The Hindu : New Delhi News : Hindi medium students protest against `discrimination'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 20, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Hindi medium students protest against `discrimination'

By Lakshmi B.Ghosh

NEW DELHI, JULY 19. Over a week after students appearing for the Delhi University-conducted entrance examination for M.A (Honours) Political Science protested against the absence of the question paper in Hindi, members of the Progressive Students Union (PSU) staged a dharna in front of the Political Science Department today protesting against "discrimination against Hindi medium students''.

While students believe they are being given a raw deal because of the medium of their study, the University maintains that there is little it can do to help them as being a Central University it had to deal in a language that is common to all.

"We don't have a problem with the English medium and are not trying to wage a battle against it. All we are asking for is an equal status for us. Why should we be discriminated because we don't come from an English medium,'' asked one of the protesting students.

Held on July 8, the entrance examination had led to a number of students getting agitated and demanding an apology.

The Department points out that since it had ensured that the questions were explained to the Hindi medium students on the day of examination, the students should not have reasons to complain. But the problem for these Hindi medium students does not end with the entrance examination. Even if they do manage to get into the course, the path to a postgraduate degree is not an easy one.

With hardly any reference books or study material available for Hindi medium students, the Department agrees that the students have it tough, specially since the chances of an improvement in the condition are rather dim.

"This is not the first time that this issue has been raised. But we are a Central university and we cannot afford to hold classes for students in the language of their comfort. We do hold special classes in Hindi, but then there are not many books for reference as of now, so teaching in Hindi is not exactly convenient,'' pointed out a Department official.

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