Hindi is a North Indian Language

This is a classic case of biased ideology that we Tamils have. No wonder most problems in our country can be traced to linguistic differences. We Tamils hate Kannadigas, Telugus and Malayalis; and hating Hindi is in our blood itself! Can we be more bigoted?

I am ashamed to say that we do not have a rashtra bhasha. People who think like this are the ones who unwound the hard work done by Sardar Patel.

Sujai, that is some seriously narrow minded parochialism!

In your article Biggest Threat to India you say that this is religion but may I suggest that chauvinism is a bigger issue, whether religious or regional its all bad.

Sujai, Even Karunanidhi's daughter is learning Hindi, by default of being a Central Minister, buddy! Which world do you inhabit? We are talking 21st century where your identity as Tamizh does not get threatened by your ability to learn more languages. On the contrary, the reason why Tamizhs have been sucessful in the IT industry is their abilty to learn C++ and Java!! So dont prevent Tamizhs from prospering further by preventing from learning another language.

blokesablogin, I completely agree.

One of the things that I have noticed about Indians is their ability to learn languages - they are closer to Europeans in the regard, that other English speakers. Most Indians I know are comfortable with 2-3 languages. Besides leading to a more pluralistic society that is comfortable with diversity, in language, thought and religion, there is evidence that it improves
cognitive intelligence!

apologies for displaying my obvious north indian bias, but is "tamizh" the original pronunciation of the anglicised "tamil"?

Fortunately, with free market economics, there will naturally be more exchange and cross-pollination of language. At my workplace, most people are white, but they all know what samosas are, and love them. Likewise, more and more Indians know what a pizza is. So, the entire world is moving closer, based on free market choice.

blokes... I don't think that sujai said that tamils cannot learn languages anywhere in this piece. he simply mentioned the long-suffering refusal of most tamils to learn hindi. (I should add that many kannadigas also refuse to learn it, too)

Sujai

It is ironic that you say 'Tamilians saved south India'. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

Also, the debate about Hindi is outdated. Most of the country speaks hindi and at the same time more and more people are speaking in English. Chennai Auto guys are a good example. As things stand both languages are growing - Like it or not.

#3:
Even Karunanidhi's daughter is learning Hindi, by default of being a Central Minister, buddy! Which world do you inhabit?

Good for her and good for Karunanidhi. I NEVER said that people should NOT study or learn Hindi. I studied Hindi, and I can speak, read and write well.

Its up to Indians whether they want to learn Hindi or not.

I am against imposition of Hindi. I would be against of imposition of Tamil (because I am Telugu).

Voluntarily, you can do anything you want - even pee on a TV inside your home.

I understand the feelings of everyone, and I can see easily why Tamilians and other South Indians reject Hindi being imposed on them. I lived in Bangalore for 12 years, and I learnt to speak Kannada well. I know many South Indians who have lived in Delhi all their lives and speak Hindi very well.Speaking any language is a personal choice, definitely nothing can be imposed, but to ascertain a uniform application of official procedures all over India, Hindi was decided to be used as the National Language, and there were great men like Sir Krishna menon and Sir C V Gopalachari, EEx president S Radhakrishnan and so many more, who were in agreement with this decision.1960s saw agitations against Hindi in many South Indian regions, but common sense prevailed, even though some theares showing Hindi films were damaged. It was largely a political agitation, in Karnataka I saw Vatal Nagaraj leading this agitation. He still hates Hindi!
Definitely I am against imposition, it should be a voluntary lerning process. Making Hindi an official Language was because India could not afford to have English as an official Language. Thus all government forms even today are in dual language (English and Hindi). it is always upto the state governments to have forms in local languages as well, to ensure 100% readability, so a three language form should be printed for every official procedure that requires a form to be filled.Imposition of Hindi is definitely not an answer at all. Acceptance of Hindi has been so massive all over India, it is just a few who never tried to make an effort to pass their class VIII Hindi language classes who eventually start giving lectures and provoking people that Hindi is being imposed on them. After independence, we have many late latifs who woke up suddenly and decided that they must revolt against something (although the british had been defeated long ago) so many took up Hindi as it was another foreign intrusion on their lives. As for Hindi, there is no doubt it will continueto get more popular, because the goal is eventually to have a National Language that is not English. This goal is unavoidable, because English cannot be accepted as India's original language. Sanskrit might have been a better choice perhaps, than Hindi, but it would then be a Brahminical society, where only a few knew the Sanskrit Language. Sanskrit however still does have great potential, as this language was spoken as far back as 500000 years, in regions of India, and is the oldest, precisely designed grammar based language known to the world.

