Colonial 'mentality' hampering Hindi: General VK Singh

NEW DELHI: Hindi is not getting its proper due as the "mentality" that developed out of "imperialism" continue to persist among Indians, Union Minister General (Retd) VK Singh said today.

The Minister of State for External Affairs said that US is developed, as the country had discarded " imperialist practices" like "driving on the left side of the road".

"Why is America so developed? Because they decided to discard all imperialist practices. They walk on the different side of the road. Their switches operate on the different side. Even their English is different.

"But our police, administration, all rules and regulations continue to be the same and probably because of our mentality that developed out of imperialism still persist," the former Army Chief said.

Singh, who was speaking at the 'Dr Shankar Dayal Singh Janbhasha Samman' went on to add that calling Hindi a "national language" might attract people with banners and flags "questioning the assertion".

"If the language for which we are putting in so much effort gets its due recognition even as the mother tongue that itself will be a big achievement in our country," Singh said.

During the occasion, well-known satirical Hindi poet Ashok Chakradhar and journalist Balendu Sharma Dadhich were conferred the awards, carrying a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a citation, for the year 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The award, instituted by the Shankar Sanskriti Pratishthan, is presented to individuals or organisations who have significantly contributed to the propagation, development and growth of Hindi, including its dialects.