While appreciating the article on the above topic by Mr Thepfuhouvi Solo that appeared in the local dailies on Sunday, the 9th June, 2013, the Directorate of Census Operations, Nagaland would like to seek the attention of the writer/readers to the last paragraph of the article in which it is stated that “…. The Angami language , had been recorded in the Census Papers as supposed to be the Mother Tongue of Tenyimie,- little far fetched in that people who no(t) understand a word of Tenyidie (Angami) are supposed to declare Tenyidie as his/her Mother Tongue.” We would like to point out the following clarifications as far as the question on Mother Tongue in Census is concerned:
1. Mother Tongue as per Census definition is the language spoken to a child by his/her mother in his/her childhood. Enumerators were directed to strictly follow the definition and there is no record of any confusion in respect of recording the Mother Tongue by the Enumerators during Census Operations.
2. The objective of collecting the information on Mother Tongue during Census is not only to ascertain the strength of the speakers of a particular Mother Tongue but also to collect information on the diversity of the dialects being spoken by the people and also to make comparative studies. Census Operation neither tries to promote a particular Mother Tongue nor deprive another in any way.
3. The collection of information during Census Operations is basically respondent based. Thus, if a respondent reports that his Mother Tongue is ‘x’ which in the view of the Enumerator is incorrect then his job is to make the respondent understand through proper explanation. However, if the respondent still insists, the Enumerator is not supposed to enter into an argument with him but to record the information and report to his supervisor.
4. It may also be pointed out that the data on Mother Tongue collected during Census-2011 is yet to be released. Hence Mr Solo may be referring to the data reflected in Census 2001 which is subject to the decision taken by the State Government. Even so, Tenyidie or for that matter any language may be reflected depending on the respondents.
In light of the above it is clarified that any record so collected is as per the information furnished by respondents. In addition, the objective of the Mother tongue survey as well as the census is to simply net the vast variety of languages spoken in a State/region and not to classify languages spoken by the community. In addition, in Census records, Tenyimie is not recorded as a tribe / community as the Census strictly follows the list of recognized tribes furnished by the State Government.
M.K. Darjee,
Deputy Director,
Directorate of Census
Operations.
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