ISSUE 1 OCTOBER 2015 - · PDF fileISSUE 1 OCTOBER 2015 ... Principles of taxation Kautilya's discussion of taxation has several ... Kautilya's Arthashastra stressed the significance

Nandini Voice For The Deprived, October 2015 Page 1

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Dedicated to the cause of marginalized and downtrodden

Volume-XXI Rs.10/-

ISSUE 1

OCTOBER 2015

In this issue………………………

* CONCERNED INDIANS CAN CHANGE

FACE OF INDIA

* BLUFF OF PRESENT DAY

TRADE UNION MOVEMENT

* CAN TAMIL NADU STUDENTS BE INDIFFERENT

TO LEARNING HINDI ? WHAT TAMIL NADU STUDENTS THINK ?

And more………

So friends, lets have

a VISION for a

CORRUPTION FREE

INDIA and work on it


WHAT KAUTILYA SAYS ON GOOD GOVERNANCE

Economic and political governance

As economic objectives are not realised in the absence of political ones, then political governance

becomes an end and economic governance the means.

Principles of taxation

Kautilya's discussion of taxation has several underlying principles

Taxing power of the state should be limited.

Tax should not be felt to be heavy or excessive.

Tax hikes should be introduced gradually.

Tax should be levied in the proper place, time and form.

Tax level should be equitable and reasonable.

Kautilya's scheme of taxation involve the elements of sacrifice by the taxpayer, direct benefit to the

tax payers, redistribution of income (the state take care of the poor), and tax incentives for desired

investments.

Education

Kautilya's Arthashastra stressed the significance of training and learning. It clearly states that training

should impart discipline. Kautilya explains that investment in human capital especially in higher

education would have great impact on the growth and development of the economy.

Duties and qualities of rulers

A ruler who administers justice on the basis of four principles: righteousness, evidence, history of

the case and the prevalent law shall conquer the earth.

Law, justice, punishment

When there is a conflict between established tradition and ethical principles, or between evidence

and what is right (according to ethical principles), the case shall be decided on the basis of ethical

principles. Where scriptural laws conflict with what is righteous and just, there justice shall be the

valid criterion and the written text loses its relevance.

The Arthashastra, written by Kautilya, is the most comprehensive treatise of statecraft and is

meant to be useful at all times. The Arthashastra places equal importance on political governance

and economic governance.

The governance in India, both at the center and state level, can be far better than what we have

today, if only those in charge of governments have the wisdom to study, understand and follow

the thoughts of Kautilya on good governance.Selected observations in Arthashastra are given .

Principles of economic administration

“The root of wealth is economic activity and lack of it brings material

distress. In the absence of fruitful economic activity, both current

prosperity and future growth are in danger of destruction.

The government shall populate the countryside by creating new villages

on virgin lands or reviving abandoned village sites."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthashastra


Readers’ Forum

Disruption in parliament -Two wrongs do not make a right

Dear Sir,

Politicians are fighting political battles for coming to power and the over all country’s interest take

back seat for them.It is same for all parties.

Congress party can not justify it’s disrupting parliament because BJP did it earlier.

BJP cannot claim the moral high ground now, as they themselves disrupted the parliament

proceedings earlier.

***** Dr. D M Mohunta

Where are the one minute sweepers ?

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Clean India Campaign and swept the road himself,

many so called VVIPs and VIPS followed him and were seen, holding the broomstick and sweeping in

front of the cameras.

I am sure that many sportsmen, film stars and business men who swept in front of the cameras and

enjoyed seeing their images in TV screens, would never have swept the floor in their life time in the

past and would never do so in future, unless there would be cameras focused on them.

These are one minute sweepers who have brought ridicule to Clean India campaign itself. In such

circumstances, it is not a surprise that Clean India campaign has not moved on with the vigour that it

needs.

***** K.V.Shah

Lawless lawyers

Dear Sir,

It is good that you wrote about these lawless lawyers in Nandini Voice. Not a day passes without

the lawyers misbehaving in public, indulging in violence and violating rules.With such lawyers in large

number, how can we hope that the standards of judiciary in India will improve. ?

