The recommendations made by an RSS affiliate for gradual removal of English as a medium of instruction has elicited a strong response from Dalit scholars and activists across the country. Dubbing the move as ‘anti-development’, it is alleged that the recommendation has been made with an intention to hamper the progress of the Dalits.
An Indian Express report today revealed a number of recommendations submitted by Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas – an RSS-affiliated organisation, to the ministry of human resource development, ahead of the formulation of the new education policy. Apart from the demand for prominence for mother-tongues and elimination of English as a medium of instruction, the Nyas (trust) has also demanded that foreign languages not be offered as an option to the Indian languages, all research work should only be pertaining to ‘national interest’, and all references that insult Indian culture, sects or thoughts and offer “wrong” explanations be removed.
Prakash Ambedkar, president, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh told Sabrangindia, “It’s quite obvious that they’re trying to target Dalits here, but this move will also affect the poor adversely. It’s an attempt at reinstating the old systems. Where knowledge is expanding its scope and is being globalised in the current era, they’re asking for localisation of knowledge. It’s ridiculous.”
He advised that the RSS should implement the recommendations within its own institutions before advocating these measures. “Children of almost all of the upper-castes study in English medium schools. Are they willing to withdraw their children from these schools? They should implement this suggestion within the cadre, see the results and then talk of its nation-wide implementation,” he said.
Dismissing the chances of the implementation of these recommendations, he added, “People will not support these regressive ideas. They will speak up. Looks like they (right wing organisations) will end up losing power (if continue to function in this manner).”
Taking ta jibe at these recommendations, Dalit rights activist and eminent writer Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd told Sabrangindia, “They should ask for the closure of all (English medium) private schools and colleges, irrespective of their ownership. Why stop at that? They should also withdraw English as a subject from the Saraswati Mandirs – schools run by the RSS. They should also make sure that we do not export material to the English-speaking countries. And they should refrain from accepting even a penny form these English-speaking countries for educational purposes. Then, we can say, their purpose will be truly served!”
He further dubbed this moves as an attempt to marginalise students from backward castes studying in the English medium schools and progressive environments. “This will hamper the progress if Dalits,” he claimed.
Supporting the recommendations made by the Nyas partially, BJP Mumbai spokesperson Aarti Sathe told Sabrangindia, “I am not familiar with how exactly and on what levels do they plan to implement these measures, but, I feel that a child can understand the curriculum best if it’s in her or his own mother-tongue. Learning will become easier. Although, I am not against the English-medium education.”
According to the Indian Express report, the Nyas founder-secretary has claimed that the HRD minister Prakash Javdekar “appreciated many suggestions” and said that they “will certainly consider” its suggestions.
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