The HRD ministry recently decided to include Chinese as a part of the syllabus in schools. One may say that it’s a fair decision as Chinese is a widely spoken language and knowledge of any language isn’t bad at all. But let’s dig deeper.
Despite the fact that in several parts of India itself, people do not know Hindi? And I do not have any qualms in welcoming learning languages but given that China has been promoting everything that is Chinese s vehemently, should we also not step up? In this case, promote Hindi?
However, it may be contested that Hindi is already in the curriculum of all the major Boards all over India – it’s just that the people give their local languages more importance than Hindi so it’s getting lost. And also due to globalization, what we give importance to is all those things are acceptable by the foreigners and neglect Indian values
So all we try to do is learn their languages, their cultures, dressing sense, and much more. And the whole foreign thing maybe going overboard with Chinese now!
Even English for that matter. Countries like China, Japan and Korea are leaders in many fields but they did not have to depend on English for their rise. No one is professing that you say a not to other languages but at least learn yours too! Hindi is the national language! What other reason to learn it if not that!
On a political level, its like a rat race India is into, with an eye on any emerging economy and trying its best to copy whatever it can. As far as languages are concerned, why Chinese? And why now?
Its like filling your basket with whatever you can and not being bothered whether you are becoming skilled at any one particular. We are enough English already – not to forget our country has enough of languages to offer.
And if languages helped in anyway to surpass the economy to the global level, then China wouldn’t have reached to this stage. 65 to 73% people in China don’t know a word of English or any other language than Chinese. Even their softwares run in Chinese!
But with the Chinese economy is developing exponentially, the future may have inviting job opportunities in China. Would you then want to be equipped with the language and rush to China; or stay back home to make a career here?
Take your pick!




