SSC notification for constables recruitment kicks up language row, highlights #HindiImposition

The notification for 24,369 jobs states that the computer-based examination will be conducted by the SSC only in Hindi and English rendering non-Hindi speakers disadvantaged.

ByAjay Tomar

Published Oct 30, 2022 | 2:12 PMUpdatedOct 31, 2022 | 2:06 PM

SSC constable exam language debate

In a move that once again discriminates against non-Hindi speakers, the SSC exam to recruit constables will only be held in Hindi and English.

Amid the protests against the imposition of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states, a fresh row over language surfaced after the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) issued its recruitment notification on Thursday, 27 October.

The eligibility criteria for the exam is Class 10 but with Hindi being the only regional language alternative to English in the exam, lakhs of aspirants who don’t know the language stand to lose out while others whose mother tongue is Hindi will enjoy an advantage.

With a total of 24,369 jobs in contention for the posts of constables in the paramilitary forces, aspirants in lakhs appear for the several exams conducted by the SSC nationwide.

The SSC is an organisation under the BJP-led Union government, that recruits staff for several posts in the various government ministries, departments, and subordinate offices.

‘Keeping non-Hindi speakers away from jobs’

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike office bearer and Kannada language rights activist Arun Javagal, in a message posted on social media, alleged that the Union government is trying to keep non-Hindi speakers away from government jobs by making Hindi mandatory in employment exams.

What does the notification say?

As per the 55-page notification, the computer-based examination will be conducted by the SSC only in Hindi and English.

In Section 11 of the notification, it is stated that “candidates ability to understand basic English/Hindi and his basic comprehension will be tested”.

Leaders from southern states — Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Telangana — and rights group in West Bengal, Bangla Bokkho have been vehemently opposing any imposition of Hindi in banking, railway services, display boards, and government events, and have also criticised the absence of regional languages in common entrance exams for central services.

Reacting to this, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy posted a message on social media: “Here is new evidence that the BJP administration, which has always tried to strangle Kannada, is desperate to finish all the regional languages of the country.”

Parliamentary committee report

The notification comes against the backdrop of a report by a Parliamentary Committee led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which has recommended phasing out English as the medium of instruction in central professional institutions like IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS and replacing it with Hindi in Hindi-speaking states and other regional languages elsewhere.

The report also recommends making Hindi mandatory instead of English in entrance exams.

Prioritising Hindi over other regional languages creates an unequal playing field where Hindi speakers are given an unfair advantage while non-Hindi speakers lose out.

For the first time in India, Shah on 16 October, launched MBBS textbooks in Hindi for three subjects — Biochemistry, Anatomy and Medical Physiology. The books, however, drew criticism from medical fraternity.

‘Equal opportunity needs to be given in a federal structure’ 

DK Shivakumar, Congress MLA from Kanakapura in Karnataka, was of the view that in a federal structure, every citizen has the right to get equal opportunity.

“Kannadiga and people from other parts of India who do not know Hindi, how can they write the examination in that language? Reserve Bank of India, while printing a currency note, uses 10 to 15 languages so that a common man can understand. Even bureaucrats are asked to know regional languages as they work locally,” he told South First.

The former minister of energy added that the Union government should not impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking citizens and allow them to write the SSC exam in their mother tongues.

When it was pointed out that the two-language system was being followed since the Congress ruled at the Centre, Shivakumar opined, “We have to change the system. Like BJP has done many amendments in their tenure such as changing the national flag code, launching even 5G, so why not change this as well?”

‘Why are we treated as third-grade citizens?’

Prathap Kanagal, JD(S) states spokesperson, called it a “repeated injustice” as well as step-motherly treatment of regional languages as compared to Hindi since independence.

“I have a question. Did we (non-Hindi speaking people) ever get freedom? The control transferred from British to Hindi-speaking states. Now and then we keep reminding the Union government that we are also Indians. Neither less nor more. We also have equal rights. We pay the same tax and contribute equally to the GDP like Hindi-speaking states. So why this third-grade citizens treatment?,” he asked while speaking to South First.

Noting that the BJP is also continuing what the Congress started, Kanagal, who is also JD(S) IT Wing head, said, “Where is the change BJP promised? Except for the communal ideology of the BJP, I don’t see any ideological difference between them. Hindi imposition directly affects jobs and deprives people of opportunity as 24,000 jobs are not a small thing. ”

He added that in the SSC notification, the required eligibility of an applicant is to be Class 10, which in itself decreases the chances for a non-Hindi speaking applicant.

“They (Union government) wants a student from Karnataka to write the exam in Hindi or English, so it’s in a way opportunity lost unlike Hindi states aspirants who have an advantage over them,” Kanagal said, adding that importance given to Hindi needs to be amended in the Indian Constitution.

BJP reaction

Madhu N Rao, Karnataka BJP spokesperson, denied the party is trying to impose Hindi on the non-Hindi-speaking population.

Assuring that the government would take adequate steps at the administrative level to resolve the issue, Rao told South First: “We are trying to analyse and address the issue as we just came to power eight years ago. It has its own process and it might take some time.”

Blaming the Congress for the existing policy, Rao, who is also an advocate at the Karnataka High Court, said: “This issue was not developed by the BJP but was started long back by the Congress when they drafted the rules.”

“Why was the Congress quiet during the 75 years of its rule? Why did it not take steps then? Do they have an answer? Both Congress and JD(S) are trying to hype the issue by saying that BJP is imposing Hindi on people,” he added.

(This story has been updated with the BJP’s reaction)