Hindi ain’t the Indian National Language?

I happened to stumble on Nita’s blog which titled a post ‘South India is better developed than North India says CNN IBN‘. Being a South Indian and the natural inquisitive human nature curiosity demanded me to read it; was engrossed with the post and the discussions for hours together. Mind boggling discussion I should say which unfolds a treasure of knowledge about India; I was taken back by surprise when i learnt ‘Hindi is not the national language of India but one of the official languages’.

The Official Languages Act, 1963 illustrates the usage of languages for the official purposes and Compilation of orders regarding the use of Hindi/NiyamPustakeng details the constitutional provisions regarding official languages; officially published in http://www.rajbhasha.nic.in/ the website of Department of Official Language – Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India.

How ignorant had I been assuming Hindi to be the National Language or should i say my teachers/my environment ignorant and propagating the myth? By the way am not against Hindi and i personally love speaking and hearing it for its own style or any other language which grabs my interest.

My motive of highlighting this information (1) Let other fellow Indians know this fact, who ‘re ignorant like me (2) Hindi is one of the official languages of India; which means all the other Indian languages hold due respect and importance 3) Especially to those people living on the upper part of India speaking Hindi as their mother tongue try to bring down the arrogance and learn to respect other language speaking Indians; without denying the fact that Hindi is being spoken by a majority of Indians statistically.

Awaiting our German Visa

VJ was being deputed to Germany and we were busy applying for a dependent German Visa for myself and little Jyo. There were lotza forms and formalities to be done and Jyo enjoyed imprinting her thumb on the application forms. We had sent our applications with the supporting documents to the German Consulate in Chennai and were waiting to hear from them, having carefully read the important note on the form saying ‘Enquiries not entertained before the stipulated time period’. 

We were hoping to travel together foreseeing the nightmare of me travelling alone with Jyo and dragging all the luggage. As this would be my first trip abroad and Jyo still an infant, none of us wanted to risk; especially my dad was very keen I travel with his son-in-law; but on the contrary VJ had to travel on emergency. I presume myself to be a confident person, convinced VJ not to worry and travelling alone will not be a problem with no clue of what’s ahead for me.

I became more than busy after his travel, managing all those additional responsibilities which he was handling and getting ready for our’s. Stipulated time was growing closer and thought of making a formal enquiry on the status of our dependent visa. Did try quite a lot of times to get the line but as usual was engaged most of the time. I ran out of time since visa questions will be answered from Monday – Thursday between 12.30 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. only. The next day, I did get the line after a long attempt and gave my reference number to the rigid toned enquiry section lady. Curiously waiting for the result – ‘yes approved and dispatched’ said the firm voice, that’s it; I shouted umpteen thanks with all excitement and could hear the rigid tone smile . 

“Unshared joy is an unlighted candle.” — Spanish proverb             

SATTVA

‘Sattva’ - the Sanskrit word; the first of the three gunas (characteristic) of prakriti (matter/material nature). Sometimes translated as goodness, the phase of sattva is characterized by truth, existence, peace, knowledge, reality, essence, spirit, etc.

Prakriti is comprised of eight elements : earth, air, water, fire, space, mind, intellect and ego. It is charecterized by the three gunas: sattva, rajas and tamas. I intend to share my ‘Moments of truth with prakriti’ through Sattva.