Mahatma Gandhi used to feel really upset over this debate on languages, he knew this was the weak link that could divide India again.As younger generations became wiser, this did not happen, and now it is upto the younger generations of y2k to try and keep India united.

#3, blokesablogin:

On the contrary, the reason why Tamizhs have been sucessful in the IT industry is their abilty to learn C++ and Java!!

So you think it is nothing to do with their English?

;-)

Being bilingual does make one's life easy.

As a northie I understand atleast three languages and now I'm trying to pick up Kanada as well.

Imposition of a language should not be done but if one stands to gain from it like learning English in that case it should be encouraged.

Sirius- "As for Hindi, there is no doubt it will continueto get more popular, because the goal is eventually to have a National Language that is not English. This goal is unavoidable, because English cannot be accepted as India's original language."

Says who? If English cannot be accepted as India's original language, shall I say that Hindi is even less so?

Hindi is a bastard language having a large Islamic heritage. Not only is it weak for technical usage, but fails on the literary and poetic fronts as well, compared with other languages of the South as well as Bengali. To juice it up, poets and lyricists use a heavy dose of Urdu loan words. Yeah, why then stop there? Let's completely switch over to Urdu then.

I am surprised that a language that is maybe a couple of hundred years old and a product of the Islamic invasion is being touted as a candidate to represent the cultural heritage of India. What a joke!

Deepti Lamba,

That's fair and balanced.

Ledzius,

What's a bastard language?

Are bastard languages bad?

I cant decide if I am irritated or amused by the half-truths, lack of facts and the determined effort to stir up the coals here.

Yes Tamil (or Tamizh as Meenakshi puts it) is one of major source for languages in the country but the divide is hardly north/south. As per this divide, Malayalam has Tamil roots and not Sanskrit ones.

Ledzius - Hindi vs Hindustani vs Urdu debate seems to have missed you completely. These may share characteristics but they aren't interchangeable.

Seems that a part of India can't move beyond its idiotic importation and application of outdated theories from the west! And yes, linguistic nationalism is one of those idiotic 19th century western ideas, disproven now even in Europe as a basis for forming nations/communities. So why rehash it in India in the 21st century?

For thousands of years, India used and discarded "rasthra bhashas" as was needed. We used multiple languages (even the Natyashastra declares of multi-lingual performances). So why this pathetic linguistic parochialism now?

#16,

but the divide is hardly north/south.

May be it is, may be it is not. It depends on how you look at it. For example, look at this map.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:South_Asian_Language_Families.jpg

Seems that a part of India can't move beyond its idiotic importation and application of outdated theories from the west!

So you think that Tamils of 1920s were aping the west when they starting rejecting Brahmanical Hinduism? What western theory was it?

;-)

[I am not sure if it is YOU who is looking at all Indian events through western angle OR if it was TAMILS who were looking at themselves through the western angle]

Only morons can think other languages are worse than theirs....anybody here who thinks their language is better than others?

Sujai - the whole Tamil nationalist movement (linguistic/racial etc) was inspired by the ridiculous theories of nationalism that had developed in the 19th century in Europe.

I am not saying there weren't indigenous concerns and issues. But to try to sort them out via Tamil nationalism was definitely not an indigenous response but one that was formed through interactions with colonial Europeans. Tamil interaction with the French was especially crucial to this process. It is especially interesting to see how Tamil "nationalism" is so different because of its colonial experience when compared to other parts of the country that had Britain as its primary colonial interlocuter.