In Chennai, group of lawyers occupied the court hall, holding aloft placards demanding declaration of

Tamil as an official language of court and sporting black flags all the time, while munching snacks and

chatting among themselves.

With the court of chief justice itself coming under siege by this small group of lawyers, the high

court of Madras decided to hand over security of the court to the Central Industrial Security Force.

Can the conditions be worse than this?

***** R.Ramu

Readers’ forum provides space for the readers to give expression to their

views on a variety of socio economic issues that are relevance to the

society.

Further enrichment of the journal with your thoughtful inputs would

certainly go a long way in promoting the cause that the journal seeks to

espouse.


DESPERATE CALLS

* Ms.Ratna Roy , age 22 years , is suffering from congenital heart disease. She has to undergo

open heart surgery at Sagar Hospitals, Bangalore. Estimated cost of the surgery is Rs.1,80,000/-

Cheque may be drawn in favour of Sagar hospitals and sent to the following address:

Secretary, Save Poor Lives, Flat No.4A, Ground Floor, Ceebros Garde, Old No.76, Kamaraj Salai,

Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai-600 028 Phone:044-42044165, Cell:09884607377,

E-mail:[email protected] website: www.savepoorlives.com.

*****

Lady kidney patient facing desperate conditions – Needs help

Ms K.Megala, age 31 years, is suffering from kidney failure. She has two children and is living with

her mother. Her husband is not living with her.

Ms.Megala belongs to poor family and has been undergoing dialysis for the last 12 months. Now,

she has run out of money even for continuing dialysis process. She has to undergo kidney

transplantation to survive and live. She needs help desperately.

Contact address: Ms.K.Megala, No.19, Pallavaram Main Road, Karaima Nagar, Kundrathur,

Chennai-600 069.Cell No.8939631777

*****

Son of visually impaired person needs educational support

Mr.E.Pari, son of Mr.G.Ezhumalai (visually impaired person) is studying 2nd year laboratory technician

course in Chennai. He has to pay monthly tuition fees of Rs.1,600/- for the next 9 months.

Mr.Ezhumalai is not in a position to pay the fees for his son’s studies .Please help this student.

Contact address; Mr.E.Pari, S/o.Mr.G.Ezhumalai (Visually impaired personI,5/76, Ambedkar Street,

Sadanandapuram, Tandalam Post, Chennai-500 128 Cell:9380731624

You can enjoy your prosperity only if you share your income with the

deprived and thus discover the satisfaction that it provides.

Poor widow needs sewing machine

Ms.Niamath is a poor widow. She is living with her three young

children.

She requests for donation of sewing machine to self employ herself

and earn for her family.

Contact address: Ms.Niamath,W/o.Mr.Mustafa (late),28/584, Tiruchy

Chinna Swamy Street, Periyar Nagar, Vysarpadi, Chennai-600 039

***** Need support for medical treatment

* Ms.Kakali Chakraborty , age 34 years , is suffering from

congenital heart disease. She has to undergo open heart surgery at

Sagar Hospitals, Bangalore. Estimated cost of the surgery is

Rs.1,80,000/-

http://www.savepoorlives.com/


CONCERNED INDIANS CAN CHANGE FACE OF INDIA

The hopes that judiciary and media can check the deterioration in politics and government has now

almost receded , as judiciary has become suspect due to several acts of omission and commission by

judges and the media has now gone into the control of business men and political parties.

Failed anti corruption movement

It is unrealistic to think that some leadership will come from somewhere to restore good and

corruption free governance. In the past , it has been seen that those who were hailed as leaders of

anti corruption movement have used the leadership position as platform to gain power and then

become corrupt themselves.

Little resistance to corruption

While the above situation really cause disgust to the concerned citizens , the problem is that those

who feel unhappy do not act effectively at the individual level to stem the rot.

Those who write in the media and face book critically about the present conditions and who shout

from the roof top about the need for probity in public life, seldom do anything beyond this. It is

high time that concerned Indians should realise that writing and speaking is no substitute for setting

personal examples by way of resisting corrupt conditions at individual level.

The real central issue in the country today is there is little resistance to corruption and fleecing at

ground level.

There appear to be near unanimous view amongst cross section of Indians that politicians are

the root cause for the various problems confronting the country.

