Naga People's Front (NPF) president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu has expressed opposition to the use of Hindi as an alternative to English in Nagaland.
In a statement, the NPF leader said that even after 40 years, Nagaland still remains almost the same "because we have not seen any serious efforts made on the part of the Central government towards development of the language whichever party is in power in Delhi".
He further said, "We are not against Hindi... But we cannot agree at the moment to use Hindi as an alternative to English in Nagaland because it is impossible in its totality... This is the ground reality and we do not find any other option at the moment".
According to the NPF president, then prime minister Morarji Desai, who was holding Education portfolio during 1979-’80, in his inaugural speech in the Education Ministers’ Conference in New Delhi had said, "Hindi should be used from the beginning to PG level in education".
Views were sought by the chairperson, Shilla Kaul (Minister of State, Education) from the members present, the NPF chief also said.
According to Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu, Nagaland had then expressed that it was not possible in Nagaland. He stated that the prime minister then, in a threatening tone, insisted why. To it, Nagaland had said, "We want to learn Hindi but our Naga people do not know Hindi because no one has taught us. As of now, Hindi teachers in Nagaland are mostly ex-servicemen from Assam Regiment. Therefore, if you (PM) come down to Nagaland, you cannot understand our Hindi in as much as we cannot understand your Hindi in Delhi”.
The NPF president then said, "We are aware that Hindi is the national language. But without putting in any effort to make people learn Hindi by the Central government, if it is imposed on the people who do not know the language, it will amount to alienation which may not certainly be in the interest of the nation".
