I think the RSS has its priorities wrong

smArtha wrote:

Idéfix wrote:

smArtha wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:
And if you really believe that this "Hindi only memo" is a step towards a multi-lingual friendly India, you are naive.

Before we go any further - show me the 'Hindi only memo' or the relevant text online. So far none on this and the other relevant thread did so. What I saw was the 'Hindi also' reports and not any 'Hindi only' diktat. And the  'Hindi only' line encountered had the qualifier very clear that it is meant for responses to requests made in Hindi. If you have any communique indicating 'Hindi only at all times' then I'll switch sides on this debate.

Here is a message from the Department of Official Language of the Ministry of Home Affairs.



The key sentence is the last one in paragraph 2:

... adhikArik khAtOn mEn rAjbhAshA hindI athavA angrEjI aur hindI dOnOn ka dwibhAshI rUp mEn prayOg kiyA jAyE, jismE hindI kO Upar / pehlE rakhA jAyE.

... on official [social media] accounts, either Hindi, or English and Hindi both in bilingual fashion with Hindi before / above English, shall be used.

In other words, the order directs employees to use either Hindi only, or Hindi and English. This is not bilingualism.

As always, I cannot see images or other attachments on this site (when logged in from work) to verify if there was any context to the Hindi only reference. But taking your verbatim quote at its face value, the only issue I have in it is - Hindi Only as even an option. Hindi only or English only cannot be options that the Government - Ministers, Secretaries or Officials choose. By Constitution, Government has to be Bilingual which to me means Hindi AND English. A Bilingual State (or for that matter any Service Provider) needs to engage in both languages - in this case Hindi & English (choice, if any, should be purely driven by the consumer and not made by the provider). I have no issues with the recommendation - Hindi on the top followed by English, though I find it very silly. They should just have two versions of every notice, communication or order - English and Hindi one. Why mix it up in the same one making it difficult to read?

goodcitizn wrote:
It's too bad you are unable to see the attachment at work. What is disturbing is the choice given here: Use Hindi only, or use Hindi and English (prioritizing Hindi). So if the message to the social media (twitter, fb, youtube etc) is in Hindi only, it is acceptable according to MHA's decree athough it is in direct conflict with the provision in the Indian constitution that requires English for non-Hindi regions.

smArtha wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:
It's too bad you are unable to see the attachment at work. What is disturbing is the choice given here: Use Hindi only, or use Hindi and English (prioritizing Hindi). So if the message to the social media (twitter, fb, youtube etc) is in Hindi only, it is acceptable according to MHA's decree athough it is in direct conflict with the provision in the Indian constitution that requires English for non-Hindi regions.

Whatever was in that attachment - below clarification asserts the Hindi AND English usage

Here is the full release from the Prime Minister's Office on the government's directive:


Use of Hindi on Government of India's social media platforms is only for Hindi Speaking States
The attention of the Government has been drawn to the concerns expressed about instructions imposing the use of Hindi in non Hindi speaking States.
The Department of Official Languages, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had issued a circular on 10th March, 2014 stating that in keeping with the existing policy of the Government regarding use of Hindi, Government of India communication in 'A' category States i.e. Hindi speaking States must give equal importance to the use of Hindi in its social media platforms. The instructions reiterated that both English and Hindi must be used on official Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc by the Government of India.
It is clarified that these instructions of the Department of Official Languages dated 10th March, 2014 do not seek to impose communication in Hindi on States which are not Hindi speaking. The instructions of Department of Official Languages have only reiterated the existing Government of India's policy on the use of Hindi in which the use of Hindi is compulsory in Government's communication only in the Hindi speaking States.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in its circular dated 27.05.2014 has communicated the above guidelines of the Department of Official Languages with regard to the social media to the departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Therefore, this is neither a new policy nor an attempt to impose the use of Hindi on any non Hindi speaking State

smArtha wrote: The instructions reiterated that both English and Hindi must be used on official Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc by the Government of India.[/size]
[size=14][b

smArtha wrote:

Idéfix wrote:

smArtha wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:
And if you really believe that this "Hindi only memo" is a step towards a multi-lingual friendly India, you are naive.

