-- is beyond the reach of the common man. ) This 'forcible ban' is being met by open rebellion as can be seen by the fact that the majority of hindi students in Hindi Prachar Sabha are Tamilians.

The people calling hindi 'national language' in the article whose link i gave are tamilians. They are, in my opinion, calling hindi the national language because hindi is spoken all across India. It is the most widely spoken language in India. And hindi movies are shown all across India.
There is no forcible ban. Students can opt for Hindi as their third language if they so choose.

Kevin and Manova Jacob don't sound like Tamilian names. They were merely repeating what the Hindi zealots have been mistakenly calling it a national language. And if these hand-picked interviewees are credible you should also buy into their story that Karunanidhi would have been India's PM had he known Hindi.

Like I have always said ... I am not opposed to Hindi or any other Indian language for that matter. They are all the children of India's heritage. However, I am against the imposition of one language over the others in a democratic secular country.
You are wrong. The vast majority of school students in TN attend state govt schools and in these schools, hindi is not offered as an optional language. In practice, this means an informal ban on learning hindi is being imposed by the state govt. Tamils have decided to revolt against this ban.

With respect to KV's claim that tamils are learning hindi because doing so would enable them to try and get a central govt job, the answer is that tamils are learning hindi for other reasons. Having no difficulty in communicating in India when outside tamil nadu probably tops the list of reasons for learning hindi, but there are other reasons also like the ability to enjoy hindi literature, etc. The fact that auto and taxi drivers in TN have started speaking in hindi with their customers (which they would not do earlier) is another indicator of the shift in the attitude towards hindi in TN.

--
LOL! Nobody is revolting. Only your jaundiced and prejudiced posts are revolting.

out of the 18 lakh students of the hindi prachar sabha in 2011, 10 lakh were tamils (as per the telegraph article whose link i gave earlier in this thread). And every year the number of tamils learning hindi only increases. what does this show? it shows that the nefarious attempt of tamil politicians to deny tamil people the option of studying hindi (by banning it from being taught in state govt schools where the vast majority of tamils study) has been made futile by the people of Tamil Nadu. Elderly NRI tamils like GC seem to be wearing blinkers on this issue. The likes of GC seem to be still living in a 1965 world and seem completely divorced from the reality of what is happening in Tamil Nadu today.

by goodcitizn Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:06 pm

Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:i have always said that tamilians should have the option of learning hindi. By banning hindi in state govt schools (something not done in Kerala, AP, or Karnataka) the majority of tamilians are not able to exercise their option to study hindi. (The fees charged by private schools--where students have the option to study hindi-- is beyond the reach of the common man. ) This 'forcible ban' is being met by open rebellion as can be seen by the fact that the majority of hindi students in Hindi Prachar Sabha are Tamilians.

The people calling hindi 'national language' in the article whose link i gave are tamilians. They are, in my opinion, calling hindi the national language because hindi is spoken all across India. It is the most widely spoken language in India. And hindi movies are shown all across India.
There is no forcible ban. Students can opt for Hindi as their third language if they so choose.

Kevin and Manova Jacob don't sound like Tamilian names. They were merely repeating what the Hindi zealots have been mistakenly calling it a national language. And if these hand-picked interviewees are credible you should also buy into their story that Karunanidhi would have been India's PM had he known Hindi.

Like I have always said ... I am not opposed to Hindi or any other Indian language for that matter. They are all the children of India's heritage. However, I am against the imposition of one language over the others in a democratic secular country.
You are wrong. The vast majority of school students in TN attend state govt schools and in these schools, hindi is not offered as an optional language. In practice, this means an informal ban on learning hindi is being imposed by the state govt. Tamils have decided to revolt against this ban.

With respect to KV's claim that tamils are learning hindi because doing so would enable them to try and get a central govt job, the answer is that tamils are learning hindi for other reasons. Having no difficulty in communicating in India when outside tamil nadu probably tops the list of reasons for learning hindi, but there are other reasons also like the ability to enjoy hindi literature, etc. The fact that auto and taxi drivers in TN have started speaking in hindi with their customers (which they would not do earlier) is another indicator of the shift in the attitude towards hindi in TN.

--
LOL! Nobody is revolting. Only your jaundiced and prejudiced posts are revolting.
out of the 18 lakh students of the hindi prachar sabha in 2011, 10 lakh were tamils (as per the telegraph article whose link i gave earlier in this thread). And every year the number of tamils learning hindi only increases. what does this show? it shows that the nefarious attempt of tamil politicians to deny tamil people the option of studying hindi (by banning it from being taught in state govt schools where the vast majority of tamils study) has been made futile by the people of Tamil Nadu. Elderly NRI tamils like GC seem to be wearing blinkers on this issue. The likes of GC seem to be still living in a 1965 world and seem completely divorced from the reality of what is happening in Tamil Nadu today.

After 50 years of recruiting candidates for Hindi Prachar Sabhas there is nothing magical about a few lakh students signing up for Hindi in Tamil Nadu. If Tamil Promotional Schools were sanctioned and funded heavily by the Central Government in UP and other BIMARU states the same statistics would have happened, particularly if knowledge of Tamil was made mandatory besides English for Central Govt jobs. So there is no merit to all the chest-beating by the Hindi chauvinists on this forum.

The young vibrant whipper snappers along with the elderly nutbags wanted to make Hindi the national language back in the 60's. That imposition was met with great resistance in Tamil Nadu so the government leaders like Nehru saw the futility of it and backed off. Now more nutbags in the likes of Mulayam want English abolished in the Indian parliament replaced with Hindi as the medium of dialog. Rashmun is nothing but a well-meaning nutbag who has gone astray in his zeal for Hindi and Urdu culture of Akbar the Great who still is under the delusion that folks in Tamil villages palaver in Dakhni.

