India is a Land of variety. We have so many States, so many Cultures and hence, so many Languages. India is blessed with 22 Official Languages along with several Local ones. These are also known as the ‘Scheduled Languages’ of India. There are two major Indian Language Families – 'Indo Aryan' and 'Dravidian' which are spoken by more than 90% people of India. From the above, about 73% people speak Indo Aryan and 24% speak Dravidian.
Languages majorly spoken at:
|
Languages
|
Majorly spoken at
|
|
Sanskrit
|
Heritage
|
|
Hindi
|
National Language
|
|
English
|
Nationally
|
|
Gujarati
|
Gujarat, Dadar & Nagar Haveli
|
|
Punjabi
|
Punjab
|
|
Bengali
|
West Bengal
|
|
Assamese
|
Assam
|
|
Dogri, Urdu
|
Jammu and Kashmir
|
|
Oriya
|
Orissa
|
|
Marathi
|
Maharashtra
|
|
Kannada
|
Karnataka
|
|
Tamil
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
Telugu
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
Malayalam
|
Kerala
|
|
Sindhi
|
Sindh, now in Pakistan
|
|
Konkani
|
Goa
|
|
Manipuri
|
Manipur
|
|
Khasi
|
Meghalaya
|
|
Mizo
|
Mizoram
|
|
Lotha
|
Nagaland
|
Besides these, there are various Regional Languages spoken by masses in their respective Regions but don’t have the status of Official Languages like Rajasthani, Bihari, Haryanavi, Bhili, Gondi, Tulu etc. Some Indian Languages have the status of minority Languages like Mahl & Portugese.
As per a Survey conducted on the Indian languages, there are close to 780 Languages in India (including Dialects spoken locally by very less number of people). There can be even more which are yet to be found. It is said that in India a Language changes after every 4 kms. So, you can imagine!!!
However, there is a big threat hovering over our Languages of extinction as has happened in the past. Major Example is the disappearance of Sanskrit, though it is still being considered the origin of all the Languages of India. Similarly, there have been various Local Languages which have and are disappearing as the Natives speaking them are either dying or moving out of their Native places because of change in Professional choices. Due to which, they have to start adopting other Languages and their offsprings eventually lose interest in their original Language. Hence, comes the death of the Language after a few Generations.
Whenever a Language loses its people, it loses popularity and eventually dies. It is not only true for Local Language but it can happen to our major Languages like Hindi too. English, has the habit of viping out Local Languages, where ever it has gone. It has happened with many Countries. But, India is different and we have successfully coped with the arrival of English in our Territory very well. We have accepted it with open Arms and at the same time, have managed to preserve the dignities of our Languages as well.
But, still there is a lot to be done from the Government’s side as-well-as our side to make our Languages strong and not let them die. The Government should make the teaching of Local Languages as-well-as Hindi Language a must for all Schools upto Class 10th. This way Children will get a strong exposure to both forms and it will be easy for them to communicate both to the people in their Regions and also to the people from other parts of India. English must also be taught for Business and Commercial purposes and for communication Worldwide. In simple words, the order of preference in a Region sould be: Local, Hindi, English. But right now, the order is: English, Local, Hindi.
We also, as Citizens, should try to speak to each other in our own Languages rather than speaking in a Foreign Language. I am not saying we should discard English. It is a very important Language for our Communication with the World. But, it should be dealt with like an additional Language not a main one. This way it will be our step in strengthening our rich Heritage.
We should feel proud in speaking in Indian Languages. Afterall we won’t like the extinction of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu or Bengali after a few Generations. Will we?
Regards,
MBA (Finance); 7+ years of work experience
email: pragyablogger@gmail.com
pragyasonal@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/pragyasblog
https://twitter.com/pragyasonal
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/pragya-banerjee/15/311/aa9
No comments:
Post a Comment