Before we go any further - show me the 'Hindi only memo' or the relevant text online. So far none on this and the other relevant thread did so. What I saw was the 'Hindi also' reports and not any 'Hindi only' diktat. And the  'Hindi only' line encountered had the qualifier very clear that it is meant for responses to requests made in Hindi. If you have any communique indicating 'Hindi only at all times' then I'll switch sides on this debate.

Here is a message from the Department of Official Language of the Ministry of Home Affairs.



The key sentence is the last one in paragraph 2:

... adhikArik khAtOn mEn rAjbhAshA hindI athavA angrEjI aur hindI dOnOn ka dwibhAshI rUp mEn prayOg kiyA jAyE, jismE hindI kO Upar / pehlE rakhA jAyE.

... on official [social media] accounts, either Hindi, or English and Hindi both in bilingual fashion with Hindi before / above English, shall be used.

In other words, the order directs employees to use either Hindi only, or Hindi and English. This is not bilingualism.

As always, I cannot see images or other attachments on this site (when logged in from work) to verify if there was any context to the Hindi only reference. But taking your verbatim quote at its face value, the only issue I have in it is - Hindi Only as even an option. Hindi only or English only cannot be options that the Government - Ministers, Secretaries or Officials choose. By Constitution, Government has to be Bilingual which to me means Hindi AND English. A Bilingual State (or for that matter any Service Provider) needs to engage in both languages - in this case Hindi & English (choice, if any, should be purely driven by the consumer and not made by the provider). I have no issues with the recommendation - Hindi on the top followed by English, though I find it very silly. They should just have two versions of every notice, communication or order - English and Hindi one. Why mix it up in the same one making it difficult to read?

smArtha wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:
It's too bad you are unable to see the attachment at work. What is disturbing is the choice given here: Use Hindi only, or use Hindi and English (prioritizing Hindi). So if the message to the social media (twitter, fb, youtube etc) is in Hindi only, it is acceptable according to MHA's decree athough it is in direct conflict with the provision in the Indian constitution that requires English for non-Hindi regions.

Whatever was in that attachment - below clarification asserts the Hindi AND English usage

Here is the full release from the Prime Minister's Office on the government's directive:


Use of Hindi on Government of India's social media platforms is only for Hindi Speaking States
The attention of the Government has been drawn to the concerns expressed about instructions imposing the use of Hindi in non Hindi speaking States.
The Department of Official Languages, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had issued a circular on 10th March, 2014 stating that in keeping with the existing policy of the Government regarding use of Hindi, Government of India communication in 'A' category States i.e. Hindi speaking States must give equal importance to the use of Hindi in its social media platforms. The instructions reiterated that both English and Hindi must be used on official Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc by the Government of India.
It is clarified that these instructions of the Department of Official Languages dated 10th March, 2014 do not seek to impose communication in Hindi on States which are not Hindi speaking. The instructions of Department of Official Languages have only reiterated the existing Government of India's policy on the use of Hindi in which the use of Hindi is compulsory in Government's communication only in the Hindi speaking States.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in its circular dated 27.05.2014 has communicated the above guidelines of the Department of Official Languages with regard to the social media to the departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Therefore, this is neither a new policy nor an attempt to impose the use of Hindi on any non Hindi speaking State

Idéfix wrote:

smArtha wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:
It's too bad you are unable to see the attachment at work. What is disturbing is the choice given here: Use Hindi only, or use Hindi and English (prioritizing Hindi). So if the message to the social media (twitter, fb, youtube etc) is in Hindi only, it is acceptable according to MHA's decree athough it is in direct conflict with the provision in the Indian constitution that requires English for non-Hindi regions.

Whatever was in that attachment - below clarification asserts the Hindi AND English usage

Here is the full release from the Prime Minister's Office on the government's directive:


Use of Hindi on Government of India's social media platforms is only for Hindi Speaking States
The attention of the Government has been drawn to the concerns expressed about instructions imposing the use of Hindi in non Hindi speaking States.
The Department of Official Languages, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had issued a circular on 10th March, 2014 stating that in keeping with the existing policy of the Government regarding use of Hindi, Government of India communication in 'A' category States i.e. Hindi speaking States must give equal importance to the use of Hindi in its social media platforms. The instructions reiterated that both English and Hindi must be used on official Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc by the Government of India.
It is clarified that these instructions of the Department of Official Languages dated 10th March, 2014 do not seek to impose communication in Hindi on States which are not Hindi speaking. The instructions of Department of Official Languages have only reiterated the existing Government of India's policy on the use of Hindi in which the use of Hindi is compulsory in Government's communication only in the Hindi speaking States.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in its circular dated 27.05.2014 has communicated the above guidelines of the Department of Official Languages with regard to the social media to the departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Therefore, this is neither a new policy nor an attempt to impose the use of Hindi on any non Hindi speaking State