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:17 pm

goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:There is no forcible ban. Students can opt for Hindi as their third language if they so choose.

Kevin and Manova Jacob don't sound like Tamilian names. They were merely repeating what the Hindi zealots have been mistakenly calling it a national language. And if these hand-picked interviewees are credible you should also buy into their story that Karunanidhi would have been India's PM had he known Hindi.

Like I have always said ... I am not opposed to Hindi or any other Indian language for that matter. They are all the children of India's heritage. However, I am against the imposition of one language over the others in a democratic secular country.
You are wrong. The vast majority of school students in TN attend state govt schools and in these schools, hindi is not offered as an optional language. In practice, this means an informal ban on learning hindi is being imposed by the state govt. Tamils have decided to revolt against this ban.

With respect to KV's claim that tamils are learning hindi because doing so would enable them to try and get a central govt job, the answer is that tamils are learning hindi for other reasons. Having no difficulty in communicating in India when outside tamil nadu probably tops the list of reasons for learning hindi, but there are other reasons also like the ability to enjoy hindi literature, etc. The fact that auto and taxi drivers in TN have started speaking in hindi with their customers (which they would not do earlier) is another indicator of the shift in the attitude towards hindi in TN.

--
LOL! Nobody is revolting. Only your jaundiced and prejudiced posts are revolting.
out of the 18 lakh students of the hindi prachar sabha in 2011, 10 lakh were tamils (as per the telegraph article whose link i gave earlier in this thread). And every year the number of tamils learning hindi only increases. what does this show? it shows that the nefarious attempt of tamil politicians to deny tamil people the option of studying hindi (by banning it from being taught in state govt schools where the vast majority of tamils study) has been made futile by the people of Tamil Nadu. Elderly NRI tamils like GC seem to be wearing blinkers on this issue. The likes of GC seem to be still living in a 1965 world and seem completely divorced from the reality of what is happening in Tamil Nadu today.
After 50 years of recruiting candidates for Hindi Prachar Sabhas there is nothing magical about a few lakh students signing up for Hindi in Tamil Nadu. If Tamil Promotional Schools were sanctioned and funded heavily by the Central Government in UP and other BIMARU states the same statistics would have happened, particularly if knowledge of Tamil was made mandatory besides English for Central Govt jobs. So there is no merit to all the chest-beating by the Hindi chauvinists on this forum.

The young vibrant whipper snappers along with the elderly nutbags wanted to make Hindi the national language back in the 60's. That imposition was met with great resistance in Tamil Nadu so the government leaders like Nehru saw the futility of it and backed off. Now more nutbags in the likes of Mulayam want English abolished in the Indian parliament replaced with Hindi as the medium of dialog. Rashmun is nothing but a well-meaning nutbag who has gone astray in his zeal for Hindi and Urdu culture of Akbar the Great who still is under the delusion that folks in Tamil villages palaver in Dakhni.

GC fails to address the issue of why more than 50% of the hindi students of the hindi prachar sabha are tamils. Out of all those tamils who have been asked as to why they are learning hindi, none has said it is because of the lure of central govt. jobs. The typical reason given by tamils when asked this question is that they believe a knowledge of hindi for themselves or for their children would come in handy if they are living and working outside Tamil Nadu. If elderly NRI Tamil GC's explanation is to be deemed correct, it would make all those tamils who answered this question a bunch of liars.

Finally, I appeal to elderly NRI Tamil GC not to resort to abusive language when participating in discussions with me. Let us strive to have healthy discussions and debates and shun vile, abusive language.

by goodcitizn Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:36 pm

Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:You are wrong. The vast majority of school students in TN attend state govt schools and in these schools, hindi is not offered as an optional language. In practice, this means an informal ban on learning hindi is being imposed by the state govt. Tamils have decided to revolt against this ban.

With respect to KV's claim that tamils are learning hindi because doing so would enable them to try and get a central govt job, the answer is that tamils are learning hindi for other reasons. Having no difficulty in communicating in India when outside tamil nadu probably tops the list of reasons for learning hindi, but there are other reasons also like the ability to enjoy hindi literature, etc. The fact that auto and taxi drivers in TN have started speaking in hindi with their customers (which they would not do earlier) is another indicator of the shift in the attitude towards hindi in TN.

--
LOL! Nobody is revolting. Only your jaundiced and prejudiced posts are revolting.
out of the 18 lakh students of the hindi prachar sabha in 2011, 10 lakh were tamils (as per the telegraph article whose link i gave earlier in this thread). And every year the number of tamils learning hindi only increases. what does this show? it shows that the nefarious attempt of tamil politicians to deny tamil people the option of studying hindi (by banning it from being taught in state govt schools where the vast majority of tamils study) has been made futile by the people of Tamil Nadu. Elderly NRI tamils like GC seem to be wearing blinkers on this issue. The likes of GC seem to be still living in a 1965 world and seem completely divorced from the reality of what is happening in Tamil Nadu today.
After 50 years of recruiting candidates for Hindi Prachar Sabhas there is nothing magical about a few lakh students signing up for Hindi in Tamil Nadu. If Tamil Promotional Schools were sanctioned and funded heavily by the Central Government in UP and other BIMARU states the same statistics would have happened, particularly if knowledge of Tamil was made mandatory besides English for Central Govt jobs. So there is no merit to all the chest-beating by the Hindi chauvinists on this forum.