Btw, it makes me laugh when people quote wikipedia as the infallible source of all knowledge!

#19,

Btw, it makes me laugh when people quote wikipedia as the infallible source of all knowledge!

I can understand that. You have an amazing sense of humor. When you can't produce a counter argument the best thing to do is laugh! ;-)

For someone who dismisses sources, you don't seem to provide any. I guess Anamika can reference it to herself ;-)

Its easy to write off a source without having to give counter argument.

Wiki comes handy just because it is online. It is better than saying it is found in Rand McNally Atlas, 1978 edition, page 78.

Wiki itself sources stuff from other places.

For example, this particular image is from:
South Asian Language Families, translated from Image:Südasien Sprachfamilien.png, from Language families and branches, languages and dialects in A Historical Atlas of South Asia, Oxford University Press. New York 1992.

>>>>Tamilians rescued most of South Indians from a potential North Indian domination over South India<<<<<

Wow "rescued"!!!!!!!!!!! very strong word. Based on your logic "British dominance" over south India is "justified". As you mentioned they are well versed and willingly learning and adapting English language. Good one indeed!!!! But I guess North India is some kind of "evil". Well lets make it our mission to "undo" any form of "assimilation" and lets divide all of India.

I am upset my mother tongue is Punjabi and damn these Hindustanis have forced me to learn Hindi and they do not learn Punjabi. Same thing goes for my friend from UP he is forced to learn Hindu and no one learns Bhojpuri and same for my Bihari friend and Gujrati and Marathi friend. Now what is this my Bengali friend is very upset because despite so much rich literature in Bengali no one learns Bengali.

Come on man whats the point? You are propagating division of India based on language.

Even If take your argument there are 73 so called Dravidian spoken languages spoken ofcourse in South and Lanka. But also in certain areas of Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and eastern and central India. So what about those people

Now that's a new one too English is the official language of Indian states this despite the fact that only around 3 % of Indians are well versed in English Language.

Lack of self-esteem at its lowest I guess...

PS Correct me if wrong Isn't it was Madras that British ruled for over 200 years.... I guess the legacy continues..........

#21:

Based on your logic "British dominance" over south India is "justified".

Did I ever say that it was justified?

For you English = British. For me, English = opportunity, emancipation of Indian downtrodden.

Come on man whats the point?

The point is simple. Thanks to Tamil - who fought their fights for their selfish interests, we have English, and hence we all (South Indian and North Indian) have an equal chance at opportunity.

Anamika,
Couldn't agree more.

Sujai,
Looks like your articles are aimed to whip up emotions and keep you in the comment leader board. They do a good job in that regard ; but many a times, they woefully lack substance and conviction while being excessive on hyperbole and rash generalizations. I cite your recent posts and comments as the evidence:

• Hindi is a North Indian Language


• Benazir Bhutto: Victim of Home Grown Terror!


• Narendra Modi and Adolf Hitler


• Hypocrisy and the Morally Upright
  

• India has many languages. Hindi is a North Indian language. While Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam are South Indian languages. -- choppy sentences


• There is no such a thing called a National Language or Rashtra Basha in India -- one too many "a"s


• 
  (1)..South India has its own languages, and Hindi does not feature as a prominent one.
  
  
  (2)..While many South Indians (except hardliner Tamilians) learn and study Hindi
  -- contradicting yourself in the very next sentence(2) ? Unless of course, you deem Tamil Nadu = South India ?


• Sanskrit is NOT (the?)mother of all languages in India


• uprooting and extirpating -- redundant usage ; uprooting = extirpating


• ..opposition to(the?)imposition of Hindi..


• ..we can thank Tamils for how India took on the Information Technology Revolution and brought itself global acclaim -- you need to share whatever you are smoking !

# 14

>>>>Hindi is a bastard language having a large Islamic heritage.<<<<

Heheheh this is even getting better Sir that is Urdu not Hindi. Don't be blinded by your "hatred" of Hindi and maybe north india.

