Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
3) National identity is something that transcends linguistic and regional differences. In such a scenario, is it justified to link it to any one language based on majority? Critically analyse.(250 words)
Why this question:
The question is amidst the recent controversies that have risen owing to the comments made by Amit shah over making Hindi a national language.
Key demand of the question:
One has to analyse the context of regional differences and the making of a single language as the national language.
Directive:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief explain the context.
Body:
First explain the reasons of Hindi gaining prominence, discuss its association of making it a national language with vote bank politics.
Discuss the constitutional provisions related to the official language.
Present the arguments for regional identity, language and the need for a national language.
Explain that cultural plurality is significant than a unified language for the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude that According a hegemonic role to the “most-spoken” language in the country may promote cultural homogenization, but that is hardly desirable in a country with a diverse population, a plural ethos and is a cauldron of many languages and cultures.
