Arunachal CM Pema Khandu: Hindi Unites India’s Diversity

Fast Summary

• Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu stated that Hindi is a unifying language in the state, where 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes speak diverse dialects.
• Hindi has been part of the school curriculum since education began in Arunachal Pradesh, facilitating communication among communities.
• In the state, Hindi is spoken during election campaigns and legislative assembly sessions alongside other contexts like village conversations.
• CM Khandu highlighted that security personnel deployed in Arunachal often communicate using Hindi, contributing to its prevalence.
• Opposition to Hindi exists in some states; however, CM khandu emphasizes preserving tribal languages while recognizing the importance of learning Hindi for inter-community interaction.
• Arunachal’s government has initiated an indigenous Affairs Department to promote and safeguard tribal languages and cultures.

Read More: Language of unity: On Maharashtra and the issue of Hindi

Indian Opinion Analysis

The emphasis on Hindi as a binding language by CM Khandu highlights its practical role as a lingua franca amidst Arunachal Pradesh’s linguistic diversity. With over 26 tribes speaking unique dialects often unintelligible to others within the state itself, adopting a common medium like Hindi appears logical for governance, public discourse, and national integration.

However, his concurrent advocacy for preserving indigenous languages reflects an effort toward striking balance-acknowledging cultural heritage while promoting inclusivity through shared communication. The creation of an Indigenous Affairs Department suggests actionable steps towards this recognition.

for India as a whole, such remarks resonate with broader debates about linguistic policies balancing unity with diversity. Highlighting examples such as security forces’ usage underscores how functional necessities can influence societal adoption without imposing uniformity. This can spark conversations about optimizing communications within multilingual settings while respecting local identities nationwide.

!CM Khandu said he tells youngsters who go outside the state for their education to speak their own language when they come back home. | (PTI Photo/ Shahbaz Khan)