Bhopal: RSS makes English mandatory in all Saraswati Shishu Mandirs
RSS leaders used to ridicule English in public by asking questions like why put and but are pronounced differently. They used to call the English language the symbol of slave's mindset but that is history now.
In Short
- Vidhya Bharti has made spoken and written English mandatory for all its schools.
- Separate classes are now being organised for spoken and written English across country.
- Earlier, they called English language symbol of slave's mindset.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) may miss no opportunity in public to ridicule the English language but its associate Vidhya Bharti that runs thousands of schools across the country has now made spoken and written English mandatory for all its schools. Separate classes are now being organised for spoken and written english in all the schools across the country.
Not very long ago RSS leaders used to ridicule english in public by asking questions like why put and but are pronounced differently. They used to call the English language the symbol of slave's mindset but that is history now. English both spoken and written is now being taught in the Saraswati Shishu Mandirs across the country.
According to Ram Kumar Vyas, Principal Saraswati Shishu Mandir Bhopal the RSS, however, was never against the English language.
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"We were never against the english language but we were against and are still against the English mindset. We are right now running two different classes that of English Language and spoken English so that kids can connect with the outside world. Student should learn the English language but not forget their own culture, " he said.
The students studying in Sarswati Shishu Mandir, however, are not concerned with what mindset means. They are happy that they are getting to learn a new language. "We should learn English because if we don't we will not be able to understand anything if someone speaks in English with us," Sonali Sondhia, a class nine student studying in Sarswati Shishu Mandir Bhopal said.
Ajay Ahirwar, of the same school also echoed similar sentiments " We have to learn English because it is a must if we have to go anywhere outside the country," he said.
The RSS is now defending the special emphasis that is being laid on spoken English across all Sarswati Shishu Mandir's saying the world has become a global village and the need of the hour is to learn all languages of the world.
"We used to teach english earlier also but now special emphasis is being put on spoken English because that is the need of the hour. Our students have to compete globally. Parents also felt this need and hence this decision was taken," Ram Kumar Bhavsar, Prant Pramukh, Vidya Bharti said.
Even when top leaders of the Sangh Parivar ridiculed the english language in public, wards of most top leaders like MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan went to English medium schools. The sufferers were the ones who went to Sarswati Shishu Mandir. Fortunately for them, the Sangh is now not linking language with nationalism.
Also read: RSS teachers to teach in Madhya Pradesh government schools