The young vibrant whipper snappers along with the elderly nutbags wanted to make Hindi the national language back in the 60's. That imposition was met with great resistance in Tamil Nadu so the government leaders like Nehru saw the futility of it and backed off. Now more nutbags in the likes of Mulayam want English abolished in the Indian parliament replaced with Hindi as the medium of dialog. Rashmun is nothing but a well-meaning nutbag who has gone astray in his zeal for Hindi and Urdu culture of Akbar the Great who still is under the delusion that folks in Tamil villages palaver in Dakhni.
GC fails to address the issue of why more than 50% of the hindi students of the hindi prachar sabha are tamils. Out of all those tamils who have been asked as to why they are learning hindi, none has said it is because of the lure of central govt. jobs. The typical reason given by tamils when asked this question is that they believe a knowledge of hindi for themselves or for their children would come in handy if they are living and working outside Tamil Nadu. If elderly NRI Tamil GC's explanation is to be deemed correct, it would make all those tamils who answered this question a bunch of liars.

Finally, I appeal to elderly NRI Tamil GC not to resort to abusive language when participating in discussions with me. Let us strive to have healthy discussions and debates and shun vile, abusive language.

Rashmun fails in answering most questions I have raised so far and continues to chant his mantra of Hindi chauvinism vomiting cherry-picked cut and paste jobs. Hindi deserves merit only if it spreads by osmosis and not by enforcement. To suggest that the State Govt of Tamil Nadu must embrace and enforce Hindi in all schools is against the rights of its citizens, particularly the children.

Slighting your small mindedness is not abuse. It is meant to give you a dose of realism about how Tamilians view your contrived manipulation of facts.

by nevada Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:46 pm

I am still glad that I refused to sign up for Hindi Prachar Sabha in my school days. The fee was 50 rupees for a certificate which would serve no useful purpose whatsoever(unless I wanted to be a Hindi steno/typist I guess). My Hindi teacher was upset when I told her I was not interested in this "optional" membership when everyone else obediently paid up.

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:48 pm

goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:LOL! Nobody is revolting. Only your jaundiced and prejudiced posts are revolting.
out of the 18 lakh students of the hindi prachar sabha in 2011, 10 lakh were tamils (as per the telegraph article whose link i gave earlier in this thread). And every year the number of tamils learning hindi only increases. what does this show? it shows that the nefarious attempt of tamil politicians to deny tamil people the option of studying hindi (by banning it from being taught in state govt schools where the vast majority of tamils study) has been made futile by the people of Tamil Nadu. Elderly NRI tamils like GC seem to be wearing blinkers on this issue. The likes of GC seem to be still living in a 1965 world and seem completely divorced from the reality of what is happening in Tamil Nadu today.
After 50 years of recruiting candidates for Hindi Prachar Sabhas there is nothing magical about a few lakh students signing up for Hindi in Tamil Nadu. If Tamil Promotional Schools were sanctioned and funded heavily by the Central Government in UP and other BIMARU states the same statistics would have happened, particularly if knowledge of Tamil was made mandatory besides English for Central Govt jobs. So there is no merit to all the chest-beating by the Hindi chauvinists on this forum.

The young vibrant whipper snappers along with the elderly nutbags wanted to make Hindi the national language back in the 60's. That imposition was met with great resistance in Tamil Nadu so the government leaders like Nehru saw the futility of it and backed off. Now more nutbags in the likes of Mulayam want English abolished in the Indian parliament replaced with Hindi as the medium of dialog. Rashmun is nothing but a well-meaning nutbag who has gone astray in his zeal for Hindi and Urdu culture of Akbar the Great who still is under the delusion that folks in Tamil villages palaver in Dakhni.
GC fails to address the issue of why more than 50% of the hindi students of the hindi prachar sabha are tamils. Out of all those tamils who have been asked as to why they are learning hindi, none has said it is because of the lure of central govt. jobs. The typical reason given by tamils when asked this question is that they believe a knowledge of hindi for themselves or for their children would come in handy if they are living and working outside Tamil Nadu. If elderly NRI Tamil GC's explanation is to be deemed correct, it would make all those tamils who answered this question a bunch of liars.

Finally, I appeal to elderly NRI Tamil GC not to resort to abusive language when participating in discussions with me. Let us strive to have healthy discussions and debates and shun vile, abusive language.
Rashmun fails in answering most questions I have raised so far and continues to chant his mantra of Hindi chauvinism vomiting cherry-picked cut and paste jobs. Hindi deserves merit only if it spreads by osmosis and not by enforcement. To suggest that the State Govt of Tamil Nadu must embrace and enforce Hindi in all schools is against the rights of its citizens, particularly the children.

Slighting your small mindedness is not abuse. It is meant to give you a dose of realism about how Tamilians view your contrived manipulation of facts.

Elderly NRI tamil GC continues to twist my argument. I have consistently stated that tamils should have the *option* of learning hindi in the state govt. schools. But GC has twisted my statement and is falsely attributing to me the claim that i am for compulsory learning of hindi in these schools by tamils.

Closing his eyes to the arguments given by his fellow tamils in Tamil Nadu as to why they are learning hindi or why they want their children learning hindi, elderly NRI tamil GC gives his own take on why tamils in TN are learning hindi. The reason GC is giving is not given by any tamil learning hindi who has been interviewed on this question by any publication. (The typical reason tamils in TN give for learning hindi is that they believe having a knowledge of hindi would be an asset if they or their children were to live and work elsewhere in India outside Tamil Nadu.) In his own way, GC is branding tamils in TN a bunch of liars.

Meanwhile, the present Chief Justice of India Sathasivam, who is a Tamilian, had earlier urged Tamils to learn hindi:

http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/30/stories/2009063054900500.htm

Even expressing agreement on the issue of tamils learning hindi with the Chief Justice of India, who is himself a Tamilian, is deemed so offensive by elderly NRI Tamil GC that he prefers to abuse me by calling me 'nutbag', etc. in his posts. If i am a 'nutbag' for expressing agreement with Sathasivam, is it the contention of elderly NRI tamil GC that the present Chief Justice of India is also a 'nutbag'?

by FluteHolder Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:50 pm

These discussions always remind me of old 'Ambuli Mama' stories about 'Vikaramanum Vethalamum' or 'Bikram and Bethal' in Bengal/Odisa?