As politics has become lucrative business and it is free for all, every one who want to amass

money and wield power now get into politics.

It is a sad scenario that such politicians are often aided directly or indirectly by the IAS

and IPS officers , though they are educated, trained and should know better.

Under the circumstances, the concerned citizens feel helpless and frustrated and wonder

whether the overall governance in India can become corruption and nepotism free at any

time.

What can the concerned Indians do now ?

One cannot but recall that much publicised anti

corruption movement launched by Anna Hazare lost its

appeal too quickly, since Anna Hazare was only insisting

on Lokpal and improvement of governance, without

making any efforts to improve the mindset of average

Indian. Anna Hazare never said during the heydays of

the movement that all his followers should resolve to

remain corrupt free in day today life and those who

follow his movement should declare solemnly that they

would never indulge in corrupt practices at any time in

their life.

Silent defiance for the cause at the individual level has

not been stressed and thus Anna Hazare’s movement was

finally seen to be operating in vacuum,


INDIANS CAN CHANGE FACE OF INDIA

Obviously, resistance to corruption by concerned people call for sacrifice at the personal level and

even willingness to undergo sufferings.

We even see people with high level of concern who understand the need to root out corruption

simply pay bribe to get things done like securing admission for the child in school or even greasing

the palm of a policeman when cornered unjustifiably, to avoid trouble.

Resistance will have chain effect

Resistance to small corruption will certainly have a chain effect and will put fear in the minds of the

corrupt people at various levels in the course of time.

The anti corruption crusader need to have patience and faith to see the positive results.

The society and the media may not immediately recognise them but their act of courage and

conviction will slowly percolate and give confidence to others that such defiance towards the cause

of truth is possible by individuals and would be worthwhile.

The campaign for corrupt free and nepotism free governance and ensuring corrupt free politics can

certainly be achieved by a silent revolution on the part of the concerned Indians ,who are now all

over India in lakhs. They need to act at their own level and when sizable number of concerned

citizens act even without any coordination , the positive impact will be seen sooner than later.

Swami Vivekananda said “Give me 100 energetic young men and

I shall transform India”. The message of Swami Vivekananda is loud

and clear. Obviously, what he stressed was that small group of

people with determination to fight for the cause of probity and truth

and defy unjust conditions can alone transform India.

The country now urgently needs such role models in nooks and

corners. Such persons need not shout or agitate but should silently

defy unjust demands at individual level.

HE HAS TO PAY BRIBE TO CREMATE HIS DEAD FATHER

A family was forced to keep the body of Thangavelu ,a 82-year-old man, who died of ailment

at his house in Tirumangalam, near Chennai for more than 24 hours, since three doctors in

the vicinity refused to issue a death certificate.

Balaji, son of Thangavelu said, “KMC doctors refused to issue a death certificate as he had not

died there. We went to another doctor who had treated him, but he refused. When we

approached some doctors practicing in Padi Pudhu Nagar, they refused to give it saying they

are not aware of Thangavelu's medical history. Finally, we got the copy of the death certificate

filled on the Form 4-A (medical certificate of cause of death) by a private nursing home in

Mogappair”.

Finally, the dead body was taken to Villivakkam in Chennai and cremated at the corporation

burial ground only after the poor family paid Rs.6,000 as bribe to the corporation officials, an

NGO volunteer said.

Source: Times of India


READER’S VIEWS ON

“CONCERNED INDIANS CAN CHANGE FACE OF INDIA”

Endorse your views

You are so right when you say that "those who were hailed as leaders of anti corruption

movement have used the leadership position as platform to gain power." I also agree with you

that we need small group of people with determination to fight for the cause of probity and truth

and defy unjust conditions and they can alone transform India.

I think that we need to coordinate. We should form groups of such people and start an intellectual

revolution. Let us make smaller groups. Let us debate and spread the word.

Do not worry about media, have faith in truth. Crusaders should have patience but they should also

have a roadmap and well structured strategy.

I am ready to join you. I am in Delhi. You may invite like minded people. Let us begin with a handful

of serious people. Can we start making a team of 100 genuine people?

***** LK Kandpal

Corruption, like charity, begins at home and it should be resisted from our doorstep itself. Unless

each one of us do our bit in preventing corruption in any form in day to day matters, no use

clamouring for Lokpals and Lokayuktas or CVC and CBI.