Sujai:

""Voluntarily, you can do anything you want - even pee on a TV inside your home.""

Yep!! Does anyone know if pee conducts electricity! Kids, don't try this at home!

#23:
Good, looks like you have passed English 101 with an A.

Yet it looks like you consistently get a C in logic!

No inferences? Still dependent on spoon feeding?

;-)

[BTW, when you can't position a counter-argument, the best thing to do, even better than laughing, is attacking the author on completely irrelevant topic - you do a good job there]

Lezidus:

""Hindi is a bastard language having a large Islamic heritage. Not only is it weak for technical usage, but fails on the literary and poetic fronts as well, compared with other languages of the South""

Hey, why are you insulting me?? I'm a bastard and proud of it too! Got any better analolgies?

Aaman, Deepti:
Can you hire this guy (Peace) to edit all the articles at Desicritics? He may not add value in content but definitely he will correct all the grammatical 'mistakes'.

But again, he might be such a pain. I take it back!

#19, Anamika:

Sujai - the whole Tamil nationalist movement (linguistic/racial etc) was inspired by the ridiculous theories of nationalism that had developed in the 19th century in Europe.

Oh, you mean the same 'ridiculous theories of nationalism' that inspired Indian leaders and people to fight for their Independence?

#23,

you need to share whatever you are smoking !

English.

That's the last time I am going to spoon feed ;-)

# 30

>>>Oh, you mean the same 'ridiculous theories of nationalism' that inspired Indian leaders and people to fight for their Independence?<<<

So you are implying that there was no India before British!!!!!

India is a concept similar to Yogaslovia or even Iraq ...........

You really want to divide even present day india!!!

If a person is freedom loving, he/she will oppose all type of impositions.

Yes oppose imposition of Hindi.
But did ever such people opoosed

1. Imposition of English by Britihs invaders
2. Imposition of Islam by Muslim invaders
3. Imposition of castims by landlords
4. Imposition of Untouchability by same landlords
5. Imposition of Zazia tax
6. Imposition of emergency by Indira gandhi
7.Imposition of naxalism by communist terror gangs

and many other impositions?

Writer has filled 60% space by criticising sanskrit and brahmanical Hinduism( a new term fabricated by associates of invaders without any scriptural sancity) which seems to be of no relvance and exposes the writers mind.

Hindi is almost a Urdu written in Devnagari script. Urdu is a conflunec of Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Punjabi, Sindhi, Kashmiri, Braj, Avadhi, Bhhaojpuri, Bundelkhandi and many languages.

therefore Hindi is as clsoe to sanskrit as tamil. Sanskrit has very systematic rules of word fromation and words of any language can be accomodated in sanskrit.

I feel sanskrit has been originated from Indian languages and not the vice versa. Scholars of all linguistic backgrounds contributed to sanskrit. Sanskrit was never the language of any group in India or abroad. It was never sproken even by Brahmins in day to day usage.

It was always used to represent truth and preserve the scriptures from corruption.

It is an absolutely most creative way of preserving our heritage. Nowhere in the world people created a full fledged language which belongs to nobody and belongs to everybody side by side.

You will find sanskritised words even in red Indian languages and languages of other first nations not only european or Indian languages.

English ahs around 600 words similar to sanskrit and tamil has around 6000 such world.

What logic says sanskrit is clsoer to Europena languages or Indian languages?

My freinds conslusions about Indian history established during Britsih rule has be distrused and to be cross verified again as there is high probablity that invaders tried to manipulate the outcomes to their favour.

I am not saying they all are wrong. But for a free country indepenedet from froeign rule, it is must to reevaluate histiry written by Hunters and their associates as Lions might be have drawn altogather diferent conclusions if opportunity was given to do so.

IT industry is developed by Logic and not by English. If English was the criteria then England, Austarlia, Singapore,Phillipphine, etc might be the leaders.

IT industry needs `Logic'.
Logic comes from critical thinking and mathematics.
Indian parents typically and traditionally stress too much from Mathematics.

and you can see the results.

therefore credit to developemnet of IT industry goes to some visionery inudstrial leaders like Premji, tata, and narayanswamy clubbed with Indian parents's stress on mathematics to their kids.