The PMO is lying now. Because the original circular was written in Hindi, they are attempting to use the lack of Hindi knowledge of non-Hindians to pass of blatant lies as truth. I will provide the entire order and its word-for-word translation in a little bit. The original order was very clear that it applies to all offices of the Government of India, not just to Hindi-speaking states. It also directs the use of either Hindi, or Hindi and English both. This lie from the PMO is similar to the lie they have peddled about Hindi being rAshtrabhAshA.

Idéfix wrote:

smArtha wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:
It's too bad you are unable to see the attachment at work. What is disturbing is the choice given here: Use Hindi only, or use Hindi and English (prioritizing Hindi). So if the message to the social media (twitter, fb, youtube etc) is in Hindi only, it is acceptable according to MHA's decree athough it is in direct conflict with the provision in the Indian constitution that requires English for non-Hindi regions.

Whatever was in that attachment - below clarification asserts the Hindi AND English usage

Here is the full release from the Prime Minister's Office on the government's directive:


Use of Hindi on Government of India's social media platforms is only for Hindi Speaking States
The attention of the Government has been drawn to the concerns expressed about instructions imposing the use of Hindi in non Hindi speaking States.
The Department of Official Languages, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had issued a circular on 10th March, 2014 stating that in keeping with the existing policy of the Government regarding use of Hindi, Government of India communication in 'A' category States i.e. Hindi speaking States must give equal importance to the use of Hindi in its social media platforms. The instructions reiterated that both English and Hindi must be used on official Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc by the Government of India.
It is clarified that these instructions of the Department of Official Languages dated 10th March, 2014 do not seek to impose communication in Hindi on States which are not Hindi speaking. The instructions of Department of Official Languages have only reiterated the existing Government of India's policy on the use of Hindi in which the use of Hindi is compulsory in Government's communication only in the Hindi speaking States.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in its circular dated 27.05.2014 has communicated the above guidelines of the Department of Official Languages with regard to the social media to the departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Therefore, this is neither a new policy nor an attempt to impose the use of Hindi on any non Hindi speaking State

The PMO is lying now. Because the original circular was written in Hindi, they are attempting to use the lack of Hindi knowledge of non-Hindians to pass of blatant lies as truth. I will provide the entire order and its word-for-word translation in a little bit. The original order was very clear that it applies to all offices of the Government of India, not just to Hindi-speaking states. It also directs the use of either Hindi, or Hindi and English both. This lie from the PMO is similar to the lie they have peddled about Hindi being rAshtrabhAshA.

truthbetold wrote:Idefix
pmo came up with a clarification that obviously overrides any other circular. the people who earlier expressed concern about Hindi imposition got clarity or relief. assuming you are right , pmo now clearly stated who and where this memo is applicable.
you are more interested in hanging mod govt by any rope available than acknowledging pmo clarified to suggest a way forward.
Is this clarification any worse than bengazi cia talking points?
max declared modi was a dictator. you have labeled a normal political correction as pmo lies?
Logical evaluation is only good to protect one's own side.

Idéfix wrote:

truthbetold wrote:Idefix
pmo came up with a clarification that obviously overrides any other circular. the people who earlier expressed concern about Hindi imposition got clarity or relief. assuming you are right , pmo now clearly stated who and where this memo is applicable.
you are more interested in hanging mod govt by any rope available than acknowledging pmo clarified to suggest a way forward.
Is this clarification any worse than bengazi cia talking points?
max declared modi was a dictator. you have labeled a normal political correction as pmo lies?
Logical evaluation is only good to protect one's own side.

The PMO could have said that the order was wrong, and won't be enforced outside of Hindi states. That is not the PMO said. The PMO tried to portray the original order as something other than what it was. That is why it is a lie.

