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Kartikeya Tanna
Kartikeya is a lawyer qualified and practising in India and the State of New York. He writes commentary on current affairs, particularly on developments in the legal field.
German in Kendriya Vidyalayas Controversy – Little known facts
German continues to be available in Kendriya Vidyalayas albeit as an additional subject or a hobby language. (Photo: official school website)
What is the ‘Three Language Policy’?
Answer: The answer to this can be found in MoS Home Kiren Rijiju’s reply in Parliament on questions raised (ironically) by two Congress MPs (Shri D.K. Suresh and Shri Thokchom Meinya). Why I use the word ‘ironically’ – will explain shortly. In this official note on MHA website, Mr. Rijiju has provided a detailed history of how the Three Language Formula came into existence. The policy nowhere envisages providing a foreign language even as an option to the three categories of languages enumerated therein. Policies and frameworks issued in three separate years – 1968, 1986 and 2005 (when the UPA was in power) confirm the Three Language Policy.
Notably, in explaining the ineffective implementation of the three language formula (Para 5), Mr. Rijiju noted that some boards/institutions permitted even European/foreign languages like Spanish, French and German in place of Hindi or Sanskrit – which is clearly in violation of the policy.
How was German introduced as a language in Kendriya Vidyalayas?
Answer: This report carried on the German Missions in India official website states that in 2009, KVS (Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan) decided to offer German as an additional subject in the curriculum of Kendriya Vidyalayas. Due to the success of this experiment, in 2011, KVS added German as the third language in the ‘Three Language Policy’ as an option available to students to choose in lieu of Sanskrit. This was done through a letter No. F. 110332/7/2010/KVSHQ/Acad dated 05.01.2011, some details of which are mentioned in Para 2 of this document.
What was the MoU in regard to introducing German in KVs?
Answer: After KVS decided to have German as the third language that could be opted if students did not want to choose Sanskrit, an MoU was signed between KVS and Goethe Institute/Max Mueller Bhavan in the presence of E. Ahamed, the then MoS, HRD. This Press Information Bureau official report contains details of the same.
I used the word ‘ironically’ in the first question because the two Congress MPs were asking MoS Home of the efficacy or otherwise of implementation of the Three Language Policy when it was a UPA Government Minister in whose presence the MoU introducing German as the third language came about to be signed!
One of the points highlighted by an organisation by the name of Sanskrit Shikshak Sangh in a PIL before the Delhi HC was that existing teachers of KVs, particularly Sanskrit teachers, were asked to take training in German to teach German to students. The PIB report on the MoU provides some confirmation (in bullet point No. 2) of this utterly illogical step of asking teachers trained in one language to take training in German and teach students of KVs.
Has there been any independent evaluation of having Sanskrit as a language choice in schools or is it just Modi government’s so-called “RSS agenda”?
Answer: The best answer to this comes in the form of a Supreme Court judgment dated 04.10.1994which goes into this issue at some length. In order to explain the importance of Sanskrit, the SC judgment cites Central government policies in 1968 and 1986, report of Sanskrit Commission appointed by Central Government and words of Jawaharlal Nehru (as stating that Sanskrit language and literature is the India’s “greatest treasure” and “finest heritage”). Notably, SC also debunks the argument of Narsimha government’s Additional Solicitor General that offering Sanskrit as an elective subject alone without also offering Arabic or Persian will be “against secularism” (Para 19). In the last paragraph, SC directs the Central Board for Secondary Education to include Sanskrit as an elective subject.
At the cost of repetition, it is critical to note that even the SC is not imposing Sanskrit as a mandatory choice. In fact, no one is. It was, is and will continue to be an elective subject.
Has the Minister of HRD “replaced” German with Sanskrit or is this a media manufactured false argument ?
Answer: Once again, this is an oversimplification of the actual position. Firstly, the MoU had a term of three years and was expiring in September earlier this year. Its renewal, even if temporary, could have been construed as the Central Government’s endorsement of a continuing violation. Yes, the students may likely end up suffering and one hopes that the counselling organised by KVS due to this mid-way change is helpful.
Moreover, German continues to be available in KVs albeit as an additional subject or a hobby language. And, moreover, Sanskrit is only one of many electives as I explained in the earlier question. The only difference is that, instead of the option of choosing German in lieu of Sanskrit, students can choose any Modern Indian Language as the Three Language Policy requires. There is absolute clarity on this in Item No. 4 in the minutes of the meeting between Ms. Smriti Irani and KVS.