***** D.S.Ranga Rao

I fully agree with the views expressed.

***** B V Ramarao,

Small injustices should also be opposed

You have in a short article written very lucidly what we need to do to change the face of India.

It is not big things and popular items alone that we have to fight against.

Small injustices perpetrated have to be opposed wherever we are and such seemingly insignificant

steps when added together from all across the country will bring the change that we long for.

The problem is that we want to earn a name whenever we succeed in such struggle and look for

power and thereby our focus changes from fighting corruption and injustice to gaining popularity and

power for ourselves.

Hunger for power is also another form of corruption and that is why Gandhiji and JP remained aloof

from the pursuit of power.

Let us join hands together for a better India.

***** PremVerma

There are lakhs of good and honest Indians

We are dealing with millionaires wanting to become billionaires and so on.

Swami Vivekananda said “Give me 100 energetic young men and I shall transform India”. (It ought to

have read "young men & women")

Article on “Concerned indians can change face of India” was published in the blog.

Several readers from all over India responded with their views, Highlights of a few observations

are given.


READER’S VIEWS ON CONCERNED INDIANS CAN CHANGE FACE OF INDIA

Otherwise, we will continue to live from one harboured smokescreen to the next one !

***** Dev Chopra

Suggest ways and means

You have not explained as to why you have chosen this method. You have not mentioned anything

about how to do it.

***** Hemant Kshirsagar

I complain to Lokayukta, the case will drag on for 10 to 15 years with constant harassment to me

and finally the culprits may be punished with nominal fine ,but still my job is not done .

Ordinary people just cannot afford this - I need to get on with my life - There are hundreds of things

to be got done on a daily basis.

It is very easy to say if EVERYBODY do not pay, then corruption ends. It can never happen .

There has to be some deterrent and some fear in the person asking bribe that something really bad

will happen if he takes a bribe (you can't just appeal to his conscience to do his job)

We are talking something which is impractical - Action has to come from top. Bottom up does not

work.

***** Rangarajan Mathre

Today, for eradicating corruption, we need to create an atmosphere where bribe takers are looked

down upon socially and not venerated.

Taking a pledge not to give bribe is not going to work, as no one gives bribe if he can help it.

It is under duress that bribe is being extracted.

***** J K Gaur

This can be done by desh-premi volunteers of people with strong anti corruption sentiment.

Once caught red handed, the culprits can be dragged to court also and punished.

***** Suresh Vyas

That possibly was said at a time when Indians were around

150 million, no more. Today, we are 1.23 billion. Even today ,

there are lakhs of good, honest Indians

Solutions can emerge in a few years, if rule of law is applied

regardless of who is involved.

It is easier said than done

OK, I want to resist paying a bribe to get my job done - So

what happens?

First I am harassed, my work will not be done, I will make

several trips leaving my other jobs and livelihood.

Defame bribe givers and bribe takers

A way to defame the bribe givers and bribe takers is

to catch them red handed and put the videos on a

website or you tube.


BLUFF OF PRESENT DAY TRADE UNION MOVEMENT

Karl Marx would have been disappointed

When Karl Marx declared several decades ago that the workers of the world had nothing to lose

except the chain, his clarion call caught the imagination of every one. The seed of revolution that

Karl Marx sowed developed into a big and credible movement and brought a sea change in the

fortunes of the blue collar workers all over the world.

If Karl Marx were alive today, he would readily recognise that the clarion call that he gave, have

achieved the intended purpose and it’s original form and content are twisted and misused by self

centred politicians. Karl Marx would have realised that the movement he started for organising the

working class for demanding fair working conditions and wages have now become counter

productive, with the organised class itself becoming an exploitative class.

Virtually a political activity

The trade unionists who swear by the name of Karl Marx have now converted the trade union

movement into virtually a political activity, with the trade union objectives being subordinated to the

political objectives of those , who have now got a strangle hold over the trade union movement.

In reviewing the present state of trade union movement in India , there are a few aspects such as the

following that need to be noted.

Almost all political parties, big and small , have trade union wing . In every organisation, now there

are as many trade unions as the number of political parties operating in the area.

