Assam BJP MLA Seeks Incorporation of Hindi in APSC Qualifying Paper, Defies Constitution by Calling it 'Rashtra Bhasha'

GUWAHATI:

Kaushik Rai, a first-time Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from the Lakhipur Vidhan Sabha constituency, has demanded that the Hindi language be included as a qualifying language paper for Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) Examination, which is held in the state every year to recruit high-level government employees based on merit. 

"Why Hindi being our Rastra Bhasa has not been included in the qualifying Language paper exams of APSC and other qualifying exams of State like Assamese, Bengali and Bodo?" asked Kaushik Rai to Personnel Department during the ongoing Budget Session of the 15th Assam Legislative Assembly. 

"Why after submission of so many memorandums by different organizations like Hindi Bhasi, Cha Jana Samudai Macha, Barak Hindi Sahitya Samhiti, Sarva Hindustani Parishad, Bhojpuri Parishad, Marowari Samaj and other organization of Hindi Bhasi and also Hindi being our Rashtra Bhasha not included as a subject along with other six literature in the main examinations of APSC?" asked the legislator in his fourth question. 

The Personnel Department, led by CM Sarma, responded to Rai, stating that as Assamese is the state's official language, Bodo is the associate official language, and Bengali is the official language of the Barak Valley, it is critical that selected candidates have a working knowledge of these three languages because they will be serving the state of Assam. The department has also notified Rai that Hindi is already one of the six literature options for the APSC's Main Examination of the Combined Competitive Examination. 

We cannot blame MLA Kaushik Rai for his ignorance on this matter as it is a common misconception amongst many Indians that the Hindi language is the 'National Language' or 'Rashtriya Bhasa' of India. According to the constitution of India, there is no particular language that has been designated as the National Language of the country. 

In a nation that speaks diverse languages, we cannot give preference to one particular language over the rest by terming it as our 'National Language' or 'Rashtriya Bhasha." Even though Hindi is the most popular and commonly spoken language in the country, it does not the common tongue of this great diverse nation. Hindi, among many other regional languages have been designated as the 'official language' of India.

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