By Mewati Sitaram
A nine-member delegation of the Parliamentary Official Language Committee, led by Convenor Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh, met Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. The members briefed the Governor about the purpose of their visit, which centers on the promotion of regional languages while reinforcing the role of Hindi as an associate official language.
During the interaction, Dr. Sharma informed the Governor that the Ministry of Home Affairs operates entirely in Hindi and is committed to strengthening linguistic inclusivity. He emphasized that official responses will now align with the language of correspondence—letters received in Marathi will be answered in Marathi, those in Tamil will be replied to in Tamil, with Hindi translations provided to ensure consistency.
Governor Radhakrishnan welcomed the delegation warmly and shared personal reflections on the importance of linguistic connection with citizens. He noted that without knowing Hindi, it is often difficult to grasp the problems faced by people across diverse regions of India. He recalled his own early education, completed entirely in Tamil at a municipal school in his native village, which at the time had no private schools. He expressed regret at not having the opportunity to learn Hindi during his formative years.
However, the Governor shared that his time as Governor of Jharkhand significantly influenced his understanding of the language’s importance. “After becoming the Governor of Jharkhand, I realized that communication with the people was not possible without knowing Hindi,” he said, adding that he now understands the language completely.
In the context of education, Governor Radhakrishnan also mentioned his role as Chancellor of state universities and said he has encouraged institutions to introduce foreign languages such as German, Japanese, and Mandarin in their curriculum to equip students for global opportunities.
The meeting was also attended by Committee Members Ramchandra Jangda (Haryana), Rajesh Verma (Bihar), Kritidevi Debbarman (Tripura), Kishorilal Sharma (Uttar Pradesh), Satpal Brahmachari (Haryana), Dr. Ajit Gopchhade (Maharashtra), Vishweshwar Hegde (Karnataka), along with senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The visit marked a collaborative dialogue on the evolving linguistic landscape of India’s administrative framework.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
