The main argument of those advocating Hindi is that it would help in national integration (“Hindi or English, comparing apples and oranges”, June 6). India is already a well integrated country. In fact, it is the fear of imposition of Hindi by the Central government that is seen as discriminatory and that is causing disquiet in non-Hindi speaking regions. Our language policy’s primary objective of replacing English with Hindi will be counterproductive in a globalised world. It would be in the larger national interest if English is adopted as a compulsory second language in all schools and colleges. Hindi may be offered as an optional subject for students who wish to learn a third language.
Kosaraju Chandramouli,
Hyderabad
In 1965, as a young boy I had participated in the anti-Hindi agitation only to realise years later the mistake of refusing to learn Hindi. I got a job in a public sector undertaking in Bombay and in a batch of 35 officers, only four of us from Tamil Nadu could not understand Hindi. This was a great handicap. Students of Tamil Nadu should be provided an opportunity to learn Hindi as they only stand to benefit from learning the language.
V.J. Singh,
Tirunelveli