I guess, in old stories, the 'Vethalam' gets the correct answers and goes back to the Drumstick tree? (can someone correct if this is wrong)?

In our situation, the Vethalam always goes back to tree and tries to get new 'stories'.

P.S. I am not implying anyone here as 'Vethal or Vikram' Smile

by goodcitizn Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:52 pm

nevada wrote:I am still glad that I refused to sign up for Hindi Prachar Sabha in my school days. The fee was 50 rupees for a certificate which would serve no useful purpose whatsoever(unless I wanted to be a Hindi steno/typist I guess). My Hindi teacher was upset when I told her I was not interested in this "optional" membership when everyone else obediently paid up.

There are a hundred examples like you to the one needle that Rashmun painstakingly pulls out of the haystack.

by goodcitizn Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:08 pm

Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:out of the 18 lakh students of the hindi prachar sabha in 2011, 10 lakh were tamils (as per the telegraph article whose link i gave earlier in this thread). And every year the number of tamils learning hindi only increases. what does this show? it shows that the nefarious attempt of tamil politicians to deny tamil people the option of studying hindi (by banning it from being taught in state govt schools where the vast majority of tamils study) has been made futile by the people of Tamil Nadu. Elderly NRI tamils like GC seem to be wearing blinkers on this issue. The likes of GC seem to be still living in a 1965 world and seem completely divorced from the reality of what is happening in Tamil Nadu today.
After 50 years of recruiting candidates for Hindi Prachar Sabhas there is nothing magical about a few lakh students signing up for Hindi in Tamil Nadu. If Tamil Promotional Schools were sanctioned and funded heavily by the Central Government in UP and other BIMARU states the same statistics would have happened, particularly if knowledge of Tamil was made mandatory besides English for Central Govt jobs. So there is no merit to all the chest-beating by the Hindi chauvinists on this forum.

The young vibrant whipper snappers along with the elderly nutbags wanted to make Hindi the national language back in the 60's. That imposition was met with great resistance in Tamil Nadu so the government leaders like Nehru saw the futility of it and backed off. Now more nutbags in the likes of Mulayam want English abolished in the Indian parliament replaced with Hindi as the medium of dialog. Rashmun is nothing but a well-meaning nutbag who has gone astray in his zeal for Hindi and Urdu culture of Akbar the Great who still is under the delusion that folks in Tamil villages palaver in Dakhni.
GC fails to address the issue of why more than 50% of the hindi students of the hindi prachar sabha are tamils. Out of all those tamils who have been asked as to why they are learning hindi, none has said it is because of the lure of central govt. jobs. The typical reason given by tamils when asked this question is that they believe a knowledge of hindi for themselves or for their children would come in handy if they are living and working outside Tamil Nadu. If elderly NRI Tamil GC's explanation is to be deemed correct, it would make all those tamils who answered this question a bunch of liars.

Finally, I appeal to elderly NRI Tamil GC not to resort to abusive language when participating in discussions with me. Let us strive to have healthy discussions and debates and shun vile, abusive language.
Rashmun fails in answering most questions I have raised so far and continues to chant his mantra of Hindi chauvinism vomiting cherry-picked cut and paste jobs. Hindi deserves merit only if it spreads by osmosis and not by enforcement. To suggest that the State Govt of Tamil Nadu must embrace and enforce Hindi in all schools is against the rights of its citizens, particularly the children.

Slighting your small mindedness is not abuse. It is meant to give you a dose of realism about how Tamilians view your contrived manipulation of facts.
Elderly NRI tamil GC continues to twist my argument. I have consistently stated that tamils should have the *option* of learning hindi in the state govt. schools. But GC has twisted my statement and is falsely attributing to me the claim that i am for compulsory learning of hindi in these schools by tamils.

Closing his eyes to the arguments given by his fellow tamils in Tamil Nadu as to why they are learning hindi or why they want their children learning hindi, elderly NRI tamil GC gives his own take on why tamils in TN are learning hindi. The reason GC is giving is not given by any tamil learning hindi who has been interviewed on this question by any publication. (The typical reason tamils in TN give for learning hindi is that they believe having a knowledge of hindi would be an asset if they or their children were to live and work elsewhere in India outside Tamil Nadu.) In his own way, GC is branding tamils in TN a bunch of liars.

Meanwhile, the present Chief Justice of India Sathasivam, who is a Tamilian, had earlier urged Tamils to learn hindi:

http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/30/stories/2009063054900500.htm

Even expressing agreement on the issue of tamils learning hindi with the Chief Justice of India, who is himself a Tamilian, is deemed so offensive by elderly NRI Tamil GC that he prefers to abuse me by calling me 'nutbag', etc. in his posts. If i am a 'nutbag' for expressing agreement with Sathasivam, is it the contention of elderly NRI tamil GC that the present Chief Justice of India is also a 'nutbag'?

English is what most students in Tamil Nadu want to learn besides Tamil. As for those who want to learn Hindi because they want to get jobs in the Hindi-speaking states, it is their option. But to categorically state that all students in Tamil Nadu, including the children of autorickshaw drivers, want to learn Hindi and that the State Govt of Tamil Nadu is denying them of the option is ridiculous. If there are Hindi teachers all over Tamil Nadu as you claim where is the problem if someone wants to learn Hindi, particularly a Chauvinistic Promotional Machinery called the Hindi Prachar Sabha dedicated to the arduous task busy at work funded by every taxpayer, not just those whose mother tongue happens to be Hindi?

