Hindi hain hum, watan hai Hindostan hamara
Hindi hain hum, watan hai Hindostan hamara Who's not familiar with these great lines from Iqbal. And these pre-shiqwa and Jawab-e-shiqwa lines of Allama have been the hallmark of contrived, and yet at once natural, Indian nationhood. But do we all understand what it means? At least not those who have been entrusted to promote Hindi as Rajbhasha. All central government Ministries and Departments have a Hindi department to promote usage of Hindi in official work. Unlike the popular perception that they promote "klisht Hindi", that's not the case. Bolchal ki Hindi is also fine, although some may frown upon it. So far, so good. But I detest the way they work, or rather have been programmed to work. Complete bureaucracy. A letter with merely the no. or the signature in Hindi is counted as a Hindi communication. But you can't ridicule it, else you get hauled up by some Hindi committee or suchlike. A example. Some ten year or so earlier, every Hindi meeting ...