Idéfix wrote:

truthbetold wrote:Idefix
pmo came up with a clarification that obviously overrides any other circular. the people who earlier expressed concern about Hindi imposition got clarity or relief. assuming you are right , pmo now clearly stated who and where this memo is applicable.
you are more interested in hanging mod govt by any rope available than acknowledging pmo clarified to suggest a way forward.
Is this clarification any worse than bengazi cia talking points?
max declared modi was a dictator. you have labeled a normal political correction as pmo lies?
Logical evaluation is only good to protect one's own side.

The PMO could have said that the order was wrong, and won't be enforced outside of Hindi states. That is not the PMO said. The PMO tried to portray the original order as something other than what it was. That is why it is a lie.

Idéfix wrote:

truthbetold wrote:Idefix
pmo came up with a clarification that obviously overrides any other circular. the people who earlier expressed concern about Hindi imposition got clarity or relief. assuming you are right , pmo now clearly stated who and where this memo is applicable.
you are more interested in hanging mod govt by any rope available than acknowledging pmo clarified to suggest a way forward.
Is this clarification any worse than bengazi cia talking points?
max declared modi was a dictator. you have labeled a normal political correction as pmo lies?
Logical evaluation is only good to protect one's own side.

The PMO could have said that the order was wrong, and won't be enforced outside of Hindi states. That is not the PMO said. The PMO tried to portray the original order as something other than what it was. That is why it is a lie.

confuzzled dude wrote:Didn't that doc attached refer Hindi as rashtrabhasha; is thar what you are referring to ?

Idéfix wrote:Here is the full translation:

3. Therefore please make this order known to all so that this order may be obeyed. This order shall be implemented in action by all employees working in Category K [Hindi-speaking] states.

Idéfix wrote:I am glad non-Hindi-speaking Indians have come out strongly against this move, and the government has had to explain and justify its actions. Hopefully Modi will learn to back away from this madness and focus on the real issues that confront India.

smArtha wrote:

Idéfix wrote:Here is the full translation:

3. Therefore please make this order known to all so that this order may be obeyed. This order shall be implemented in action by all employees working in Category K [Hindi-speaking] states.

What does this mean? That it is just an FYI for the employees working in non K category(non-Hindi) states and no action is expected of them?

U-turn or Clarification, it is good that they seem to have got it right after all the backlash. It is very opportunistic of Rajnath to be distancing himself from the order by an MoS of his own Ministry. Even if that was a gaffe and not the original intent, this incident should teach them how to be careful about what they put out while treading such controversial areas.

smArtha wrote:

Idéfix wrote:Here is the full translation:

3. Therefore please make this order known to all so that this order may be obeyed. This order shall be implemented in action by all employees working in Category K [Hindi-speaking] states.

What does this mean? That it is just an FYI for the employees working in non K category(non-Hindi) states and no action is expected of them?

U-turn or Clarification, it is good that they seem to have got it right after all the backlash. It is very opportunistic of Rajnath to be distancing himself from the order by an MoS of his own Ministry. Even if that was a gaffe and not the original intent, this incident should teach them how to be careful about what they put out while treading such controversial areas.

goodcitizn wrote:
Rijiju said that the circular was drafted back in March by UPA so BJP shouldn't be blamed. Upon questioned on his circular dated May 27th his comment was he didn't know he was to be the MOS then so technically he had no authority since he took the office only on May 29th. Funnily enough when Arnab asked him point blank that the March circular didn't have anything to do with the social media, he admitted that he just added them but was not endorsing the policy of Hindi only.

Idéfix wrote:

confuzzled dude wrote:Didn't that doc attached refer Hindi as rashtrabhasha; is thar what you are referring to ?

No, the order I posted a picture of consistently refers to Hindi as Official Language (राज्भाषा, rAjabhAshA). What I meant is that for decades now, the government has actively propagated the lie that Hindi is the National Language (राष्ट्र्भाषा, rAshTrabhAshA). Even in this order, they are not explicit about enforcing this order only in the Hindi states. Instead, they issue an order for all departments, etc. and then add a line at the end about Hindi states. This gives leeway to Hindi fanatics to push their agenda in other areas as well.

smArtha wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:
Rijiju said that the circular was drafted back in March by UPA so BJP shouldn't be blamed. Upon questioned on his circular dated May 27th his comment was he didn't know he was to be the MOS then so technically he had no authority since he took the office only on May 29th. Funnily enough when Arnab asked him point blank that the March circular didn't have anything to do with the social media, he admitted that he just added them but was not endorsing the policy of Hindi only.

