(V) APPENDIX E MEMORANDUM ON ITEM 8 : MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN UNIVERSITIES
(No explanatory memorandum was forwarded by Shri H. C. Mathur. Below is the note prepared on the subject by the Ministry of Education to facilitate discussion which may be raised on the item.)
The question as to the most suitable medium of instruction at the university stage has been engaging the attention of the public ever since independence. The University Education Commission favoured the adoption of the regional language, with the option to use the federal language, as the medium of instruction. The question of the medium of instruction at the university, stage has been considered by the Central Advisory Board of Education, the University Grants Commission and the Inter-University Board of India from time to time. These bodies have recommended a cautious and a planned approach to the problem.
The Central Advisory Board of Education at its meeting held in November, 1953, recommended that the question should be tackled on an all-India basis and the transition from English to regional languages or Hindi should be effected in a gradual and coordinated manner so that there should be no fall in the academic standards or undue hardship to students and teachers.
The Inter-University Board of India, at its meeting in January, 1955, recognised the difficulties in providing suitable textbooks and duly qualified teachers in sufficient numbers for the higher grades. The Board, accordingly, felt that educational institutions should not be deprived of the freedom to continue to use English as the medium of instruction. While the aim is eventually to replace English by an Indian language as the medium of instruction, this has to be done over a number of years and in a manner which would ensure that proper standards of education are maintained.
The University Grants Commission considered the problem a number of times between the years 1954 and 1956. Their general viewpoint was that in the interest of. university standards, we should continue to use Wish as the medium of instruction for some time more. In 1955, the University Grants Commission appointed a committee under the chairmanship of Pt. H. N. Kunzru to examine the problems connected with the question of the medium of instruction and recommend ways and means to ensure adequate proficiency in English at the university stage. The committee submitted its report towards the end of November 1957. The main recommendations of this committee are:
"That the change from English to an Indian language as the medium of instruction at university stage should not be hastened;
112
That the change to an Indian language should be preceded by an adequate preparation both in the cultivation of the Indian language concerned as medium of expression for learned purposes and by preparation of a sufficient body of learned literature in that language in all subjects of study; and
That even when a change in the medium of instruction is made, English should continue to be studied by all university students".
In the course of discussion on the Second Annual Report of the University Grants Commission in the Lok Sabha, the Education Minister made a reference to the above three recommendations of the Kunzru Committee and stated that these recommendations which have been accepted by the U.G.C. and by the Government of India clearly explain the position which bad been adopted by the Government and the University Grants Commission in the matter. They were not opposed to regional languages becoming the media of instruction in course of time but envisaged that they should take their due place in our scheme of education.
The University Grants Commission at its meeting held on 17th and 18th June, 1959, again considered the question of the medium of instruction in universities and passed the following resolution :
"The Commission noted the various suggestions that had been made and steps taken so far with reference to the problems of medium of instruction in the universities, and agreed that a working group be appointed by the Commission to study this question further, and to draw a plan of action for the change of the medium of instruction from English to an Indian language consistently with the maintenance of high standards in English and that later on a fuller seminar on the subject be organised."
In pursuance of the above resolution, the University Grants Commission has appointed a Working Group to study the question of adopting Indian language as medium of instruction in the universities with the following members :
(1) HINDI Prof. Virendra Verma, Professor of Hindi, Allahabad
University
(2) PUNJABI Sardar Niranjan Singh, ex-Principal of Khalsa
College, Amritsar and Delhi
(3) BENGALI Prof. Budha Dev Bose, Professor Comparative Lite-
rature (Bengali), Jadavpur University
(4) KANNADA Prof. S. K. Venkataramiah, Ex-Government Trans-
lator, Mysore Government
(5) TELUGU Dr. Govindarajulu, Vice-Chancellor, Sri, Venkate-
shwara University
(6) MARATHI Prof. G.D. Parakh, Rector of Bombay University
(7) TAMIL Prof. Narayanaswamy Pillai of Annamalai University
(8) MALAYALAM Prof.K.M. George, Assistant Secretary, Sahitya
Academy, New Delhi
113
(9) ORIYA Shri Sadesiya Misra, Principal, Ravenshaw College,
Cuttack
(10) GUJARATI Shri Maganbhai P. Desai, formerly Vice-Chancellor,
Gujarat University
(11) ASSAMESE Dr. Virinchi Kumar Barua of Gauhati University
(12) URDU Prof. A. A. Suroor of Aligarh Muslim University
(13) KASHMIRI Prof. J. N. Bhan, Professor of Economics, Jammu &
Kashmir University
The Working Group appointed by the University Grants Commission to examine the question of medium of instruction submitted its report on 22nd November, 1960 and this would be considered by the Commission at its next meeting.