All those who now hold leadership positions in trade union movement are actually the politicians

belonging to various political parties and inevitably they twist their trade union activities to suit the

interests of the political parties to which they owe allegiance.

The one day token strike on 2nd September, 2015 called by ten central trade unions owing

allegiance to opposition political parties and not supported by the trade unions owing

allegiance to ruling parties in the central government , conclusively prove that Indian trade

union movement is now a mere political movement of the politicians, by the politicians and for

the politicians.


BLUFF OF INDIAN TRADE UNION MOVEMENT

Free for all movement

There is no upper limit in wages and perks for anyone to claim trade union membership.

There are many persons working in government departments, banks , Life Insurance corporations

or other public or private companies getting salaries and perks exceeding Rs. 40.000 / - per month

and they too enjoy trade union rights. It is shocking that even air pilots getting huge salaries and

perks organise themselves and go on strike. By no stretch of imagination, one can say that these

people are deprived section of society ,who were in Karl Marx’s mind when he gave the clarion call.

Certainly, Karl Marx would not have envisaged that such organised class of personnel, enjoying

income and properties much above the lower income group and belonging to the affluent class,

would claim trade union rights , using the concept that he developed , advocated and propagated.

What about the really poor people ?

While the organised class are no more the class belonging to oppressed section of the society, there

are around 30% of Indian population ( more than 300 million people ) who live in extremely difficult

conditions at below poverty level, not knowing as to where their next meal would come from.

This 30% of the population are the unorganised class, who remain largely unrepresented for

demanding their rights and share of national income.

The sad scenario is that the organised class claiming trade union rights have no consideration for the

plight of the poor country men. While demanding and getting regular increase in salaries, wages and

other perks and benefits by their collective oppressive actions, they fail to recognise the fact that

to the extent they get increase in income by organising their collective actions, they are cornering

big chunk of national income.

In the process, they deny the share of income to the poor people belonging to lower income

group ,who remain as unorganised and suffering class and desperately need supportive measures

from the government.

Call the bluff of the organised class

The time has come to call the bluff of the organised class, who have now become the oppressors ,

that Karl Marx wanted to fight against.

Organised class now exploitative class

The organised class of employees have

now become an exploitative class in

India , as they often paralyse the

administration by their collective

strength to go on strike or launching go

slow movement, pressing their demand

for increase in wages and perks or for

some other political reasons whether

justified or unjustified, with least

consideration to the loss occurring to

the national economy and to the plight

of the other people due to their strike

activities.


LACK OF SAFETY MEASURES IN TEMPLES IN TAMIL NADU N.S.Venkataraman

E-mail:[email protected]

Rockfort temple

A few days back, I visited Rockfort temple in Tiruchi and climbed up the steps to worship

Thayumanaswami. I was surprised to find while climbing the steps that in so many places, the

lighting was extremely poor. Inside the Thayumanaswami temple also , the lighting is very poor.

Hundreds of senior citizens climbing the steps and visiting Thayumanaswami temple are put to

extreme discomfort and safety hazard due to such poor lighting. As a senior citizen, I myself

underwent anxious moments as I was climbing and walking inside the temple.

Hundreds of devotees stand in the serpentine queue

for considerable time in these temples , patiently

waiting for their turn for darshan.

On most of the days , the queue is long and in the

event of any unfortunate accident like fire etc. (God

forbid) or any person suffering from sudden medical

problem such as heart attack (God forbid), there is

no way that the people in the beginning or middle of

the queue can run out for safety in quick time. There

is no emergency exit to avoid stampede in the case of

any emergency.

A few weeks back, I visited Mariamman temple and Srirangam Ranganathaswami temple in

Tiruchirappalli district in Tamil Nadu and I was shocked to note the lack of safety measures

inside these temples.

Temple in Viralimalai

I also visited Subramania Swami

temple in Viralimalai near Trichy and

found safety measures to be

inadequate.

There is no handrail that should be

designed and installed to be

grasped by the hand so as to provide

stability or support while climbing

the steps by the devotees,

particularly the elderly ones.

The lighting inside the temple

premises is also poor.

