New lingua franca of power

Till now, only English was the lingua franca- for official correspondence and for diplomatic talks. But with the coming of Modi and his men, Hindi seems to have become the new English.

The writing on the wall screams loud and clear. Hindi seems to be becoming the new ‘power’ language. You cannot ignore it, and you definitely cannot avoid it. But if you want to continue and sustain in this new power era, Hindi has become a must.

In veering away from the age old custom of using English, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to walk the walk and talk the talk in Hindi has brought the language to lime light- both nationally and internationally. Till now, only English was the lingua franca- for official correspondence and for diplomatic talks. But with the coming of Modi and his men, Hindi seems to have become the new English. In the power corridors of Raisina Hill, officials are being asked to polish their Hindi and also get attuned to new working culture in Hindi. Every new day, a circular is circulated asking ministers and Babus for adopting Hindi in official work.

Even though, all this while, it had been mandatory under the Official Languages Act, 1963, for central government ministries and departments to use Hindi along with English in files, documents and all other official correspondences, but over the years political bosses and ministries have chosen to disregard the rule. However, it seems now all this is changing with the new power in power.

Prime Minister Modi has set the trend by choosing to speak only in Hindi not only in his meetings with his cabinet and secretaries but even when holding diplomatic conversations. Till now Hindi was associated only as the language of entertainment, entertainment and entertainment, today it has become the language of diktat, the language of governance.

Taking a cue from Modi’s impenitent use of Hindi for work, a trickle down effect, i.e. Modi effect is coming under play. It can be seen and observed that the other ministers and ministries on Raisana Hill are also inculcating the habit of speaking and working in Hindi. From MEA to Agriculture Ministry, even to the PIB, everyone has started making a conscious effort to speak and conduct themselves in Hindi. Many in council of Ministers who are otherwise fluent in English have taken to speaking only in Hindi at official meetings and events. And soon all central government ministries and departments will be expected to use Hindi along with English. This comes in with a notice (in Hindi) from The Raj Bhasa Department dated 10th June 2014, which comes under the Home Ministry, drawing out a 12 point agenda related to using Hindi more extensively in the government. It includes electronically preparing all official documents and correspondences in Hindi along with having the websites maintained and updated regularly in both Hindi and English.

However, a directive issued by the Home Ministry asking ministers to use Hindi on social platforms created a lot of noise. DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi seized this opportunity and started the politics over language. Followed soon by Jayalalithaa. And following this backlash the PMO clarified that it was a must only for the Hindi speaking states. But one cannot ignore the beginning of Hindi ke aache din. There are many who are applauding the welcoming change. And then there are many who find it confounding. They say that it is wrong to say that Hindi has become the ‘power’ language. Hindi can only become the language of power when it become s a global language, and since it’s not a global language it is wrong to call it a ‘power’ language. Well, but doesn’t charity begins at home? If Indian politicians and bureaucrats till now were ashamed to use Hindi even at home, how was it to become a global language? A very senior Hindi journalist recalled an incident. When Bill Clintons visited India, at the time of Vajpayee, at one of the press conference held, all questions were taken from the English media. Finally during the end, Vajpayee desired that the next and the last question be taken from a Hindi journalists. But before the hands could go up, the Foreign Secretary abruptly wrapped up the Press Conference by saying ‘now, the press conference is over’. Vajpayee was left stunned. Even the Prime Minister was overruled by an official, in front of the US President and in presence of the media; Hindi was snubbed at its home turf.

But Modi’s speech at Bhutanese National assembly and the accompanying applause, paints a new picture. PM Modi delivered his speech in Hindi with remarkable erudition and fluency. The members of Parliament including the Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and other important dignitaries listened to it in rapt attention with the help of interpreters. Modi’s deliverance was so powerful and rousing, that the overwhelmed crowd of Ministers and officials broke into spontaneous applause. In Bhutan, people believe that clapping is done only to ward off evil spirit they made an exception for the Indian Prime Minister. The clapping began in one corner of the National Assembly, at the Lower House where the joint session was held, and it soon spread among the VVIPs seated at the chamber, as also the visitors' gallery. Modi’s resolute to stick to Hindi throughout his two-day foreign visit, has made it clear that he will only use Hindi for his official and unofficial work. Unlike his past contemporaries like Vajpayee or VP Singh or Chandrasekhar who had slipped into English while discussing international relations, Modi will continue to speak in Hindi.

But one cannot snub English and shouldn’t. After all, the work still continues to be done in English, first. And it also does not make Modi, a Hindi chauvinist like many are touting. As a Gujarati who is proud of his mother tongue, he does have a homespun Indian quality in him. He is also an outsider, a provincial politician from Gandhinagar, who has not been a part of the ruling elite of Delhi. Politically and personally he has an assertive personality and will never loose his will power to the old guard of Raisina Hills. Modi isn't under a colonial shadow. He is carving his own niche to become one of India’s greatest Prime Minister. And by bringing in Hindi he is definitely not snubbing out English, but just painting his special status in India and world with his Hindi and Hindi-ness. So why not applaud the rise of Hindi. And whether you are English wallah or Hindi wallah, come September, when Modi meets Obama and Hindi is spoken and heard in the corridors of the White house, you and I will feel proud of him.

About The Author

Shruti Vyas

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