We take pride in being called Indian and being associated with everything which is related to our country. We cherish our national symbols, our culture, our heritage and everything else even slightly related to India. But when it comes to Indian languages, things seem to be a bit complex and unclear.
I am sure if asked what is the national language of India, majority of Indians will reply - HINDI. It may not be right
from the constitutioal point of view but still we consider HINDI as our own languaue. Now on the other side,when we see position of Hindi language today in our society, academics, jobs and even in day today life, we realize that how contradictory these two things are.
We all agree that English language has become the need and necessity today to pursue higher eduaction and good career in India. And more than that it has become a status symbol. Till this point it is fine but it seems very strange when I see that this language has taken place of Hindi not only in academics and formal conversations but also in day today communication. Today it is very common to find 2 North Indians talking in English even though it might be a casual conversation or gupshup.
Things can be accepted even upto this extent but one day when someone said to me that whatever we do and try but that Hindi touch will never go from our language when we speak in English. He had said this especially in respect of North Indians as people from Southern and North Eastern part of India are generally better and more fluent in English free from the 'Hindi touch'.
This made me then think that knowing a foreign language can be good but how knowing our own language can be bad. Do we really need to hide that we know Hindi or feel bad about knowing our own language?
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