EDITORIAL
Say a Word in Tamil and Listen to the Thunderous Applause from the Crowd
TAMIL TRIBUNE, August 1999 (ID. 1999-08-e)
An update added in September 2005
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Hindi politicians coming to Tamil Nadu and addressing election rallies have learned a little trick. They start their speech by saying "Vanakkam" (means "greetings" in Tamil). Their party volunteers and supporters in the crowd would immediately applaud loudly as if they have done something great for Tamil, Tamil Nadu and the Tamil people! The speaker would pause for the applause to fade out and then continue the speech in English (we have nothing against them speaking in English or their mother tongue, after all they do not know Tamil). Then they go back to New Delhi and continue to fund millions and millions of Rupees to develop Hindi (but, may be, dole out a small fraction for Tamil and other languages if they are in a "generous mood"). From New Delhi they also continue to impose Hindi through radio, television, central government approved schools, central government employment and whatever other means, in total disregard to all the opposition from Tamil people.
This little, hypocritical drama is going on for years, whether it is the late Rajiv Gandhi, or Sonia Gandhi, or Advani, or Vajpayee! I am fed up with it! What about you? (Please read below the UPDATE added in September 2005.)
Editor
UPDATE (Added in September 2005)
On November 29, 2004, Indian Minister for Railways Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav (Lalu Prasad Yadav) was opening a Railway Call Center in Patna, and Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Mr. T. R. Baalu was opening a Railway Call Centre in Bangalore. (The former is from the Hindi-belt region and belonged to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJL); latter is from Tamilnadu and belonged to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). RJL and DMK were partners in the ruling coalition at the Indian Central Government at that time.)
Mr. Laloo Prasad placed a telephone call from Patna to Baalu and the conversation was put on public address system in Bangalore so the crowd there could hear it. Baalu greeted the Railways Minister in English saying, "Hello, Sir". Laloo Prasad Yadav replied in Tamil saying, "Vankkam, nallaa irukkeengkalaa?" (Greetings, how are you? (or, more precisely,. are you well?)). Balu answered in Tamil, "Naan nallaa irukkiraen. Neengal eppadi irukkireerkal?" (I am well. How are you?) The rest of their brief conversation continued in English because Mr. Laloo Prasad had used up the few words he memorized for this conversation, which he knew was going to be played to the public. The Tamil daily Thinathanthi reported that everyone was pleasantly surprised at Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav's eagerness to speak in Tamil. Memorizing three words in Tamil means nothing; nothing but a little drama to entertain, may be even hoodwink, people. Let us see who this Yadav is and what his background is with respect to the official language issue.
Laloo Prasad Yadav is a Hindi chauvinist who, like most Hindi-belt politicians, wants Hindi to be the sole official language of India (in other words, everyone should learn Hindi; not a mere three words but a good working knowledge). If he is so eager about Tamil, would he end the discrimination of Tamils and other non-Hindi employees in Railways by forcing them to pass Hindi examinations? If all that takes is memorizing three words in a language, would the Railways Minister issue an order that anyone who could say three words in Hindi is deemed to be knowledgeable in Hindi and need not have to pass the required Hindi examinations. (At present those who do not pass Hindi examinations are threatened with loss of job; their annual pay increments are also withheld.) [Reference 1]. In addition, will the Railways Minister allow those Tamils who seek employment in the Railways to write their job selection examinations in Tamil, rather than Hindi or English, which gives a great competitive advantage to Hindi speakers? (We would like everyone to have the option to write these job selection examinations in their own mother tongue.) [Reference 2]. Will the Railways Minister rescind the order to use more Hindi at Southern Railways offices (which serves the non-Hindi speaking southern states)? [Reference 3]. What we need is tangible actions that eliminate Indian Government's discriminatory practices against non-Hindi peoples, not a Hindi minister saying three memorized Tamil words. That is nothing more than a stunt. What we want is real actions not stunts.
Editor
REFERENCES
1. Doctor, Learn Hindi or You are Fired! (by K. N. Nair), TAMIL TRIBUNE, August 2002.
2. How India's Official Language Policy is Hurting Non-Hindi Peoples (by Thanjai Nalankilli), TAMIL TRIBUNE, April 2003 (21 KB)
3. Hindi in Southern Railways (by AT), TAMIL TRIBUNE, October 2004 (8 KB)
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