In the current curriculum, a paper in Hindi is mandatory at the graduation level across central universities in northern belt. In Delhi University, Hindi is taught as a mandatory paper in all programme courses. Even in honours paper, students had a choice of studying either Hindi or English as a language paper. The language papers Hindi
Studying Hindi is no longer going to be mandatory at undergraduate level in Central universities. The new choice-based credit system (CBCS) is giving students an option to either study Hindi, English or any modern Indian language.
While the new syllabus gives students choice to study an Indian language instead of learning Hindi or English, Hindi sympathisers feel that the new system is discouraging students from learning the national language. The move has come up at a time when the government is trying to promote Hindi.
In the current curriculum, a paper in Hindi is mandatory at the graduation level across central universities in northern belt. In Delhi University, Hindi is taught as a mandatory paper in all programme courses. Even in honours paper, students had a choice of studying either Hindi or English as a language paper. The language papers Hindi
and English together made 25 per cent of the total syllabus in the programme course. The share of languages has been brought down to less than five per cent.
Human resource development ministry's new syllabus under CBCS has made Hindi an optional paper in under graduate syllabus. "In the existing course, the students read Hindi in one semester and English in another. But now the student will read either Hindi or English or any third language," explained a professor who was a part of CBCS committee.
"Had there been sufficient deliberation over CBCS, such issues would not have arisen," said Professor IM Kapahy, who teaches at Delhi University and is a member of the UGC. He was also a part of the committee that drafted the syllabus.
Kapahy also criticised the ministry for not evaluating the language policy and deciding on dropping out Hindi. Distancing himself from the issue, the professor added, "I am a member of UGC, but I was not a part of all the decision-making process."
The teaching fraternity is also critical of the new system. They feel that not only will it discourage the students from learning Hindi, but will also reduce the workload of the teachers. "On one hand we want to promote the raj bhasha, on the other we are making attempts to discourage students from taking it up," said Professor Gopeshwar Singh, head of Hindi department of Delhi University. Singh also added this the new system will reduce the workload of the department and will leave teachers without sufficient work.
The UGC that has been the nodal agency for drafting the syllabus, however, denies having made any discrimination towards teaching Hindi. "The syllabi has been prepared after due consultations with central
and state universities. The vice chancellors have given their approval. The CBCS gives the university the leverage to modify the syllabi up to 20 per cent. The universities are free to make such changes," said a UGC functionary.
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