Arunachal CM Khandu defends use of Hindi, highlights importance of preserving tribal languages

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has emphasized the unifying role of Hindi in his state, where linguistic diversity is one of the most striking features.

With 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes, each with its own language or dialect, Hindi has emerged as the common language for communication.

Khandu said, "If I speak in my own dialect, my own language, people from another tribe will not understand. That's why everyone speaks Hindi. There will certainly be grammatical mistakes, but even if you go to a village, all the villagers will understand and speak Hindi. We speak Hindi in election campaigns and even in the Assembly."

He pointed out that Hindi has been a part of Arunachal Pradesh’s school curriculum since the arrival of formal education, and students have had no difficulty learning it.

"So definitely, Hindi is a binding language. There's no problem in learning it. It should be learned," Khandu added.

The chief minister’s remarks come at a time when debates around Hindi’s role in national integration have resurfaced in states like Maharashtra and in parts of southern India.

Highlighting the practical reasons behind the widespread use of Hindi in Arunachal Pradesh, Khandu said the state’s strategic location and the presence of personnel from across the country have helped make Hindi more prevalent.

"There is also the Border Roads Organisation. So there are various other mediums through which we picked up Hindi quickly," he said.

When asked about resistance to Hindi in other parts of the country, Khandu acknowledged the importance of regional and tribal languages.

"Everyone has their own mother tongue, every state has its own language, and every tribe has its own too. That should be given importance. Even I, in my own state, believe the different languages of the tribes should be preserved,” Khandu said.

To support this belief, Khandu said his government has launched an Indigenous Affairs Department dedicated to preserving and promoting tribal languages and culture.

He also encourages young people from Arunachal who study outside the state to stay connected to their roots.

"Because that is their identity. Because in our country, there are so many communities, different religious groups, different communities, and backgrounds. So, preserving one's own language in one's own place is very important," he said.