India at 79: Independence or Internal Colonialism?

On August 15, 1947, the Indian subcontinent awoke to a dawn that promised freedom, dignity,
and self-determination. The tricolour rose, and an ancient civilization declared itself sovereign
once again. But seventy-eight years later, a question quietly lingers in the minds of many: Has
India truly decolonized, or has it merely replaced British colonialism with a new form—the
dominance of Hindi over other linguistic and cultural identities?
This is not a question of patriotism versus disloyalty. It is a question of how independence is
experienced and whether all Indians, regardless of language or region, feel equally free.
Colonialism under the British was not just about foreign rulers extracting resources; it was also
about shaping laws, education, and culture to serve the rulers’ interests. Independence promised
the reversal of that hierarchy. Yet, in post-1947 India, many communities argue that instead of
liberation from all forms of dominance, they’ve faced another kind—the centralization of
power and cultural and political dominance by the Hindi-speaking heartland.
Traditional colonialism involved an external force imposing its language, laws, and values on
a population. Internal colonialism, however, is subtler. It occurs when one cultural or linguistic
group within a country dominates others economically, politically, and culturally, often under
the banner of “unity.”
India is celebrated for its linguistic diversity, with 22 scheduled languages and hundreds of
regional tongues. Yet, the functioning of national institutions from banks and airports to exams
and education boards exposes a troubling reality: the Union government and many national
bodies overwhelmingly prioritize Hindi and English, sidelining millions who speak other
Indian languages. In daily life, this manifests as exclusion, confusion, and alienation for
citizens who don’t speak either of the two official languages of the Union.

Public Services: A Language Barrier Between Citizens and Government

Banks and Post Offices

Walk into a nationalized bank in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, or Bengal, and you’re likely to be
greeted in Hindi or English, but rarely in Kannada, Tamil, or Bangla. Want to withdraw cash?
Want to apply for any type of union government insurance policy? The form is entirely in Hindi
and English. Not a word in the local language. What if your grandmother, a lifelong citizen and
account holder, doesn’t know either? Too bad. No one's there to help. In many cases, even the
customer service staff don’t speak the local language in the local branch! Staff, especially those
transferred from Hindi-speaking states, often do not speak or understand the local language.
This limitation creates a critical barrier for senior citizens, villagers, and low-income groups,
many of whom are not fluent in English or Hindi.
Railways and Airports
Indian Railways, which serves over 20 million people a day, proudly boasts of connecting the
country but not linguistically. Displays signage and announcements predominantly in Hindi
and English even in non-Hindi states. Emergency signs, platform instructions, and ticket
counter interactions lack local language support.
Go to the airport, board a domestic flight in a non-Hindi state, and you’ll notice that
announcements are only made in Hindi and English, even emergency instructions. Why?
Because DGCA rules only mandate Hindi and English. Not a single rule makes it compulsory
to use the local official language of the state where the airport is located; safety instructions
inside planes are often only in Hindi and English, despite the state’s official language being
something else. Ground staff are not trained to communicate in local languages.

The National Education System and Its Bias

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 champions education in the mother tongue, rightly
recognizing that children learn best when taught in a language they understand. Yet, the very
institutions tasked with delivering educational material, most notably the NCERT, continue to
overwhelmingly publish textbooks only in Hindi and English, leaving millions of students from
other linguistic backgrounds with no access at all. This disconnect exposes a deep hypocrisy:
while the policy speaks the language of inclusivity, the practice reinforces a hierarchy where
Hindi and English remain the privileged mediums. For true educational equity, policy intent
must be matched by resource allocation, translation infrastructure, and respect for all Indian
languages, not just those that dominate the corridors of power. Many regional language students
in CBSE-affiliated schools are forced to study subjects in non-native languages, affecting
comprehension, performance, and confidence.

The Rigged Game of Competitive Exams

Exams like UPSC (Civil Services), SSC, IBPS, IB, JEE (Advanced), and RRB either restrict
questions to Hindi and English or offer regional languages as secondary afterthoughts. Hindi-
speaking candidates have a clear advantage in exams where Hindi is treated as a “default
native language,” whereas others must rely on translations, which often come with errors or
delays. Meritocracy is compromised when language becomes a gatekeeping tool.

National Infrastructure and Highways: False Pride Over Safety

The linguistic policy on India's national highways and infrastructure projects reveals a notable
centralizing bias, often at the expense of regional diversity. An observation of signage across
non-Hindi-speaking states, such as Tamil Nadu, Tripura, or Odisha, shows a consistent
prioritization of Hindi and English. This is evident on destination boards, toll instructions, and
informational signs, where local languages are frequently relegated to a smaller font size or are
absent. This practice extends to public announcements and critical safety warnings, which often
lack regional language support, creating a potential communication gap for local populations.
Such a unilateral approach implies that Hindi and English are the sole recognized linguistic
standards for national-level projects, effectively marginalizing the country's other official
languages as secondary or merely "regional" complications. This dynamic raises critical
questions about whether national infrastructure is being leveraged to promote a singular
linguistic identity rather than to serve the diverse populace of a multilingual nation.
This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a symbolic erasure of identity in the very states
that contribute economically and culturally to the nation.

Legal and Administrative Communication

Most Union government notifications, circulars, forms, and official communications are issued
in Hindi and English only. Citizens must often rely on unofficial translations or third-party
assistance to understand government schemes or submit documents correctly. This undermines
basic governance and the very idea of equal access to public resources.

The Emotional and Cultural Cost

When national institutions neglect a region's language, it sends a message: “You are second-
class citizens.” This deepens regional alienation, fosters resentment, and fuels unnecessary
cultural divides. This issue is not about “opposing Hindi” or “attacking English.” It’s about
demanding linguistic equity in a country founded on diversity. This isn’t about being anti-Hindi
or anti-English. It’s about equality. If a Tamil-speaking citizen can’t understand a bank form,
if a Kannada speaker can’t follow an airport announcement, or if a NEET aspirant in Odisha
has to study science in a non-native language, that’s not “national integration”; that’s exclusion.
When every union-controlled space, from education to essential services, only
accommodates two languages, it sends a message loud and clear: "You don’t belong unless
you speak our language."

What Should Be Done?

Constitutional Implementation of Language Equality

Make it mandatory for all national institutions to operate in the official state language in that
region, along with English. Enforce Article 350A of the Constitution, which ensures the right
to receive primary education in one's mother tongue.
Multi-Language Accessibility in Exams and Education
All national-level exams must be held in all 8th Schedule languages with equal weightage and
quality. NCERT and CBSE should publish books in every Indian language or delegate
translation to state boards with standardization.
Local Language Staffing Policy
Union government services like banks, railways, and airports must recruit or train staff in the
official state language of the region. Create a system where language proficiency in the local
language is mandatory for public-facing employees. All signage, forms, and websites of Union-
run institutions must default to bilingual formats: State language + English. Emergency
announcements and public instructions in airplanes, trains, and public places must be made
compulsorily in the local language.
Public Representation and Awareness
Regional MPs, MLAs, and public policy groups should raise these issues in Parliament and
push for legislative change. Civil society and media must amplify voices demanding language
equity, beyond the politics of nationalism or identity.
India's strength lies in its diversity. But diversity without dignity, and inclusion without
language, is just a token gesture. A truly united India cannot afford to leave behind the very
citizens who build its economy, culture, and legacy — just because they speak a different
tongue.
The demand is not radical — it is constitutional, democratic, and practical: "Speak to me
in my language, if you wish to serve me as your citizen."

Manoj M

[email protected]