Context: Shah launches BBA initiative to free governance from ‘foreign language influence’

Source: The Hindu

The Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag, or Indian Languages division, was established by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to give all Indian languages a structured platform to advance “freeing the administration from the influence of foreign languages.”

The section will take into account India’s linguistic diversity and state that only when “our processes of thinking, analysis, and decision-making are in our mother tongue” will “our potential” be fully realized. We can restore India to its once-great status by bolstering all of its regional tongues.

Model Question:

“Discuss the role of Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag in promoting linguistic diversity and inclusive education in India in light of the National Education Policy 2020.”

Model Answer:

India is a multilingual nation with 22 official languages under the 8th Schedule. The Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag, operating under the Ministry of Education, plays a critical role in preserving this linguistic diversity while ensuring inclusive and equitable education.

Role in Promoting Linguistic Diversity:

1. Curriculum in Mother Tongue: Aligns with NEP 2020’s vision to impart early education in the mother tongue or local language.
2. Academic Content Development: Facilitates creation of technical and higher education material in Indian languages.
3. Cultural Preservation: Supports literature, dictionaries, and lexicons in classical and regional languages.
4. Digital Inclusion: Encourages creation of e-learning material in regional languages for students in remote areas.

Challenges:

1. Shortage of qualified translators and teachers in regional languages.
2. Technological limitations in language tools (like AI-based translation).
3. Resistance from urban and elite institutions favoring English.

Way Forward:

1. Invest in capacity-building of teachers and translators.
2. Collaborate with ed-tech platforms for multilingual tools.
3. Make regional language learning aspirational by linking with employability.

The Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag is central to India’s linguistic inclusivity drive. With NEP 2020 as a guiding framework, it can bridge the language divide and make education more accessible and culturally rooted.