Improving the lighting arrangement is

a simple job and all that is required is

some care and attention from the

local temple authorities , which

appears to be conspicuous by

absence.


READER’S VIEWS ON SAFETY CONDITIONS IN TEMPLES

I agree with you sir in toto.

All income from major temples under Hindu Religious Charitable Endowments Department are

diverted towards unwanted free schemes. Mass looting is taking place in all major temples with the

connivance of powerful politicians.

***** Sivakumar C S

I hail from Tiruchirappalli Dist and as such I keep going to these temples every year. What you say

is perfectly true.

This is especially true in Samayapuram temple, which attracts a huge crowd every day. It is even

more so on Fridays, amavasya days etc when it is like Kumbamela.

What you say is very true. To shake up the government from their slumber, why not start a petition

and get it signed by thousands by circulation?

***** K. Madhavan

I entirely agree.There is no point in reacting after an incident.

***** Dr G.Sundaram

Appreciate your proactive safety observations in temples.

***** Sunil Saxena

As I senior citizen myself ,I feel hand railing is a must in temples.

***** Gopalarao Ganugapati

I would add that this is true of almost all the temples in

Tamil Nadu.

I may also add that, in general, as a nation, we are very

poorly conscious of safety factors. Life is cheap and no

one cares. This is the sad fact. We have the highest

number of road accidents on population basis!

***** T S Krishnamoorthy

The article on lack of safety measures in temples in Tiruchirappalli was circulated to a few

readers.

Highlights of a few observations made are given.

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In the last few years, more than 8000 students from the lower income group have completed

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CONDEMNABLE PATEL AGITATION IN GUJARAT

Today, we find conditions, where someone belonging to a family getting an income of more

than Rupees one lakh per month, availing the benefit of quota and reservation by virtue of their

being part of a community, considered by government to be backward.The sons and daughters

of many IAS & IPS officers, doctors, college professors and other affluent section of

the society get privileges because of the caste to which they belong.

Sadly, we have governments , whose leadership lack character and adherence to principles and

therefore , such governments succumb to the pressures of the mob leaders for the sake of staying

on in power.

Those who can create chaos in public life now have a field day.

Taking a cue from Patidars (Patels) agitation in Gujarat, the Kurmis in Jharkhand have renewed their demand of reservation under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category

This condition is in sharp contrast to

many persons who belong to lower

income group and cannot get square meal

a day but do not have the benefit of quota

in government jobs and educational

institutions , simply because they belong to

a so called forward community. Is this not

a ridiculous situation ? How can a rich

person with a fabulous income be

considered as a backward or deprived

person ?

The Patels in Gujarat are rich people and

they are so rich that the leadership of the

Patel agitation have the arrogance to say

that they would withdraw all their

deposits from the banks that can

strangulate the banking financial system, if

their demands would not be met.

Today, in India many groups and

politicians think that they can get anything

done by organising demonstrations ,

protests and fasts. The only requirement

is that their protests should be so big as to

paralyse the administration. The merits of

the case do not matter.

Patel agitation in Gujarat is a warning that

mob culture in the country is getting

better of the wisdom and reasoning.

The Patel agitation in Gujarat , which deserves strong condemnation, once again highlights

the fact that various groups led by unscrupulous leaders with ulterior political motives are

using collective mob strength to make one demand or the other. After whipping up mob

fury , they make themselves look like champions for a cause and use such image to gain

political power.


.



CAN TAMIL NADU STUDENTS BE INDIFFERENT TO LEARNING HINDI ?

WHAT TAMIL NADU STUDENTS THINK ?

Indians have two identities

The citizens of India have two identities – one national and the other regional. Therefore, the

individual is both Indian and Tamilian, Keralite or Gujarati, etc. Therefore, learning an Indian

language, apart from mother tongue, is necessary.

Mindset for linguistic accommodation needed

Knowledge of more than one Indian language can only aid an individual, as it would add to the depth

of knowledge of the individual and help in gaining better understanding of different cultures in the

country. If a Tamil student learns Hindi, the career and other options open to him will increase

considerably. Therefore, Tamil Nadu students cannot afford to be indifferent to learning Hindi,

which would amount to isolating oneself from the rest of the country.

The solution to the problem consist in developing mindset for linguistic accommodation.