Language has very little role to play here.
At least tendency of `few' tamils to oppose imposition of Hindi never contributed to IT growth in India.

Narsimha Rao deserve the maximim praise to bring India on track. he was the man who brought Manmohan Singh to politics.

It is unfortunate that Manmohan Singh later associated with Sania mataji who insulted even dead body of this great Indian (Narsinha rao).

Of course no Sujai's opposed such inuslt to this great `South Indian' at hands of Sonia though they leave no opportunity to blame `Hindi' for ..everything.

Idiots!!!

Fighting an outdated 1960s battle in 2008. We should all be ashamed of ourselves.....:-(

#31,
You've gone nuts?

Read the context in which that comment was made (hint: sarcasm).

Chandra:
Idiots!!!

Fighting an outdated 1960s battle in 2008. We should all be ashamed of ourselves.....:-(

Sorry that you feel that way. The idea of rashtr basha keeps knocking on our doors. It is used as a patriotic symbol, the flag bearer thinks that those who do not conform to the will of the majority (in this case, Hindi speakers) are traitors.

We will continue to dispel the myths. It is an ongoing exercise [Read the recent article on how Germans are introducing a comic book to teach horrors of Holocaust to young Germans - because they believe they are may myths surrounding Third Reich]

We will continue to defend our turf ;-) whether it is 1960 or 2008.

Do you know that a battle from 1950s is still unfinished? And that it is still a struggle even in 2008? [Telangana]

>>>We will continue to defend our turf ;-) whether it is 1960 or 2008.

Do you know that a battle from 1950s is still unfinished? And that it is still a struggle even in 2008? [Telangana]<<<<<

What exactly do you mean by "turf"???? I thought there was one India!!! or maybe i am wrong!!!

Telangana is a "dravidian" language based agitation against Hindi???? Now again thats a new one too!!

If any language issues they have they should be having it against Urdu or the Nizam... where did Hindi come in from????

Sujai,
That's the best you've got? Run to Aaman?

Strong and bitter words, a weak cause must be looming? After collecting the 3-4 installments of your responses (more in the offing?), feel you need to take a step back, breathe, collect your thoughts and then answer.

Then again, maybe it's good after all, for the comment leader board. Also glad to see you deem #23 irrelevant, not untrue...

Sujai,

!'m curious:

What do you think of dinesh desouza?

Anamika:

""Btw, it makes me laugh when people quote wikipedia as the infallible source of all knowledge!""

Seriously now: the only "infallible" sources are the religious scriptures...the wiki is a source that is convenient in this digital age and it pulls out info from other sources...etc. etc. Nobody for a moment believes that the wiki is infallible...

Neusinger, you did not ask me about my opinon of Dinesh D'Souza, but since when has that stopped me...What a scumbag, that man! Talk of me being allergic to someone. Just my emotionally charged, biased opinions that are of course unverifiable! I dislike, despise, the likes of D'Souza. I suppose he dislikes himself and his brown-nose too...ugh!!

neusinger:

What do you think of dinesh desouza?

I don't know who it is.

I am afraid I am not a well read person ;-)

Dinesh D'Souza has strange Sanjay Gandhi like lips though...

Sujai- 35

The nature of arguments and hatred put forth by many here is frightening...why cannot one make a rational argument...why should everything be superior or inferior?

Are you aware that the flagbearer of Hindi Shri MS Yadav has promised CB Naidu that he will speak English whenever posisble? Things are changing...

I know of the Telengana agitation and I support it.

rgds

>>>I know of the Telengana agitation and I support it. <<<

And it is against Hindi???????? Really!!! Since when

Gill:
Calm down. Your petulance is causing lot of confusion.

See the comments in context.

commonsense:
What's the deal with Dilip D'Souza? I went to his blog (Death Ends Fun) but couldn't find much there.

What does he write about?

Sorry. searched for a wrong person.

