Mansi

Dad is not fond of Hindi. Checking through customs at the Bombay (now Mumbai) Airport, I remember him responding in Kannada with a customs official who dared address him in Hindi. Who, he demanded, ever said that Hindi is our national language?
True to word, I got to hear about the three language formula from him again just last week.
Given that we don't believe anything that can't be found on the Internet these days, I dug up some policy information posted on the net. [source: http://www.languageinindia.com/junjulaug2001/school.html ]

The proposals in the National Curriculum Framework for School Education: 2000 relating to language are as follows:

The document states that the Three Language formula given below is still relevant and efforts should be made to implement it more vigorously.

The First language to be studied must be the mother tongue or the regional language.
The Second language
In Hindi speaking states the second language will be some other modern Indian language or English, and
In non-Hindi speaking states the second language will be Hindi or English.
The Third language
In Hindi speaking states the third language will be English or a modern Indian language not studied as the second language, and
In non-Hindi speaking states the third language will be English or a modern Indian language not studied as the second language.

Now, let's take an example, shall we? Our student Ramachandra is a resident of Kodaikanal, in Tamil Nadu. As per the three language formula, his languages will be as follows:
1. First language: Mother tongue: Kannada / Regional language: Tamil : Ram decides to pick Kannada since that's what is spoken at home.
2. Second language: Since Tamil Nadu is a non-hindi speaking state, Ram has to choose between Hindi or English. Given that Kodaikanal has a large, influential christian community who are all invested in reputed schools, Ram's parents believe that English will be a better option for him. It will give him easy access to a convent education and in addition help usher better economic opportunities his way when he's ready.
3. Third language: Again, given Tamil Nadu is a non-Hindi speaking state, Ram's choice for a third language is either English or a modern Indian language not studied as the second language. Given that English is his chosen second language, he then opts for Tamil which happens to be the regional language.
Example 2: Ekta Banerjee is a resident of Patna in Bihar. As per the three language formula, her languages will be as follows:
1. First language: Mother tongue : Punjabi / Regional Language : Hindi : Ekta, chooses Punjabi as her first language.
2. Second language: Since Bihar is considered a Hindi speaking state, Ekta will need to choose a Modern Indian language (excluding Hindi) or English. She chooses English.
3. Third language: Again, given Bihar is a Hindi speaking state, Ekta will need to choose between English or a Modern Indian language not studied as a second language. Hence she chooses Bengali
Following both case studies closely and it's various permutation and combinations, we can conclude the following:
1. It is possible for an Indian to complete her basic education (10+2) without ever taking Hindi or English or both. This basically means that no Indian is forced to study English or Hindi.
2. Regional language or Mother tongue gets the highest priority in this policy. Given that these three languages are not taught together but introduced at different stages ( starting with first, second and third), a student will have spent most years studying their first language which can be any one of the many languages we have in this country.
3. Every Indian needs to learn at least three Modern languages which doesn't include Sanskrit, considered a classical language. Though the education policy stresses the teaching of Sanskrit, it falls outside the parameters of the three language formula.
4. While there is a stress for Hindi speaking states to encourage the take up of a Southern state language as a second language, that is provided in direct competition with English. The same condition applies for Non-Hindi speaking states where Hindi is in direct competition with English.
Moving further, the education policy also stresses the vigorous implementation of the three language formula. To understand implementation, let's first understand the take up of the three languages in elementary education. [source: http://www.languageinindia.com/junjulaug2001/school.html]
Primary- 1 to 5 standards.
I and II - One language: the mother tongue/the regional language.
III-V - the mother tongue/the regional language.
Upper primary - 6 to 8 standards
VI - VIII. Three languages: the mother tongue/the regional language, modern Indian language and English.
Secondary Education
Secondary - 9 and 10standards: Three languages
Three languages: the mother tongue/the regional language, modern Indian language and English
Higher Secondary - 11 and 12 standards
Again, the implementation conveniently violates the three language policy by introducing English at Upper Primary and Secondary Education. However this is a minor point.
Let's take Ram and Ekta's example. Ram wants to take Kannada as his first language and Ekta would like to take up Punjabi. What is the likelihood they will find a primary school in Tamil Nadu or Bengal that teaches Kannada and Punjabi. Here again, we need to make a clear distinction between learning a language and mode of instruction. Considering that the first language is the only language taught in primary school ( 1 - 5 standards), it would be safe in assuming that the mode of instruction and the language learnt is both the same. Moving on to Upper Primary, Secondary and Higher however, there could be a huge distinction. English, Hindi or a regional language could be used for mode of instruction, even if the child is allowed to follow his/her language plan.
