In the seven decades after independence,
there has been an unprecedented increase in the use of Hindi, for which there
have been many reasons, of which the market force has been the most important.
But Hindi has not yet become the working language in Banks, but the situation
has improved from before. Employees who are fond of Hindi send mails or
correspond in Hindi. As per the instructions of the bank, Mangal or Unicode
font of Hindi has been installed in all computers, so that willing bank
employees can work in Hindi. This initiative of the bank has made working in
Hindi easier in Banks.
The language of communication of Banks in northern, eastern
and central India is Hindi, because the spoken language of the customers of
these states is Hindi. Therefore, the language of Bank employees communicating
with customers is Hindi. Similarly, even in those states whose language is not
Hindi, banks try to appoint such Bank employees who are able to communicate in
the local language.
However, the language of writing of Bank employees is not
Hindi even today. Internal correspondence is done in English. There are very
few exceptions in this case. Bank employees correspond in Hindi language
outside the Bank only when they receive a letter in Hindi language from another
office or customer, i.e. Bank rarely take the initiative to correspond in
Hindi.
Hindi Option in Banking
Services
Due to the provisions of the Official Language Act, Banks
have made the option of Hindi language available to customers in the use of
technology. Today, the option of choosing Hindi language is available in the
operation of many apps of banks, passbook printing, ATM machines etc. i.e. if
the customer wants, he can get the passbook printed in Hindi by choosing the
option of Hindi language; money can also be withdrawn from the ATM machine by
adopting the option Hindi language or any app of the bank can now be used in
Hindi, but most of the customers use the technical equipment or apps related to
banking in English instead of Hindi, while they do not even know the English
language. There is a need for change in such a situation or mindset.
Banks are constantly trying to promote the Hindi language.
In this matter, it is also the responsibility of the common people that they
should not be ashamed of working in Hindi language. No one becomes illiterate
or stupid by communicating in Hindi language or writing in Hindi language.
Since, banks have provided facility to choose Hindi language option by using
technology to promote Hindi language, therefore, banks should also be concerned
whether customers are choosing Hindi language option or not and should
encourage customers to carry out banking operations in Hindi language.
Review of Work in Hindi
The work being done in Hindi is reviewed every quarter in
the regional, administrative, local head offices and corporate offices of
banks. In terms of statistics, all departments achieve the target of working in
Hindi, but in reality, the situation is very different & dismal. Some
departments do correspond in Hindi, but no one writes notes in Hindi. If
someone wants to write, the top executives do not sign the Hindi notes.
To show the Home Ministry of India or to meet the standards
set by the Parliamentary Committee reviewing the progress of Hindi, Mangal font
or Unicode is installed on the computer desktop of all employees and officers.
The department heads confirm this in writing, but in reality, except for Hindi Savvy,
no employee or officer works in Hindi on the computer.
The condition of Hindi in Banks is so bad that no senior
officer wants to discuss or converse in Hindi at the internal level. In Banks,
Hindi is considered the language of employees and lower level officers or
employees. However, in all the branches in many states of the country, Bank
employees have to speak in Hindi, because customers communicate in Hindi or
local dialects.
Today, even in South India, many customers communicate in
Hindi. Especially in big cities. Despite this, employees and officers posted in
Bank branches do internal correspondence in English. Since the nationalization
of Banks, the dominance of English language has remained in Banks.
To a large extent, the top executives of Banks are
responsible for the current plight of Hindi in Banks, because they themselves
do not work in Hindi, and also do not encourage those Bank employees at the
lower level who are working in Hindi or want to work in Hindi. Many times,
those working in Hindi are even punished. It is common to make fun of employees
and officers working in Banks. Employees who communicate in Hindi are looked
down upon.
By and large, everyone in Banks is doing all banking
related work in English. Even if they do not have knowledge of English
language. Due to compulsion, bank officials are ready to read, write or speak
in Hindi. They earn their bread with Hindi and remain trapped in the trap of English.
Their love for English is so strong that their children are educated in convent
schools.
Hindi has become the language of translation in Banks.
Various departments of the Bank work in English, but to comply with the rules
of official language, they get it translated into Hindi from the official
language department. If seen, the official language department of Banks only
does the work of translation. However, many times the meaning is also distorted
while translating. Also, the translation of Banks is very difficult. Deposit
slips, withdrawal slips, loan documents etc. have been translated into Hindi,
but leave aside the common man, even educated people do not understand the
translated Hindi.
The employees and officers posted in the official language
department and the top executives of the Bank shows displeasure about the poor
condition and direction of Hindi in Banks, but after 14 September or after the
month of September, they forget about taking Hindi forward. However, the top
executives of the Bank do not want to be left behind at any cost in performing
the annual ritual of “Hindi Diwas”, but what will be the result of such
formality? Will this promote Hindi in Banks or will the desire to imbibe Hindi
wholeheartedly grow in the minds of Bank employees?
Conclusion
v
Our
Banks are also trapped in the mental slavery of English, which Prime Minister
Narendra Modi had talked about. In Banks, English has dominated everyone's
mind. By the way, one reason for this has been the half-hearted promotion of
Hindi by the country's policy makers after independence. As a result, today the
banking system is badly entangled in the web of English.
v
However,
despite all the obstacles faced by Hindi in Banks, it would be appropriate to
say that the condition of Hindi language has improved in Banks compared to
earlier. Change does not come in a day. Therefore, we can hope that the future
of Hindi in Banks will be bright in the coming times.
A beautiful picture of Hindi can change if the thinking
changes. In this case, the employees of Hindi speaking states can take the
initiative to work in Hindi. Language is not only the identity of the country
but also of the human being. Talking in one's own language does not reduce
anyone's value. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many of his cabinet
ministers communicate in Hindi. There have been many instances of the Prime
Minister and several Union ministers communicating with Bank heads in Hindi. In
such a situation, not working in Hindi in Banks is beyond comprehension.
The way the current government shows support for Hindi in
its work, it is possible that the thinking of Bank employees may also change,
and they may move forward in the direction of getting rid of the English
mindset. The top executive of the Bank should take cognizance of the current
situation and take initiative to change the situation. Even if slowly, Bank
employees are moving forward in this direction. Therefore, it can be expected
that the working of Hindi will continue to move forward in Banks.
(Satish Singh
is a Ahmedabad Based Senior Columnist. Views are personal.
Mobile
number-8294586892)