It may be added that the Hindi Division of the Ministry has formulated a scheme of translation and publication in Hindi of standard books including textbooks for higher education.
The Chairman, University Grants Commission has also been requested that the Commission may examine the problem of medium of instruction further and take all possible measures for assisting the universities in the task of introducing the regional languages as medium of instruction at the university stage. The Chairman, University Grants Commission has also been informed that the eventual introduction of the regional language as the medium of instruction is in accordance with the policy of the Government.
A statement containing information about change in the medium of instruction or decision to change that medium in several universities in India is enclosed for information, in the statement that follows (Statement I).
114
STATEMENT I. Statement showing names of universities which have started giving instruction through the medium of an Indian language or have finalised programme therefor, the names of such languages and the classes for which the medium of an Indian language has been adopted.
BASED ON THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE UNIVERSITIES DURING OCTOBER, 1959-
AUGUST, 1960
University Position
1 2
AGRA Hindi has been adopted as an optional medium of
instruction and examination for the following
degree's :
B.A., M.A., B.T., B.Com., M. Corn., and B.Sc.
(Agri.),
ALIGARH Courses of Study Medium of Instruction Medium of
Examination
Islamic Studies English or Urdu English or Urd
and Muslim The-
ology
B.U.M.S. Urdu Urdu
High School Exa- English English, Urdu
mination or Hindi
Pre-University English, Urdu,
Examination in or in all Sub-
Arts and Commerce English ject except
Mathematics
B.A./B. Corn. (Part
I)
ALLAHABAD Hindi has been prescribed as an optional medium of
instruction and examination for under-graduates.
Hindi has also been accepted as an optional medium
for answering the question papers of the M.A.
examination with effect from 1959.
ANDHRA
It is the policy of the University to have Telugu as the
medium of instruction eventually. The implementation of
this policy will have to wait till such time as common
terminology for the whole country has been evolved and
suitable textbooks have been written. When the time is
ripe for a change in the medium of instruction as
proposed by the University it will have to be introduced
according to a certain phased programme. The
University also proposes to give the option to
individual institutions to teach through the Hindi
medium at the pre-university and pass degree levels.
BANARAS Courses of Study Medium of Instruction
I.A., B.A., & M.A. Hindi and English.
I.Sc. Do.
I.Com & B. Com. Do.
LL.B. Do.
B.Ed. Do.
A.B.M.S. Do.
Admission certificate
in Music, Diploma
in Music, B. Mus.
M. Mus., B.T.M.,Hindi.
Diploma in Jun-
ior and Senior
Painting and
Sculpture
115
1 2
Madhyama, Shastri,
Karmakand, Sha-
stri, Acharya, } Hindi and Sanskrit.
Diploma in Paur-
ohitya Ratna
BARODA As a first step towards the gradual replacement of
English by Hindi as medium of instruction up to the
graduate stage, it has been decided to introduce Hindi
as the medium of instruction from June, 1960, beginning
from the preparatory classes in the faculties of Arts,
Science and Commerce, first year degree classes in the
faculty of Fine Arts and the diploma course in the
faculty of Technology and Engineering.
BIHAR Hindi has been made the medium of instruction in all
non-language subjects for the I.A., I.Sc., I.Com.,
B.A., B.Sc., and B. Com. examinations.
DELHI Proposals have been formulated for introducing Hindi as
medium of instruction and examination according to a
phased programme, beginning from July, 1962 and spread
over a period of 13 years.
GUJARAT Gujarati, with the option to use Hindi, is to be made
the medium of instruction and examination after a
certain transitional period.
GORAKHPUR Hindi has been introduced as an optional medium of
instruction and examination in graduate and post-
graduate classes in all non-language subjects.
INDRA KALA Hindi is the medium of instruction in this university
which provides,
SANGEET VISH- courses of study in the following branches
WAVIDYALAYA, (i) Madhyama; (ii) Vid; and (iii) Kovid.
KHAIRGARH
JABALPUR
Course of Study Medium
I.A., I.Sc., I.Com., Hindi
Int. (Home Scien-
ce)
B.A. (Pass), B. Corn. Hindi
and B.Sc. (Home
Science)
B.Sc. Hindi and English
Diploma in Nur- Hindi
sery Education/
Teaching.