Why is Rashmun so gung ho about Tamilians learning Hindi when a third of his own UPites are illiterate and would be better served if the Hindi Prachar Sabhas were situated in their premises to teach them how to read and write? Why should the taxpayers carry the burden of teaching a foreign language to Tamians when the native language speakers desperately need that funding to educate their own illiterate brothern? This is particularly significant since half of all illiterates in India are in the BIMARU states. Shouldn't charity begin at home?

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:18 pm

goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:After 50 years of recruiting candidates for Hindi Prachar Sabhas there is nothing magical about a few lakh students signing up for Hindi in Tamil Nadu. If Tamil Promotional Schools were sanctioned and funded heavily by the Central Government in UP and other BIMARU states the same statistics would have happened, particularly if knowledge of Tamil was made mandatory besides English for Central Govt jobs. So there is no merit to all the chest-beating by the Hindi chauvinists on this forum.

The young vibrant whipper snappers along with the elderly nutbags wanted to make Hindi the national language back in the 60's. That imposition was met with great resistance in Tamil Nadu so the government leaders like Nehru saw the futility of it and backed off. Now more nutbags in the likes of Mulayam want English abolished in the Indian parliament replaced with Hindi as the medium of dialog. Rashmun is nothing but a well-meaning nutbag who has gone astray in his zeal for Hindi and Urdu culture of Akbar the Great who still is under the delusion that folks in Tamil villages palaver in Dakhni.
GC fails to address the issue of why more than 50% of the hindi students of the hindi prachar sabha are tamils. Out of all those tamils who have been asked as to why they are learning hindi, none has said it is because of the lure of central govt. jobs. The typical reason given by tamils when asked this question is that they believe a knowledge of hindi for themselves or for their children would come in handy if they are living and working outside Tamil Nadu. If elderly NRI Tamil GC's explanation is to be deemed correct, it would make all those tamils who answered this question a bunch of liars.

Finally, I appeal to elderly NRI Tamil GC not to resort to abusive language when participating in discussions with me. Let us strive to have healthy discussions and debates and shun vile, abusive language.
Rashmun fails in answering most questions I have raised so far and continues to chant his mantra of Hindi chauvinism vomiting cherry-picked cut and paste jobs. Hindi deserves merit only if it spreads by osmosis and not by enforcement. To suggest that the State Govt of Tamil Nadu must embrace and enforce Hindi in all schools is against the rights of its citizens, particularly the children.

Slighting your small mindedness is not abuse. It is meant to give you a dose of realism about how Tamilians view your contrived manipulation of facts.
Elderly NRI tamil GC continues to twist my argument. I have consistently stated that tamils should have the *option* of learning hindi in the state govt. schools. But GC has twisted my statement and is falsely attributing to me the claim that i am for compulsory learning of hindi in these schools by tamils.

Closing his eyes to the arguments given by his fellow tamils in Tamil Nadu as to why they are learning hindi or why they want their children learning hindi, elderly NRI tamil GC gives his own take on why tamils in TN are learning hindi. The reason GC is giving is not given by any tamil learning hindi who has been interviewed on this question by any publication. (The typical reason tamils in TN give for learning hindi is that they believe having a knowledge of hindi would be an asset if they or their children were to live and work elsewhere in India outside Tamil Nadu.) In his own way, GC is branding tamils in TN a bunch of liars.

Meanwhile, the present Chief Justice of India Sathasivam, who is a Tamilian, had earlier urged Tamils to learn hindi:

http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/30/stories/2009063054900500.htm

Even expressing agreement on the issue of tamils learning hindi with the Chief Justice of India, who is himself a Tamilian, is deemed so offensive by elderly NRI Tamil GC that he prefers to abuse me by calling me 'nutbag', etc. in his posts. If i am a 'nutbag' for expressing agreement with Sathasivam, is it the contention of elderly NRI tamil GC that the present Chief Justice of India is also a 'nutbag'?
English is what most students in Tamil Nadu want to learn besides Tamil. As for those who want to learn Hindi because they want to get jobs in the Hindi-speaking states, it is their option. But to categorically state that all students in Tamil Nadu, including the children of autorickshaw drivers, want to learn Hindi and that the State Govt of Tamil Nadu is denying them of the option is ridiculous. If there are Hindi teachers all over Tamil Nadu as you claim where is the problem if someone wants to learn Hindi, particularly a Chauvinistic Promotional Machinery called the Hindi Prachar Sabha dedicated to the arduous task busy at work funded by every taxpayer, not just those whose mother tongue happens to be Hindi?

Why is Rashmun so gung ho about Tamilians learning Hindi when a third of his own UPites are illiterate and would be better served if the Hindi Prachar Sabhas were situated in their premises to teach them how to read and write? Why should the taxpayers carry the burden of teaching a foreign language to Tamians when the native language speakers desperately need that funding to educate their own illiterate brothern? This is particularly significant since half of all illiterates in India are in the BIMARU states. Shouldn't charity begin at home?

The arguments GC has given as to why learning hindi should not be a priority for Tamilians have been considered and rejected by the present Chief Justice of India Sathasivam who believes that Tamil students would be better off learning Hindi as per the news article whose link i gave in an earlier post in this thread. I am simply expressing support for the stand on this issue taken by the Chief Justice of India who is himself a Tamilian.

Learning Hindi by Tamils would be beneficial to people in North India because Tamils with a knowledge of science and math could move to NI and teach these subjects to North Indians. Two Tamilians (one of them a math graduate) who were interviewed in one of the articles whose links i gave were planning to become teachers in North India and for this purpose were learning hindi so that it would help them in their move to North India.

by goodcitizn Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:20 pm

Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:GC fails to address the issue of why more than 50% of the hindi students of the hindi prachar sabha are tamils. Out of all those tamils who have been asked as to why they are learning hindi, none has said it is because of the lure of central govt. jobs. The typical reason given by tamils when asked this question is that they believe a knowledge of hindi for themselves or for their children would come in handy if they are living and working outside Tamil Nadu. If elderly NRI Tamil GC's explanation is to be deemed correct, it would make all those tamils who answered this question a bunch of liars.

