Rashtrabhasha.

I have fumed at this before. Another person telling me that Hindi is our rashtrabhasha. IT IS NOT. It is a rajbhasha - an official language. The other official language being English. States can decide on what their official language should be. All states have different official languages. So, Hindi is a relevant language only for central government and institutions under it. If you have visited any PSU office or your local post office, you would see the Hindi word of the day section. It is part of a policy of the government to increase the usage of Hindi.

Ramachandra Guha in his 'India after Gandhi' describes the historical background of the issue. There were people who advocated compulsory imposition of Hindi on all states! Can you imagine that? There were violent protests. Yes, Hindi is spoken by many. But there are so many other languages spoken by so many people in this country. Even Hindi has local variations in different regions of north India.

In no way is Hindi a true representative language of India. It is a majestic and beautiful language. But, our country should look beyond regional forces that want the whole of India to know this language. I recently appeared for an interview where the chairman asked my why i do not prefer working in Delhi (I had told him so. Heat, food etc etc. I am more of a coastal person). He presumed that it was my aversion to Hindi. He then went on to say that he does not care if somebody does not know 'my language'. I am waiting for the result of that interview.

If you have understood India, you should know that no specific thing represents India. Everything in its totality represents India.

Jai Hind.