Languages of India - Language Conflicts

Language Conflicts

Further information: Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu, Pure Tamil movement, and Gokak agitation

There are some significant conflicts over linguistic rights in India.

The first major linguistic conflict, known as the Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu took place in Tamil Nadu against the implementation of Hindi as the sole official language of India. Political analysts consider this as a major factor in bringing DMK to power and leading to the ousting and nearly total elimination of the Congress party in Tamil Nadu. Strong cultural pride based on language is also found in other Indian states such as Bengal, Maharashtra and in Karnataka. To express disapproval of the imposition of an alien language Hindi on its people as a result of the central government overstepping its constitutional authority, Maharashtra and Karnataka Governments made the state languages compulsory in educational institutions.

However, in Andhra Pradesh, in majority of the schools, students have to learn English and one chosen regional language (Telugu or Urdu) or Hindi as the main language subjects, and learn an other language (Telugu, or Hindi, or Special English) as a special language subject. So, usually they learn three in total.

Recently anti-Hindi feelings have been expressed in Mumbai by Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena

The Government of India attempts to assuage these conflicts with various campaigns, coordinated by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, a branch of the Department of Higher Education, Language Bureau, Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Read more about this topic:  Languages Of India

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