That should explain why, despite such an order, the PM himself continues to tweet in English. This MoS seems to be too eager to earn brownie points from his political and ideological bosses.

goodcitizn wrote:

smArtha wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:
Rijiju said that the circular was drafted back in March by UPA so BJP shouldn't be blamed. Upon questioned on his circular dated May 27th his comment was he didn't know he was to be the MOS then so technically he had no authority since he took the office only on May 29th. Funnily enough when Arnab asked him point blank that the March circular didn't have anything to do with the social media, he admitted that he just added them but was not endorsing the policy of Hindi only.

That should explain why, despite such an order, the PM himself continues to tweet in English. This MoS seems to be too eager to earn brownie points from his political and ideological bosses.

SmArtha, at some point, you'll hear this Rijiju guy speak English. Then you'll understand why he wants Hindi to be the language of India. Yeah, you're right. He is a Modi sycophant.

smArtha wrote:

Idéfix wrote:Here is the full translation:

3. Therefore please make this order known to all so that this order may be obeyed. This order shall be implemented in action by all employees working in Category K [Hindi-speaking] states.

What does this mean? That it is just an FYI for the employees working in non K category(non-Hindi) states and no action is expected of them?

U-turn or Clarification, it is good that they seem to have got it right after all the backlash. It is very opportunistic of Rajnath to be distancing himself from the order by an MoS of his own Ministry. Even if that was a gaffe and not the original intent, this incident should teach them how to be careful about what they put out while treading such controversial areas.

confuzzled dude wrote: So Modiji has got nothing to do with this, it's a fault of an excited junior minister, and we are supposed to believe this theory

smArtha wrote:

confuzzled dude wrote: So Modiji has got nothing to do with this, it's a fault of an excited junior minister, and we are supposed to believe this theory

Modi wanted his ministers to prefer Hindi in their speech and he conveyed it by following it himself. In this episode, however, he didn't switch to tweeting in Hindi and that could be an indication that this order in its full form and content didn't come directly from him. Also, according to GC's post above, the MoS himself owned up to modifying the original March 2014 Memo while drafting up this Order. Modi/Rajnath, probably, asked for an an Order to be put out as per that Memo from March and the MoS tried his own Hanuman giri to display Swami Bhakti.

Idéfix wrote:That sounds about right. The problem with fanatics is that if you give them an inch they go for a mile.

Idéfix wrote:That sounds about right. The problem with fanatics is that if you give them an inch they go for a mile.

Kayalvizhi wrote:Issuing Hindi imposition orders and backing cowardly under opposition dates back to previous govs.

When Congress was in power, all of a sudden dosai, sammbar, idli and other southern dishes were removed fro Southern Railways menu. Ho and crey from the south. Railway ministry put them back and issued a statement that they were doing some testing on the menu.

Why not test by removing northen dishes?

goodcitizn wrote:I'm in Bangalore now. Watched it on TV. Don't have a link.

Idéfix wrote:That sounds about right. The problem with fanatics is that if you give them an inch they go for a mile.

Kris wrote:

Idéfix wrote:That sounds about right. The problem with fanatics is that if you give them an inch they go for a mile.

>>Yep. If there is a course on governance, one of the first lessons should be on how to keep the wing-nuts at bay. These guys are driven by single point agendas and have no big picture perspective. The language obsession is a case in point. I hope this issue gets managed down and the government gets back to the business of facilitating economic advancement.

goodcitizn wrote:I'm in Bangalore now. Watched it on TV. Don't have a link.

b_A wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:I'm in Bangalore now. Watched it on TV. Don't have a link.

Is this,  http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-ModiHindiPush---1/videoshow/4457641.cms  the same show ?

bw wrote:

b_A wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:I'm in Bangalore now. Watched it on TV. Don't have a link.

