There has been a lot of hue and cry recently in the media with regards to the UPSC papers with reference specifically to the aptitude paper being prevalent in English. I am stunned by the arrogance and malevolence that has been on display all over.
I would like the proponents to answer the following questions before they embark on such step as agitating for the same. Surely, the future bureaucrats should have the ability to see far, shouldn't they?
1. If the agitation is not about English per se but the dominance of English, why not propose papers in all the 19 languages that are recognised by the Hon. Constitution of India? Why should the insistence be purely on Hindi alone? Don't Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, Assamese and Manipuri students also appear for the UPSC exams?
2. Can the agitators and their supporters provide a formula, whereby it can be practically decided in logistical terms, how many papers of each of the 19 languages should be published or even distributed per centre such that there is no wastage and also it is made to everyone's satisfaction?
3. Once the candidates are selected, can the agitators please suggest how these students will compete in an international world wherein English is the lingua franca ... I know Japanese and German and Chinese speak their own languages on international forums but it would surprise many a people to know they don't shun English exactly. In fact, many of them take special efforts to learn the language as can be seen from the admissions to colleges in Ivy League from these nations.
4. Should we favour a system wherein people should only be posted to regions they are lingually conversant with? If yes, won't this lead to nepotism? On one end, there is so much hue and cry about parochial attitude of the bureaucrats - will it not make the problem worse?
5. Do you not think acceding to these demands will embolden them to make similar demands in every sphere of competition? Are you ready to have CAT, AIPMT etc in 19 languages? Will you protest against the USA for not having a Hindi option for GMAT, SAT, GRE?
It is time to think sensibly, not emotionally.
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