Finally, I appeal to elderly NRI Tamil GC not to resort to abusive language when participating in discussions with me. Let us strive to have healthy discussions and debates and shun vile, abusive language.
Rashmun fails in answering most questions I have raised so far and continues to chant his mantra of Hindi chauvinism vomiting cherry-picked cut and paste jobs. Hindi deserves merit only if it spreads by osmosis and not by enforcement. To suggest that the State Govt of Tamil Nadu must embrace and enforce Hindi in all schools is against the rights of its citizens, particularly the children.

Slighting your small mindedness is not abuse. It is meant to give you a dose of realism about how Tamilians view your contrived manipulation of facts.
Elderly NRI tamil GC continues to twist my argument. I have consistently stated that tamils should have the *option* of learning hindi in the state govt. schools. But GC has twisted my statement and is falsely attributing to me the claim that i am for compulsory learning of hindi in these schools by tamils.

Closing his eyes to the arguments given by his fellow tamils in Tamil Nadu as to why they are learning hindi or why they want their children learning hindi, elderly NRI tamil GC gives his own take on why tamils in TN are learning hindi. The reason GC is giving is not given by any tamil learning hindi who has been interviewed on this question by any publication. (The typical reason tamils in TN give for learning hindi is that they believe having a knowledge of hindi would be an asset if they or their children were to live and work elsewhere in India outside Tamil Nadu.) In his own way, GC is branding tamils in TN a bunch of liars.

Meanwhile, the present Chief Justice of India Sathasivam, who is a Tamilian, had earlier urged Tamils to learn hindi:

http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/30/stories/2009063054900500.htm

Even expressing agreement on the issue of tamils learning hindi with the Chief Justice of India, who is himself a Tamilian, is deemed so offensive by elderly NRI Tamil GC that he prefers to abuse me by calling me 'nutbag', etc. in his posts. If i am a 'nutbag' for expressing agreement with Sathasivam, is it the contention of elderly NRI tamil GC that the present Chief Justice of India is also a 'nutbag'?
English is what most students in Tamil Nadu want to learn besides Tamil. As for those who want to learn Hindi because they want to get jobs in the Hindi-speaking states, it is their option. But to categorically state that all students in Tamil Nadu, including the children of autorickshaw drivers, want to learn Hindi and that the State Govt of Tamil Nadu is denying them of the option is ridiculous. If there are Hindi teachers all over Tamil Nadu as you claim where is the problem if someone wants to learn Hindi, particularly a Chauvinistic Promotional Machinery called the Hindi Prachar Sabha dedicated to the arduous task busy at work funded by every taxpayer, not just those whose mother tongue happens to be Hindi?

Why is Rashmun so gung ho about Tamilians learning Hindi when a third of his own UPites are illiterate and would be better served if the Hindi Prachar Sabhas were situated in their premises to teach them how to read and write? Why should the taxpayers carry the burden of teaching a foreign language to Tamians when the native language speakers desperately need that funding to educate their own illiterate brothern? This is particularly significant since half of all illiterates in India are in the BIMARU states. Shouldn't charity begin at home?
The arguments GC has given as to why learning hindi should not be a priority for Tamilians have been considered and rejected by the present Chief Justice of India Sathasivam who believes that Tamil students would be better off learning Hindi as per the news article whose link i gave in an earlier post in this thread. I am simply expressing support for the stand on this issue taken by the Chief Justice of India who is himself a Tamilian.

Learning Hindi would be beneficial to people in North India because Tamils with a knowledge of science and math could move to NI and teach these subjects to North Indians. Two Tamilians (one of them a math graduate) who were interviewed in one of the articles whose links i gave were planning to become teachers in North India and for this purpose were learning hindi so that it would help them in their move to North India.

Did the Chief Justice Sadhasivam say that Tamilians are better off learning Hindi over Tamil or English?

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:23 pm

goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:
Rashmun wrote:
goodcitizn wrote:Rashmun fails in answering most questions I have raised so far and continues to chant his mantra of Hindi chauvinism vomiting cherry-picked cut and paste jobs. Hindi deserves merit only if it spreads by osmosis and not by enforcement. To suggest that the State Govt of Tamil Nadu must embrace and enforce Hindi in all schools is against the rights of its citizens, particularly the children.

Slighting your small mindedness is not abuse. It is meant to give you a dose of realism about how Tamilians view your contrived manipulation of facts.
Elderly NRI tamil GC continues to twist my argument. I have consistently stated that tamils should have the *option* of learning hindi in the state govt. schools. But GC has twisted my statement and is falsely attributing to me the claim that i am for compulsory learning of hindi in these schools by tamils.

Closing his eyes to the arguments given by his fellow tamils in Tamil Nadu as to why they are learning hindi or why they want their children learning hindi, elderly NRI tamil GC gives his own take on why tamils in TN are learning hindi. The reason GC is giving is not given by any tamil learning hindi who has been interviewed on this question by any publication. (The typical reason tamils in TN give for learning hindi is that they believe having a knowledge of hindi would be an asset if they or their children were to live and work elsewhere in India outside Tamil Nadu.) In his own way, GC is branding tamils in TN a bunch of liars.

