CSAT row: Abandoning English from governance is certainly not in national interest

By TS Krishnamurthy
Former Chief Election Commissioner
The decision to do away with the weightage for marks in English section in Civil Services Examination for selection purposes can only be described as most unfortunate.
It is a pity that the whole issue is seen by the stakeholders including the politicians as Hindi vs English. While people globally are trying hard to improve their English for employment and trade purposes, some misguided youth and interested groups including politicians and vernacular media have chosen to take a contrary view.

I entirely agree with the Arvind Verma Committee's views that the status quo should continue with some modification on the translation of questions into Hindi. While the government has resorted to the easy way out, I am afraid it is going to set a very bad precedent. Recruitment conditions have to be in the larger interest of the nation.

Candidates selected for various services will be required to serve in different and diverse linguistic states. Will persons posted in non-Hindi states refuse to pass exams in the language tests of the governments when posted in these states? The candidates from non-Hindi states will now be motivated to refuse to appear in Hindi exams when posted in Hindi speaking states.

Modifying examination conditions to suit examinees’ demands is like modifying tender conditions, while procuring materials, to suit a supplier's convenience. The better course would have been to provide free coaching facilities to all aspiring candidates in Hindi & other regional languages.

One of the institutes of learning in Chennai, promoted by a distinguished captain of industry, successfully provides free coaching in English for students weak in the language joining engineering courses. Let it be clearly understood that abandoning English from our governance is certainly not in national interest in the long-term.