EXPLAIN THE CONTROVERSY OVER HINDI AND ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN INDIA
Our constitution did not give the status of national language to any one language initially. Hindi was identified as the official language. Therefore, there were many safeguards to protect other languages. Besides Hindi, there are 21 other languages recognised as Scheduled Languages by the constitution.
Unlike Srilanka, the leaders of our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi. According to the constitution, the use of English for official purposes was to stop in 1965. However, many non hindi speaking states demanded that the use of English continue.
In Tamil Nadu, this movement took a violent form. To this, the central government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English along with Hindi for official purpose. This favoured the English speaking elite. Promotion of Hindi till today continues to be the official policy of the Government of India.
Unlike Srilanka, the leaders of our country adopted a very cautious attitude in spreading the use of Hindi. According to the constitution, the use of English for official purposes was to stop in 1965. However, many non hindi speaking states demanded that the use of English continue.
In Tamil Nadu, this movement took a violent form. To this, the central government responded by agreeing to continue the use of English along with Hindi for official purpose. This favoured the English speaking elite. Promotion of Hindi till today continues to be the official policy of the Government of India.