Meanwhile, the present Chief Justice of India Sathasivam, who is a Tamilian, had earlier urged Tamils to learn hindi:

http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/30/stories/2009063054900500.htm

Even expressing agreement on the issue of tamils learning hindi with the Chief Justice of India, who is himself a Tamilian, is deemed so offensive by elderly NRI Tamil GC that he prefers to abuse me by calling me 'nutbag', etc. in his posts. If i am a 'nutbag' for expressing agreement with Sathasivam, is it the contention of elderly NRI tamil GC that the present Chief Justice of India is also a 'nutbag'?
English is what most students in Tamil Nadu want to learn besides Tamil. As for those who want to learn Hindi because they want to get jobs in the Hindi-speaking states, it is their option. But to categorically state that all students in Tamil Nadu, including the children of autorickshaw drivers, want to learn Hindi and that the State Govt of Tamil Nadu is denying them of the option is ridiculous. If there are Hindi teachers all over Tamil Nadu as you claim where is the problem if someone wants to learn Hindi, particularly a Chauvinistic Promotional Machinery called the Hindi Prachar Sabha dedicated to the arduous task busy at work funded by every taxpayer, not just those whose mother tongue happens to be Hindi?

Why is Rashmun so gung ho about Tamilians learning Hindi when a third of his own UPites are illiterate and would be better served if the Hindi Prachar Sabhas were situated in their premises to teach them how to read and write? Why should the taxpayers carry the burden of teaching a foreign language to Tamians when the native language speakers desperately need that funding to educate their own illiterate brothern? This is particularly significant since half of all illiterates in India are in the BIMARU states. Shouldn't charity begin at home?
The arguments GC has given as to why learning hindi should not be a priority for Tamilians have been considered and rejected by the present Chief Justice of India Sathasivam who believes that Tamil students would be better off learning Hindi as per the news article whose link i gave in an earlier post in this thread. I am simply expressing support for the stand on this issue taken by the Chief Justice of India who is himself a Tamilian.

Learning Hindi would be beneficial to people in North India because Tamils with a knowledge of science and math could move to NI and teach these subjects to North Indians. Two Tamilians (one of them a math graduate) who were interviewed in one of the articles whose links i gave were planning to become teachers in North India and for this purpose were learning hindi so that it would help them in their move to North India.
Did the Chief Justice Sadhasivam say that Tamilians are better off learning Hindi over Tamil or English?

No, he said that North India is offering tremendous employment opportunities for educated Tamils and having a knowledge of hindi would be a great asset for Tamils working in North India and for this reason it would be wise for students in Tamil Nadu to learn Hindi.

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:27 pm

Tamil cannot be compared to Hindi, not because Hindi is superior to Tamil (I hold all languages in equal respect) but because it is much more widespread. Tamil is only spoken in Tamil Nadu, which has a population of 72 million. But Hindi is spoken not only in the Hindi belt, but in most non-Hindi states as a second language. In the Hindi belt there are 200 million people in Uttar Pradesh, 82 million in Bihar, 75 million in Madhya Pradesh, 69 million in Rajasthan, 27 million in Jharkhand, 26 million in Chhattisgarh, 26 million in Haryana, and seven million in Himachal Pradesh. Taking into account Hindi speakers in the non-Hindi belt in India (Punjab, West Bengal, Kashmir, Orissa, Assam and other North Eastern States,Telangana, etc), the number of Hindi speakers would be about 15 times that of Tamil speakers. Apart from that, Pakistanis (who number about 200 million) also speak Hindi, though they call it Urdu. How then can Tamil be compared with Hindi? Tamil is only a regional language, while Hindi is a national language. This is not because Hindi is superior to Tamil, but due to certain historical and social reasons.

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/think-rationally-about-learning-hindi-and-it-will-make-sense/article3942784.ece

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:30 pm

I am a tamil and lived in chennai for 22 years, finished my college and joined a MNC in hyderabad. Our batch was a total of 50 and I was the only tamilian. Everybody was fluent in hindi and english except me. They were majority south indians. They were able to communicate with street vendors, auto, etc. I had to seek their help for all basic needs. earning hindi practically helps to live in any of the other states in India. Learning hindi doesnt mean we should forget tamil. I am a tamil patriot as well. I have traveled to many european countries and always spread how beautiful our language is. There is nothing wrong in learning another language which is helpful in communicating with other part of the country. Now the question is will a hindi speaking person learn tamil. Is tamil essential for a hindi speaking guy to live in any other states except TN? "vandhaarai vaazha vaikum boomi" learn hindi so we can let others live as well.

from: Mathi
Posted on: Sep 29, 2012 at 07:43 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/think-rationally-about-learning-hindi-and-it-will-make-sense/article3942784.ece

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:35 pm

I am neither from Hindi heartland nor from TamilNadu .I am from Odisha. Thanks to Hindi Channels ,I have a decent Hindi knowledge along with English and my native language. I stayed over 2 years in Gujurat , didn't face any problem.Hindi saved me . Now living in Pune and Here also Hindi is my savior .I had two tamil friends in Gujuart ,believe me one of them personally requested me to teach him some basics.
from: anil
Posted on: Sep 28, 2012 at 16:32 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/think-rationally-about-learning-hindi-and-it-will-make-sense/article3942784.ece

by Kayalvizhi Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:41 pm

I am from Tamil Nadu. I never formally learned Hindi. I live in California. I have lived in Bangaluru, Mumbai, Warangal and Calcutta. Not knowing Hindi is not causing me any problem.

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:42 pm

Kayalvizhi wrote:I am from Tamil Nadu. I never formally learned Hindi. I live in California. I have lived in Bangaluru, Mumbai, Warangal and Calcutta. Not knowing Hindi is not causing me any problem.

Who are you fooling? The whole world knows you are a Sri Lankan Tamil.

