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Ending Macaulayism and Regaining Ancient Glory with New Education Policy-2020 (Part-2)

National Education Policy-2020 marks the end of Macaulayism from Indian education system while returning back to our transcendent vedic education system of Nalanda. — Dr. Rekha Bhatt

 

The New Education Policy-2020 under the section called “Multilingualism and power of language” states- “wherever possible, the medium of instruction until at least class 5, but preferably till class 8 and beyond will be the some language - mother language/local language/regional language”. The choice of language learnt will depend on the state and the students. However, it is mandatory for at least two of the three languages to be native to the country, one of which is most likely to be the local/regional language.

The objective of this new education policy is to impart the very basic education in childhood in native language. The results of many researches show that child should connect easily to what is taught, it become meaningful. Foreign language may help broaden their horizons and give them better employment opportunities but speaking in native language for a child’s overall development connects the child to its culture. Learning in foreign language at childhood create a lacking sense of identity and belonging, while  knowing a second language at later age was seen only as a sign of cognitive power, that still made a difference from the education in native language was perservance and good education. There is also benefit of native language learning with regard to intellect and academic capacity, particularly for children in early years of life.

In the beginning of educational journey children must be well prepared laying strong foundation to excelsior. Education with the vision to achieve desired outcome at initial stage is more concern and related to the medium of communication. Such education system shall bring certainty and develop perfection to the skill. At early stage of development, the policy made mother tongue or regional language as the medium of communication, is to teach children the best they can comprehend and apply to. 

Today, internet has emerged as go to medium for all kind of information, Hindi is set to topple English as the most popular language on social media in India from year 2017. With the explosion in smart phone usage and mobile internet, news is virtually the only avenue for content. Growing popularity of news stories in Hindi and other Indian languages is an important Barometer to gauge the changing complexion of 300 million online internet users.

Now as rural India is getting digitized by the digital India programme the availability of content relevant to rural and first internet users have to be in their native language. A farmer should be able to know about the latest farming technology to improve output through a touch button. Most of the Indian population is using internet mainly for entertainment followed by communication and social networking. Hindi content is 0.1 percent of total content generated online, while countries like China, Japan, Russia, Poland, Dubai, Saudi Arabia have much higher local language content available online.

Hindi language speakers in our country stand at 45-55 crore making Hindi one of the most popular language with big market opportunity. To change the matrix, there is need to increase education content platforms in Hindi language to give users choices of native language they want to communicate in. There will be an increase in investments on creating local language advertisements. Besides marketing this may help in introducing of technical education in Hindi and native languages to give impetus to youth-led development of the country. This strategy may help bridge the language gap giving rural youth a reasonable chance to contribute towards innovation that may impact nation with the self-sustained economy, which otherwise lead to outsourcing of talent and raising the economy of other developed countries.

An expert on the language learning needs in-depth knowledge of the culture and language with the learning operation. Multilingual scholars to skillfully use the sensibilities of different languages, Indian English writers have inherent limitations that despite their extreme commitment to the language inevitably add indifference to their efforts. Since English does not share the syntex or idioms of Indian languages, has generally avoided interacting with these languages. Many Indian compositions are expected to prove incomplete interpretations of Indian experiences. While learning and speaking in foreign languages richness of our own language is compromised. Being monolithic, English language can be considered a major shortage of ideological leaders because their lacking may limit their vision, make them indifferent to the cultural sensibilities of others.

The written literature of India is around three thousand years. Many languages and dialects have given expression and tone to the nation for millennia. In contrast, the Indian memory of English literature goes back some two hundred years. English is the awarding language and Hindi could not establish at International literary award like noble prize of literature. Rabindra Nath Tagore became India’s first noble laureate only after his creations were translated in English. Even national awards like, ‘Sahitya Akadami’ and ‘Jnanpeeth’ awards included English as one of the awarding language for literature in the year 1960 and 2018 respectively.

Youth of modern society believes that English is only the language for communication of knowledge with sources of science and literature and is universally accepted language. Talking and interacting in Hindi mixed with English is considered cool while during official use of Hindi, using correct Hindi becomes a subject to be laughed at. Today most of the Indian youth are inclined towards reading Hindi literature. More likely uses hindi at social media, more interestingly watches TV Programmes in hindi and hindi cinema is the preferred source of their entertainment. 

Indian cinema has its tremendous contribution and has driven Hindi to the status of widely used language. The phenomenal contribution of Hindi films in popularizing Hindi language among second and third generation of Indian origin people settled outside India. Hindi cinema has also played a stellar role in entering non- Hindi speaking states of India. Work of Hindi writers and poets have generated curiosity among non-Hindi people to learn Hindi. It is time when the contribution of one of the big Indian film industry of world is making Hindi popular, respected and recognized all over the World. 

Learning in native language is increasingly important to keep connection with ancestors, culture and heritage, which make immigrants struggling fit in other communities, feel as though they have some form of home. It is important to teach them, how important it is to foster diversity and how valuable culture is to enriching our society not only to connect and communicate but also to cultivate understanding and to appreciate the history of our own ancestors and our upbringing. People who have grown up in an environment where they are exposed to regional language and national language have balanced education and social development simultaneously teaching them to accept and be proud of their heritage.

In addition, there is a paradigm shift in the domain of pedagogy, a drift from traditional to modern approach to teaching and learning process of the document, has a vision to transform education at par with advanced educational system. The national education policy-2020 strengthens the accountability of teaching along with education stamina and visionary leadership among students to cherish the goals of modern India.

The new education policy will initiate the learning and thinking with comeback of forgotten cultural values and moral judgements in the gimmick of westernization. One can find personal connection with their learning which harness itself for culture and education, thus foster a positive relationship with the education system which was not possible with Rot learning introduced by Macaulay education system. 

National Education Policy-2020 marks the end of Macaulayism from Indian education system while returning back to our transcendent vedic education system of Nalanda and Takshshilla and regaining the ancient glory of education which enlightened the whole world to the path of Salvation for so many centuries, unlocking the doors of knowledge.              

 

The author is Assoc. Prof. Chemistry, Govt. Meera Girls College, Udaipur

Continues……

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