Which probably raises the obvious question in our minds - how practical is the three language formula? I'd like to draw parallels with the much abused term - Secularism: Where the ideal and the working reality couldn't be more different. While I personally think that the three language formula is great, in that, it encourages linguistic plurality and density midst our population, the ground reality does not allow for such visionary flexibility.
Come to the cities, the abyss of the human species [Rousseau], and one will find the options further restricted. Cities are in constant war - Should we stress regional language, national language (Hindi), or English and invariably, for economic reasons, English wins hands down.
I remember my professor in Architecture school commenting on how when we visit a family, the proud parents insist on their children reciting an English nursery rhyme.
This brings me to the crux of this entire debate. Where in all of this does the aspect of 'culture' come in? Research shows that we are most creative with our local languages. This has to do with not just the alphabets and words of a langauge (the syntax in computer speak) but more about how we string them along. Over many, many years, the syntax is no longer just alphabets and words, but whole sentences and the response these evoke in us. Whatever we are (our culture) is reflected in how we communicate. Ultimately, language is essentially a tool for communication and nowhere in our three language policy have we discussed communication.
If this looks confusing to us, imagine how frustrated the school authorities might be. Finding resources to cater to all of the linguistic needs of their student population is just not possible. At the most, their reach can extend to the child's home where they can influence a continuing practice. However a child is not just exposed to family and school. There is the whole world of media - Audio, Video, Television, Print. Do these media practice linguistic plurality and density??? Does every ad come in at least two languages? How many people do we exclude when we create an Advertisement in one language? How many do we exclude when we create an Ad in Hindi? The surgence of Hindi News channels for example is only valid in Hindi speaking states. Elsewhere, regional language news takes ultimate precedence.
With English the same is true to an extent only. Beyond that, there is an undeniable economic advantage that comes with communicating in the English language. I hardly believe that it is possible to live in India without knowing English anymore, no matter what field you work in. Just as all of the world is converging culturally, so is India too blending into itself. The Hindi speaking population in Bangalore is huge. The Tamil speaking population in Delhi is equally large. In our reflection, we all recognize the higher ideal of the three language formula which does NOT impose any one language on a student. However, when overlapped by economic pressures and some mis-appropriated intentions ( Religion-backed education systems: Convents, Hindu schools etc) one cannot deny the palpable tension reality presents us.
My niece completed her 2nd birthday yesterday. In our house, we speak Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi and English. With my recent migration to Delhi, I've probably been bringing in most of the Hindi. My brother and sister in law who both have active careers also find themselves speaking more and more Hindi because of the overwhelming Hindi speaking population in Bangalore. Though, both maintain, that their advantage in this society lie in their grasp of the English language. This however stops at their paychecks. Beyond that, with social and economic relationships alike, they find the acute need for more than one language - preferably Hindi and a regional language (which again changes from state to state). English is no longer a superior language. I don't think it ever has been simply because we fail to communicate in English. Yes, it is economically dominant and I think, in our own ways, we are all dealing with that.
I started with the three language formula and perhaps in my own meanderings, I have completed a full circle. Embracing linguistic plurality and density is not easy. Ideals never are. I am reminded of a conversation from an old Dilip Kumar movie - Leader - which I especially liked. Dilip Kumar plays a young man, talented but disappointed with the moral and ideal pollution of India. He thus as typical of all youths thrives in rebelling against the norms of society. In conversation with a national leader then, he complains about milawat in just about everything. To this the leader asks him if the love he shares with his mother is also fake. Are the trees, the sky, the leaves, the earth - are they all fake? Change, the leader says, is brought on by men who have conviction backed by personal strength. The nation, he continues, has no use for young men and women who are only looking for ways out.
All of us in some point in our lives have felt this frustration against a system, a rule, a norm or even a particular group. We must then endeavour to become the change we wish to see in our society. Instead of constantly looking for ways out and around the three language formula, we need to embrace it's ideal in genuine commitment. Our schools, our institutions and our society at large only reflect our commitment ( or lack of).
Those of us who nurture fear or propagate a culture of scarcity are in my opinion the most confused of the lot. By learning a South Indian language, we do not compromise on our identity. By learning Hindi, we don't give in to the dominance of Hindi in this country. We will not lose out unless we are steeped in fear of losing.
Here's to the three language formula and our sincere commitment to it.