B.T. (Basic) Hindi
B.T. Hindi and English
Proposal to adopt Hindi as optional medium at the M.A.
course is; also under consideration of the university.
JADAVPUR Bengali has been prescribed as an optional medium for
the Preparatory (Arts) and B.A. (Part 1) examinations.
KARNATAK Textbooks in the various subjects are being written in
the local languages. After about five years, the
university may be in a position to introduce the
regional language (Kannada, Marathi and Urdu) as medium
of instruction at the first two years of the college
course only.
KURUKSHETRA The university is running M.A. Sanskrit and B.A./B.Sc.
(Education) courses at present. The medium of
instruction for the M.A. Sanskrit class of the
university is Sanskrit or Hindi or English and for
B.A./B.Sc. (Education) English, but the teachers are
allowed to teach in Hindi or Punjabi.
116
LUCKNOW Courses of Medium of Medium of
Study Instruction Examination
B.A., B.Sc., and Hindi Option to answer
B. Corn. papers in Hindi or
English up to the
examinations of
1961.
LL.B. English Do.
Postgraduate English Candidates permit-
ted to answer
question papers in
Hindi also
MADRAS The State Government of Madras propose to utilise Tamil
as the medium of instruction for the humanities in the
degree classes in one college from 1960-61 as a pilot
project.
MYSORE Kannada has been adopted as an optional medium of
instruction for the Pre-University, B.A. and B.Com.
classes.
NAGPUR Courses of Study Medium of Instruction
Pre-University (Arts English, Hindi and Marathi
and Science).
B.A. Do.
Courses of Study Medium of Instruction
Pre-University (Com- Hindi and Marathi
merce)
B. Com. Do.
Diploma in Teaching Do.
B.T. Do.
PANJAB Students have been given the option to answer the
question papers of Arts subjects in English,
Hindi,Panjabi or Urdu. There is no bar to giving
instruction in modem Indian languages in Arts subjects
in Hindi, Punjabi or Urdu.
PATNA Hindi has been prescribed as the medium of instruction
and examination in all non-language subjects according
to a phased programme, beginning from 1959 with certain
option to the students to write their answers in
English, Bengali and Urdu for specified periods.
POONA Use of Marathi is permitted as an optional medium of
instruction and examination for the B. A. and B. Com.
degree examinations and up to the Intermediate Science
stage. The policy is to permit the use of Marathi as
a medium of instruction gradually. No time-limit has,
however, been set for the replacement of English by
Marathi.
RAJASTHAN Students in the faculties of Arts and Commerce are
allowed the option to answer their question papers
through the medium of English or Hindi.
SAUGAR Courses Medium Medium
of of of
Study Instruction Examination
(a) Faculty of Arts
Up to First Degree Hindi Hindi
Post-graduate Hindi or English Hindi or English
Examinations
Ph.D. Same as for M.A.provided that
Candidates shall write their theses
in English.
117
(b) Faculty of Science
Up to First Degree Hindi* Hindi*
Examination (*) with effect
from 1960 onwards,
Post-graduate Hindi or Hindi or
Examination English English
(c) Faculty of Law and other Professional and
Technical Courses
Dip. T. Exam. and Hindi Hindi
Ayurveda
B.T./M.Ed. Hindi or Hindi or
English English
(The position regarding medium of instruction and
examination is to be reviewed after a period of four
years.)
S.N.D.T. Medium of instruction in all stages of education
(Women) inclusive of post-graduate classes, other than B.Sc.
(Hons.) in Nursing, is Gujarati and Marathi.
VISVA-BHARATI In December, 1956, the Samsad (Court) accepted and
approved the following recommendations of the Karma
Samiti (Executive Council):
"The medium of instruction in Patha Bhavana and Siksha
Bhavana be Hindi or Bengali as far as practicable for
the present, it being understood that Bengali may be
adopted as universal medium of studies at Visva-Bharati
after five years except in language and symposium disc-
ussions."
At present, the medium of instruction in Patha Bhavana
is Bengali.
VARANASEYA Sanskrit and Hindi is the medium of instruction for all
classes.
SANSKRIT
VISHWAVIDYALAYA
VIKRAM Students and teachers are allowed to use the medium of Hindi
in the faculties of Arts, Commerce and Education.