The Hindu : Why not Hindi?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 20, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Why not Hindi?

Sir, — This refers to the letter `Pseudo-patriotism' by S.L.M. Shantharam (Sept. 18). If the Prime Minister speaking in Hindi at the United Nations is "pseudo-patriotism", then what is the right way of displaying patriotism? For Indians, English is an effective medium to impress others at the international level. Why does this not apply to France, Germany, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea. Why do we have non-English medium schools, if in the end one is required to use English in real life? If English is awarded a superior status over other languages, then is it not criminal on the part of our States to impart education in the regional language to produce an inferior class of citizens kept in a disadvantaged position compared with their Anglicised counterparts?

Y.P. Joshi,

Varanasi

* * *

Sir, — The idea that if Mr. Vajpayee had addressed the U.N. General Assembly in English, he would have been more effective is not acceptable. Most of the speakers take the help of translators for better dissemination of their views. Mr. Vajpayee articulates well in the native language compared to others.

Ashutosh Nayak,

Hyderabad

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