Let me search for Dinesh D'Souza

#37,
Then again, maybe it's good after all, for the comment leader board.

Small minds, small goals! :-)

I will respond when you have something important to say. Meanwhile count the number of 'an's and 'the's in my article ;-)

Yaar Sujai [EDITED]

Ab bas kar.

Reality is that opposition of Hindi ws another ploy to weaken freedom movement my freind.

Imperilaists did everything withing within their reach to `divide and rule'.

My friend English is bigger danger to `tamil' language then `Hindi' and people like you will realise it after loosing the battle.

Hindi is a very new language originated in 17th-18th century only. It is enriching day by day through interaction with rest of India.

If you feel anything imposed on people of India it was English and it is English.

I know many talented youth from " Rural India' from all linguistic back ground can nor come up only because they do not know english much.

English speacking elite group of India is ruling it today. They are `Neo Brahmins' though ironically criticising Brahmins of early days.

If `Tamils like you' really oppose imposition of any language, you should opose English a foreign language and not Hindi a sister of Tamil.

I completely disagree with the Tamils taking credit for the languages being used in India. It was in fact, the plurality of the Indian politicians at that time (yes, Nehru, Ambedkar etc.) who believed that a diverse India could be best served by both English and Hindi. Let us give small part of the credit where it is due..

Man Singh Bhai:

""My friend English is bigger danger to `tamil' language then `Hindi' and people like you will realise it after loosing the battle.""

Bhai Man Singh, can you rephrase that in Tamil and Hindi?

Bhai Commonsense # 51

Truely speaking no language is danger to other. Here is exactly where your philosophy of daoism ie Dow Zones ism applies 100%.

people today learn English exactly the way they take driving licence. It helps them in finding jobs. `Naukari' ki khatir.

It was argiment sake only I made that statement.

Bhai Man Singh,

""Truely speaking no language is danger to other. Here is exactly where your philosophy of daoism ie Dow Zones ism applies 100%.""

Kantey ki baat kahee! Totally agree, especially since you boost my ego by agreeing with me 100% about the Daoism joke! Yes, the purpose of a language is to communicate, not to shed blood over...just commonsense!

By the way, what exactly is a "kantey wali baat" as in kantaa ie. thorns? Sounds like a prickly situation...

"Kaante ki baat means " the statement exactly, sharply (like Thorn edge) suitable to the situation.

But then again, why are upset about this article? if language is primarily about, at least in this day and age, about naukri, and only secondarily about poetry and aesthetics that is of course important too...as you well know, poets march on their stomachs...or was it the army? I'm confused...

Sujai:

""Gill:
Calm down. Your petulance is causing lot of confusion.""

Yes indeed Sardar Sahab Gill. Please calm down. Your petulance could lead to flatulence, and that would be confusion compounded by, well odorous flatulence...

Sujai,

Dinesh D'Souza is the archetypical brown-noser...has been at it since the early 1980's...from Bombay...his speciality is attacking all those who are real victims of instiutionalized racism (as opposed to the well-heeled Indians who pretend that they are victims due to injured sensitivities, as opposed to the marginalized taxi drivers, the desi farmworkers in British Columbia, Canada..I am sure he has a website somewhere...

Dinesh Dsouza:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinesh_D'Souza

http://www.dineshdsouza.com/

an interesting debate between D'Souza and Christopher Hitchens on the D'Souza website, right on the frontpage...

http://www.dineshdsouza.com/

Sorry for the digression, off-topic, but a riveting debate nevertheless...

this dinesh-who?-souza sounds like another fresh convert eager to prove the white man's superiority of religious faith. Indian christian preachers/priests/authors are condescendingly encouraged in the west, as they are the trophies of successful third world missionaries .

Gill-44

You are an [EDITED] Have you even read what I have written before?

from another blog: I'm beginning to wonder if bothering to criticize Distort D'Newsa is even worthwhile. Yeah, I know, I've done it too, but it's too easy. Sorta the intellectual equivalent of strangling a defenseless small animal.

