With a new government in place in India, Hindi seems to be bouncing back with a bang. Not only in India but in the world at large. The international business community has read the writing on the wall. If the world wants to do business with India, business community need to communicate with the new prime minister Mr. Narendra Modi in Hindi. Modi is market friendly and has acquired a solid reputation as a tough man and a quick decision maker. It is not surprising that 19th June newspapers have carried a news that the Indian Home ministry has asked government offices to give preference to Hindi. These are the signs of changing times. More is likely to come soon.

Hindi is widely spoken in India. Man in the street understands it well. One can survive with Hindi alone in India these days. Though most of the regional schools follow the formula of three languages. That means learning English, Hindi and one regional language. But there is  long standing fear in South India about Hindi. In 1960s, government tried to make the use of Hindi compulsory but it lead to a violent opposition. Therefore, the decision was diluted and virtually withdrawn. That was done by the Congress government. It realised its mistake and withheld the decision.

But these are different times. Narendra Modi has come to power with a thumping majority in the parliament. He is a man of strong will and enforcement  At the same time he is a man from the Hindi belt. He used his powerful Hindi to carry out his campaign. He belongs to Bhartiya Janata Party (BHP). This right-wing party is known for its Hindi bias. One of the BJP prime minister Atal Behari Vaajpayee spoke in Hindi at the UN General Assembly. It was immediately lapped up by his constituency back home. It has been quoted often in the recent and remote past. More.

See: Hindi Center

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