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:46 pm

I was waiting that someone of your stature should address the language issue. As long as one is a frog in the well it is enough to be monolingual. But for the ones who travel across the country and all over the world, language is an asset. When I was sixteen our passions were unduly inflamed when Hindi was imposed, and as result I shunned this language. In the seventies when I went to Hyderabad, Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta for the first time I regretted my mistake. If only I had learned Hindi I would not have had that kind of a trouble in another state. My work demanded that I should visit all the capital cities of India and you can imagine my difficulty. Then my son had to visit a few different countries in Europe. He could not have managed only with English. Since he is fluent in French and German and also Spanish he could interact with people of all nations easily. The once big world is shrinking today. I would like to join with Mr. Katju in reiterating that linguistic skill will take our children far and wide and help them to be useful vessels to make their contribution to the betterment of people of all nations. Sir, ignorance, fanaticism and illiteracy are formidable challenges in our country just like in many other nations. Therefore knowledgeable ones like you must keep on striving against the odds. We will stand with you sir. Thank you once again for your contribution.

from: J.R.Jayabalan
Posted on: Sep 28, 2012 at 11:48 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/think-rationally-about-learning-hindi-and-it-will-make-sense/article3942784.ece

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:51 pm

A very sensible argument. Tamil Politicians have unnecessarily made it very difficult
for all Tamilians - job seekers as well as businessmen by taking an extreme position
and making learning Hindi very difficult in Tamilnad. While English is the global
language if you will have to succeed in any globalised business, like IT, in all Indian
context Hindi is very helpful. My stint in Delhi forced me to learn Hindi and it has
made a huge difference after that wherever I moved to in India. Let us be practical
and do not create a great handicap for our children. Every child from Kerala,
Karnataka and AP are better equipped with some workable Hindi language skills
while Tamil children are denied this and they have a handicap later in life.

from: RV
Posted on: Sep 28, 2012 at 08:56 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/think-rationally-about-learning-hindi-and-it-will-make-sense/article3942784.ece

by Guest Wed Nov 27, 2013 10:05 pm

Katju is absolutely correct. In fact the benefits of learning Hindi (as well as English) are so obvious that it is ridiculous to even contemplate a debate over the issue. Unfortunately language fanatics have influenced education in government schools to exclude Hindi in Tamil Nadu. Like English, those who wish to learn Hindi have been forced to turn to private schools. This is how Hindi and English have become languages of the privileged in this state. As always the poor suffer with little opportunity for upward mobility.

from: Viswanath
Posted on: Sep 28, 2012 at 04:37 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/think-rationally-about-learning-hindi-and-it-will-make-sense/article3942784.ece

by goodcitizn Thu Nov 28, 2013 9:29 am

Kayalvizhi wrote:I am from Tamil Nadu. I never formally learned Hindi. I live in California. I have lived in Bangaluru, Mumbai, Warangal and Calcutta. Not knowing Hindi is not causing me any problem.

Why is Rashmun so gung ho about Tamilians learning Hindi when a third of his own UPites are illiterate and would be better served if the Hindi Prachar Sabhas were situated in their premises to teach them how to read and write? Why should the taxpayers carry the burden of teaching a foreign language to Tamians when the native language speakers desperately need that funding to educate their own illiterate brothern? This is particularly significant since half of all illiterates in India are in the BIMARU states. Shouldn't charity begin at home?

Rashmun has been dodging this issue. If the Chief Justice of India had stated that learning Swahili would help those who seek jobs in Kenya he would have laughed and said, "What's he smoking man, isn't it so frickin obvious?"

by Guest Thu Nov 28, 2013 10:03 am

GUMMIDIPOONDI: Native Tamil businessmen in a tiny industrial town in the state, bordering Andhra Pradesh, have become keener on learning Hindi and Odia. Shopkeepers now ensure their stores’ names are displayed in Hindi as well. Thanks to Gummidipoondi steel plants’ growing labour demand, the town, situated about 50 km north of Chennai, has seen recent a spurt in the number of migrants from Odisha.

Keeping in mind the 15,000 odd strong population from Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha, shops here have begun selling DVDs of recent Odia movies and mobile phone memory cards that have the latest Ollywood earworms.

Gummidipoondi’s Odisha connection dates back to over two decades with the establishment of heavy industries here in the late 1980’s. Steel plants started attracting hard-working labourers from remote villages in Odisha, opening the doors for large-scale migration.

“Cashing in on the migrants, many small accommodation facilities for labourers spruced up. We are even thinking of starting an association for migrant labourers who are subjected to exploitation,” said K K Dhalay, a shopkeeper from Odisha and a resident of Gummidipoondi for over 20 years. Over 300 people from Gummidipoondi participated in the Utkal Divas celebrations in Chennai recently, he proudly added.

“We are trying to familiarise ourselves with Hindi to communicate with people from north India. I can speak basic Hindi words like ek, dho, theen (one, two, three) and pani (water),” said Ravichandran, who runs a pharmacy on G N T road. Stores here even sell Hindi magazines and varieties of paan.

http://newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/article525401.ece?service=print

by Guest Thu Nov 28, 2013 10:06 am

Shweta Narayan, an environmental activist, from Bihar, living in Chennai, said something that shows how Chennai has changed in recent years, both in character and composition. "When I first came here in 2003, I didn't know Tamil and that was a big problem, since people would basically not speak anything else. Even when I went to the beach in the evenings I would hear Tamil all around me, and the older people I met used to discuss news in the US, since their children had gone to study there."

A few years later, she got the shock of her life one day when travelling in an auto-rickshaw. "I was trying to speak to the driver in Tamil (she'd learnt since then), and he kept replying in Hindi." And to complete the picture, she says that when she goes to the beach now, she can hear more people speaking in Hindi than in Tamil.

As stories go, this is a random observation. But in another sense, it is deeply illustrative. Put simply, there are two trends at play here, and they could come to define Tamil Nadu for many years to come — Tamils going out and seeking better jobs for themselves and the flow of labour coming in from other states.

http://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2010/09/changing-demographics-of-tamil-nadu.html

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