'Should the migrants know the local language of the city they live in?'

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Ritika Arora

22 January, 2010

The issue of learning the local languages originated when Raj Thackeray, president of MNS, appealed to the government to issue driving licenses to only those cab-drivers who knew marathi, the local language of the state.

IT IS my opinion that it is not important for the migrants to know the local language of the city they are living in. But they should know the common language, which is Hindi in our country, so that he or she does not find any difficulty in communicating with the people. If migrants learn the common language of a particular city, then also there is no harm, as learning the language will only benefit them.

The issue of learning the local languages originated when Raj Thackeray, president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) appealed to the government to issue driving licenses to only those cab-drivers, who knew the local language of the state. Whereas Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan backtracked and said the drivers should know any local language either Hindi or even Gujarati which is understood by many. He said there is no need to learn Marathi specially to be able to get the driving license in Maharashtra.

According to the statistics, more than four thousand taxi permits are given to the taxi drivers each year in Mumbai, Maharashtra and other neighboring cities. Thousands of migrants come to Mumbai each year from various places such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bangladesh and other cities.

It will be a foolish decision to make it mandatory for the migrants to know the local languages of the city they are moving to, when the common language is understood by all. Raj Thackeray is actually famous for protesting or appealing for the silliest of issues, which make no sense and are totally insignificant.

I think the issue for which he is appealing the government is not at all important and should not be considered. Rather there are several other important issues which require immediate attention and consideration. Raj Thackeray should sit at home and let the government and people decide what is good for the welfare of the state, country and the people themselves.