Need for national language

India is multi lingual country. However, country needs a national language. Since Hindi is spoken by

most of the people in India, more than any other Indian language, Hindi has legitimate claim to be

declared as national language. Hindi need to be viewed essentially as link language by non Hindi

population .

A few decades back, students were in the forefront of anti Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu.

However, in recent times, it appears that sea change has happened in Tamil Nadu with

regard to the views of the students on Hindi language , particularly due to the changes

taking place in the job scenario and increasing level of inter dependence between states

in the country.

Nandini Voice For The Deprived (www.nandinivoice.com) a Chennai based NGO

organized an essay competition for college students in Tamil Nadu on “ CAN TAMIL

NADU STUDENTS BE INDIFFERENT TO LEARNING HINDI ? A good number of

college students from all over Tamil Nadu submitted their essay for the competition.

* Ms.A. Divya Dharshini, Sri Sai Ram Engineering College, Chennai

* Ms.R.Annalakshmi, Research student in Tamil,

Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College, Sivakasi

* Ms.K.Abirami, II year, B.Sc (Maths), Fatima College,Madurai

* Ms.Shenbagavalli Venkatesan, II year B.Tech Chemical Engineering,

Amrita School of Engineering,Coimbatore

* Mr.M.A.Rifayathali, Research Scholar,

PG & Research Department of Mathematics, Jamal Mohamed College,

Tiruchirappalli

Highlights of the views of the students are given below

Surprisingly, around 95 percent of the students have said that

learning Hindi is necessary and any anti Hindi protest in Tamil

Nadu is unwarranted and would be counter productive.

Following five students were selected for the award of prize

in the essay competition.

http://www.nandinivoice.com/


CAN TAMIL NADU STUDENTS BE INDIFFERENT TO LEARNING HINDI ?

Changing scenario

In the past , knowing or not knowing other languages would not have affected most people ,since

the communication range was short and people preferred to stay, work and make a living in their

hometown. But the scenario today is different.

Most of the individuals work outside their hometowns and in other states. If they were to live and

work in northern or western or eastern India , they can not afford to remain without knowing

Hindi.

View language as a tool

Students choose the subject of study like chemistry, economics, engineering etc. based on the

individual preference and job prospects. In the same way, students in Tamil Nadu should view the

Hindi language as a tool to improve their career prospects and facilitate the integration with larger

society in India . They should not view Hindi, as if it is in battle with Tamil language.

Knowing a language does not mean you need to be a scholar in it. A simple knowledge of basics is

quite enough that will enable communication with others.

Tamil will not lose if other languages promoted

In southern states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Hindi is taught to students in state

board schools.The regional languages like Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada have not suffered due to this.

Like other states, Tamil Nadu government should also provide facility in government schools to

teach Hindi,to improve the employability of the students at all India level. Most of the students

studying in government schools are from lower income group families and they cannot afford to

learn Hindi from outside institutions by paying high fees.

Like for English and dislike for Hindi

It is surprising that there appear to be movement in Tamil Nadu advocating hatred against Hindi,

while English is readily accepted . What is the logic in this ?

Never impose Hindi on non Hindi Indians

In recent time, Modi government is giving an impression that it wants to impose Hindi on non Hindi

people , to make Hindi an all India language. This move is not wise and it will have the opposite

effect of increasing resistance to Hindi among non Hindi people.

People all over India are recognising the need to learn Hindi as link language and this idea would

inevitably spread on its own. Modi government should have patience instead of taking the counter

productive measures to spread Hindi, which would only make the task more difficult.

Leave it to one’s choice

The end decision to learn any language must be left to an individual.

If Hindi is useful for an individual – personally and professionally, then it is

necessary for him to learn it.

But if the individual is able to manage with his mother tongue or any

other language such as English, then learning Hindi may not be a necessity.


“WE HAVE PEOPLE VESTED WITH PUBLIC TRUST, WHO

SWINDLE CRORES OF RUPEES AND MANAGE TO REMAIN

OUTSIDE THE PRISON.

THIS REMAIN AS BENCHMARK FOR THE GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYEES, WHO EXPECT GREASING OF PALM

FOR DAY TO DAY WORK”.

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