DIMAPUR, MARCH 22 (MExN): The North East Forum for International Security has expressed concern over the Delhi Universities decision to introduce a compulsory foundational course on Hindi or any Modern Indian Languages for all students. A press note by Chinglen Khumukcham, NFIS informed that the forum had organized a mass demonstration to protest this decision on March 22 at the Vivekanand Statue, Faculty of Arts, Delhi University. This was followed by the raising of slogans and a procession
The note stated that the procession was stopped by a “bus load of policemen.” It alleged that the dean and the proctor had tried to disrupt the meeting and that the deputy dean had passed a “racist remark.”
The NEFIS submitted their memorandum only after the Deputy Dean had “apologized.”
The forum informed that the university administration has given assurances to look into the matter.
The NEFIS has stated that the compulsory imposition of Hindi and other MILs would cause immense hardships for the students who belong to communities that speak neither Hindi nor one of the MILs. It added that it would be problematic even for the communities that speak MILs like Manipuri, Assamese etc because the infrastructure and faculty strength for these languages is “too small.”
It stated that this step amounts to “cultural chauvinism” on part of the university administration directed against the communities from the North-East. “The new syllabus, if it is allowed to come into force, would put the students of the North-East under serious disadvantage vis-à-vis students of rest of the country,” it added.
“This gross neglect of the special needs of the students of the North-East is not a new thing. It is our observation that in the framing of university polices the interests of the students from the North-East is always neglected,” it added.
The NEFIS in its memorandum to the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University stated that the adoption of the proposed steps would lead to the marginalization of students from many North East communities. It revealed that a number of languages from the North East are not recognized as MILs by the 8th schedule of the Constitution. As such, the adoption of the aforementioned proposal would be unfair to many students.
The NEFIS has appealed for the University to engage in a discussion with the marginalized sections before imposing the compulsory course. It called for the proper development of the infrastructure, faculty and syllabus for the languages hitherto not offered by the university, before the proposed steps are considered.