Is this,  http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-ModiHindiPush---1/videoshow/4457641.cms  the same show ?

omigawd! cacophony! it really doesn't matter what language they use on this show though it is funny that arnab breaks into hindi when addressing the very bloke who is being polloried for pushing hindi.

bw wrote:

b_A wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:I'm in Bangalore now. Watched it on TV. Don't have a link.

Is this,  http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-ModiHindiPush---1/videoshow/4457641.cms  the same show ?

omigawd! cacophony! it really doesn't matter what language they use on this show though it is funny that arnab breaks into hindi when addressing the very bloke who is being polloried for pushing hindi.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

bw wrote:

b_A wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:I'm in Bangalore now. Watched it on TV. Don't have a link.

Is this,  http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-ModiHindiPush---1/videoshow/4457641.cms  the same show ?

omigawd! cacophony! it really doesn't matter what language they use on this show though it is funny that arnab breaks into hindi when addressing the very bloke who is being polloried for pushing hindi.

Indian TV Panels are excellent example of how one should not talk/debate. The moderators talk and talk and talk taking 75% of the time. At any given time, there are at least 3 people shouting simultaneously - equating decibel level and talk time with winning a debate.

The govt's most important issues right now are foreign policy, budget, inflation and interest rate. All dealing with economics and security.

Where is the need to make STUPID statements on language in such a hurry on week one?

Are North Indians THAT stupid ?  Just let the Southerners run the country. India will be a much better place.

b_A wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:I'm in Bangalore now. Watched it on TV. Don't have a link.

Is this,  http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-ModiHindiPush---1/videoshow/4457641.cms  the same show ?

goodcitizn wrote:

b_A wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:I'm in Bangalore now. Watched it on TV. Don't have a link.

Is this,  http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-ModiHindiPush---1/videoshow/4457641.cms  the same show ?

Yes, thanks b_A. Unfortunately the discussion is truncated at the time of the commmercial break where more points were raised particularly the unconstitutionality of such a foolhardy Hindi imposition by the Home Ministry.

I wish people like Rashmun would listen to at least this portion of the debate to understand how language is a sensitive issue and the government has no business tampering with it in prioritizing and enforcing one language over the rest of the languages in India, particularly English.

sMartha is perhaps right in saying that, given the admission by Rijiju, the MoS of Home Affairs, that he added the social media into the circular, it is likely he did it to win brownie points with Modi & gang without a specific directive from Modi to do so.

In any case, this controversy has at least made BJP take a U-turn on their Hindi Only diktat. That is a welcome sign.

bw wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:

b_A wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:I'm in Bangalore now. Watched it on TV. Don't have a link.

Is this,  http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-ModiHindiPush---1/videoshow/4457641.cms  the same show ?

Yes, thanks b_A. Unfortunately the discussion is truncated at the time of the commmercial break where more points were raised particularly the unconstitutionality of such a foolhardy Hindi imposition by the Home Ministry.

I wish people like Rashmun would listen to at least this portion of the debate to understand how language is a sensitive issue and the government has no business tampering with it in prioritizing and enforcing one language over the rest of the languages in India, particularly English.

sMartha is perhaps right in saying that, given the admission by Rijiju, the MoS of Home Affairs, that he added the social media into the circular, it is likely he did it to win brownie points with Modi & gang without a specific directive from Modi to do so.

In any case, this controversy has at least made BJP take a U-turn on their Hindi Only diktat. That is a welcome sign.

there is a part 2, GC.

goodcitizn wrote:

Idéfix wrote:

smArtha wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:
It's too bad you are unable to see the attachment at work. What is disturbing is the choice given here: Use Hindi only, or use Hindi and English (prioritizing Hindi). So if the message to the social media (twitter, fb, youtube etc) is in Hindi only, it is acceptable according to MHA's decree athough it is in direct conflict with the provision in the Indian constitution that requires English for non-Hindi regions.

