New Delhi, May 30: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has expressed its support for the trilingual formula, according to Praveen Piyush, the secretary of ABVP at JNU. In a recent discussion, he emphasized that in a country like India, which boasts immense linguistic and cultural diversity, the trilingual approach is a way to honor this diversity.
He pointed out that the 2011 census revealed hundreds of languages and thousands of dialects in India, with several languages granted official status under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Prioritizing one language over others is not appropriate, he stated.
Piyush explained that language is not merely a means of communication; it is a medium to understand the culture, thought, and civilization of any society. Each language carries a rich tradition of knowledge, history, and worldview. Thus, when a person learns a new language, they are not just acquiring words but also striving to understand an entire culture.
He advocated that the best educational approach is for children to study in their mother tongue, as this enhances their understanding and strengthens their learning. Additionally, he stressed the importance of knowledge of other languages to connect with different regions of the country and abroad.
According to Piyush, the trilingual formula is highly beneficial for students. It allows them to learn their local language, mother tongue, another Indian language, and English. This not only broadens their knowledge but also enhances their employment and global opportunities.
He highlighted that India’s greatest strength lies in its ‘unity in diversity,’ and language can further reinforce this unity. There should be no division between North and South India; rather, people should strive to understand each other’s languages and cultures. For instance, if a North Indian reads Tamil literature, they can grasp South Indian culture, and if a South Indian learns Hindi, they connect with the culture and knowledge traditions of North India.
However, in Tamil Nadu, this initiative is being perceived as an imposition of Hindi. Piyush clarified that this is not a matter of imposing language. The trilingual formula offers students the choice of which language to learn, making it inaccurate to label it as imposition. He acknowledged that different states and individuals may have varying opinions, but he believes this policy is essential for the intellectual, cultural, and professional development of students. Therefore, it should be implemented across the country as soon as possible.
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