Good one Neusinger! Strangling a defenseless small animal!!

I think that both Hitchens and D'Souza are roughly playing the same game: both pretend to debate each other and then sit back while people by their books. On the surface they seem to be defending Christianity and atheism, but both are actually incorrigible Daoists (Dow Jones) and devotees of Abu Daulat :) There are many ways to skin a cat (no not poor flea-bag!) make a buck

Both D'Susu and Hitchens are Indian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNarvg0gx3o

Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi................. are all INDIAN Languages. As simple as that.

LOL. There is so much to hate and love in India. Only wish I remain on the right side of the road when either of these vehicles speed!

Manoj:

""Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi................. are all INDIAN Languages. As simple as that.""

Not so! Kannada is a Canadian language...please don't claim other people's heritage...

A thought in my mind: I have lived across India and I do not not many regions/communities in India which do not have a genuine grudge. Some just are more trigger happy than the others in my view. Of course, its everyone's judgement as to when its time to make a big noise and when not and who is a fighter for freedom and who a traitor.

Having said that, in my view, the number of people treated unfairly in India are a majority. Why can we not simply extend our hands together to fight the feudal minded, power hungry set of people who mess our lives before picking on our differences? In my view the social divide in India should be largely horizantal and not vertical. Again thats a bit generalisation, but hope I make some point...

A thought in my mind: I have lived across India and I do not not many regions/communities in India which do not have a genuine grudge. Some just are more trigger happy than the others in my view. Of course, its everyone's judgement as to when its time to make a big noise and when not and who is a fighter for freedom and who a traitor.

Having said that, in my view, the number of people treated unfairly in India are a majority. Why can we not simply extend our hands together to fight the feudal minded, power hungry set of people who mess our lives before picking on our differences? In my view the social divide in India should be largely horizantal and not vertical. Again thats a bit generalisation, but hope I make some point...

A thought in my mind: I have lived across India and I do not not many regions/communities in India which do not have a genuine grudge. Some just are more trigger happy than the others in my view. Of course, its everyone's judgement as to when its time to make a big noise and when not and who is a fighter for freedom and who a traitor.

Having said that, in my view, the number of people treated unfairly in India are a majority. Why can we not simply extend our hands together to fight the feudal minded, power hungry set of people who mess our lives before picking on our differences? In my view the social divide in India should be largely horizantal and not vertical. Again thats a bit generalisation, but hope I make some point...

Sujai,

Your arguments are an interesting point of view on the whole language issue. And I am sorry how the comments turn personal and don't even touch the root of your argument.

However, is your only argument against Hindi being a rashtra bhasha that people in the south would be disadvantaged in the job market? If so, when learning Hindi is so widely available, how strong an issue is it? Me being from Kerala, I have learned Hindi from a very young age, and I am quite fine with reading/writing/speaking. I believe, it is the same case with the other states except TN.

Now, I do feel happy about the fact that TN took a different stand on it, and I think it has worked for them, otherwise, the policy would not have stayed as is. But, still, when learning Hindi is not a hard thing thing to do or rather, it is not considered in a *priviledged* sense, why would its absorption as the main language in India be a problem?

Karunanidhi government has issued an ordinance making Tamil compulsory in all schools in the state. Nope. Lallu Prasad has not announced 'Chhat Pooja' in Chennai to protect the honor of North Indians. North Indians need not apply in TN.

North Indian Congress leaders in Maharstara want Hindi to be made an official language of Mumbai, however, they dare not try the same stunt in Chennai, Banglore, Hyderabad, Kolkota or Guwahati first.

Why don't we abolish all these languages and make Italian a national language to end these endless language squabbles that are used by politicians to divide and rule?

TN isn't as bad as Karnataka in this regard. In Karnataka, all road signs are only in Kannnada. No Hindi, not even English. And any official communication from any state govt dept (like municipal corporation) is only in Kannada. Many a time I have to get my property tax bill translated to English by someone who knows Kannada. And all this in the IT capital of India! What an irony!

Ledzius

Same city, different experience :-)