Chennai: Even as there has been an ongoing outrage and row in Tamilnadu over the three-language proposal, the tops the list in people volunteering to learn Hindi among other southern states in India, according to a data.
Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha revealed that over the last decade that the number of people who appeared for various Hindi exams has increased by over 100 per cent.
In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi established the sabha with an aim of propagating Hindi in southern states. According to the data published in a media report, 5.80 lakh appeared for exams in 2018 in Tamilnadu and the State topped the list among southern states. Andhra including Telangana recorded around 2.4 lakh, Karnataka – 60,000 and Kerala – 21,000.
DBHP General Secretary S Jeyaraj was quoted in the report that said irrespective of controversies, necessity is a major factor that makes people learn a language. “In 2009, we saw 2.68 lakh taking up the exams, it has increased to 5.80 lakh in 2018. This year we are expecting around six lakh… We have been teaching Hindi for the last 100 years. Knowing a language broadens your knowledge. The more the better and it is based on a person’s necessity.”
There has also been an increase in those opting for D litt, PhD, MA and Mphil courses. A candidate needs at least four years to complete all the levels of the course: Parichaya, Prathamik, Madhyama, Rashtrabhasha, Praveshika, Rashtrabhasha Visharad, Rashtrabhasha Praveen, and Nishnath.
The DMK, the main opposition in Tamilnadu, said the decision showed that late party patriarch M Karunanidhi was living, apparently suggesting it was a success to the late leader’s legacy of opposing imposition of Hindi.