Whatever was in that attachment - below clarification asserts the Hindi AND English usage

Here is the full release from the Prime Minister's Office on the government's directive:


Use of Hindi on Government of India's social media platforms is only for Hindi Speaking States
The attention of the Government has been drawn to the concerns expressed about instructions imposing the use of Hindi in non Hindi speaking States.
The Department of Official Languages, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had issued a circular on 10th March, 2014 stating that in keeping with the existing policy of the Government regarding use of Hindi, Government of India communication in 'A' category States i.e. Hindi speaking States must give equal importance to the use of Hindi in its social media platforms. The instructions reiterated that both English and Hindi must be used on official Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc by the Government of India.
It is clarified that these instructions of the Department of Official Languages dated 10th March, 2014 do not seek to impose communication in Hindi on States which are not Hindi speaking. The instructions of Department of Official Languages have only reiterated the existing Government of India's policy on the use of Hindi in which the use of Hindi is compulsory in Government's communication only in the Hindi speaking States.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in its circular dated 27.05.2014 has communicated the above guidelines of the Department of Official Languages with regard to the social media to the departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Therefore, this is neither a new policy nor an attempt to impose the use of Hindi on any non Hindi speaking State

The PMO is lying now. Because the original circular was written in Hindi, they are attempting to use the lack of Hindi knowledge of non-Hindians to pass of blatant lies as truth. I will provide the entire order and its word-for-word translation in a little bit. The original order was very clear that it applies to all offices of the Government of India, not just to Hindi-speaking states. It also directs the use of either Hindi, or Hindi and English both. This lie from the PMO is similar to the lie they have peddled about Hindi being rAshtrabhAshA.

This is very upsetting particularly since the PMO in the new government is just getting started. Their credibility will be shot if the translation from the original Hindi version (which I am eager to see from you) is publicly made available.

michelle2 wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:

Idéfix wrote:

smArtha wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:
It's too bad you are unable to see the attachment at work. What is disturbing is the choice given here: Use Hindi only, or use Hindi and English (prioritizing Hindi). So if the message to the social media (twitter, fb, youtube etc) is in Hindi only, it is acceptable according to MHA's decree athough it is in direct conflict with the provision in the Indian constitution that requires English for non-Hindi regions.

Whatever was in that attachment - below clarification asserts the Hindi AND English usage

Here is the full release from the Prime Minister's Office on the government's directive:


Use of Hindi on Government of India's social media platforms is only for Hindi Speaking States
The attention of the Government has been drawn to the concerns expressed about instructions imposing the use of Hindi in non Hindi speaking States.
The Department of Official Languages, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had issued a circular on 10th March, 2014 stating that in keeping with the existing policy of the Government regarding use of Hindi, Government of India communication in 'A' category States i.e. Hindi speaking States must give equal importance to the use of Hindi in its social media platforms. The instructions reiterated that both English and Hindi must be used on official Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc by the Government of India.
It is clarified that these instructions of the Department of Official Languages dated 10th March, 2014 do not seek to impose communication in Hindi on States which are not Hindi speaking. The instructions of Department of Official Languages have only reiterated the existing Government of India's policy on the use of Hindi in which the use of Hindi is compulsory in Government's communication only in the Hindi speaking States.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in its circular dated 27.05.2014 has communicated the above guidelines of the Department of Official Languages with regard to the social media to the departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Therefore, this is neither a new policy nor an attempt to impose the use of Hindi on any non Hindi speaking State

The PMO is lying now. Because the original circular was written in Hindi, they are attempting to use the lack of Hindi knowledge of non-Hindians to pass of blatant lies as truth. I will provide the entire order and its word-for-word translation in a little bit. The original order was very clear that it applies to all offices of the Government of India, not just to Hindi-speaking states. It also directs the use of either Hindi, or Hindi and English both. This lie from the PMO is similar to the lie they have peddled about Hindi being rAshtrabhAshA.

This is very upsetting particularly since the PMO in the new government is just getting started. Their credibility will be shot if the translation from the original Hindi version (which I am eager to see from you) is publicly made available.

WhnngCtzn, we southern indians are  depending on you to convince narenbhai, rajnathbhai, the pmo, the rest of the government of india, the ctzns of u.p. and bihar, the rss, and the bjp with your well-reasoned arguments about freedom, fairness, justice, and credibility, that northindians mustn't "impose" hindi on us. 

they're probably hearing these arguments for the first time in 67 years, and are sure to be stunned by their sheer forcefulness and clarity. moreover, narenbhai will be concerned that all this "imposition" is upsetting to you. if anything can stop narenbhai and the northindians from aiming their boots at southern indian arse, it's your cogent arguments.