Switzerland is a multilingual country. Main languages are German, French and Italian. German -- 63.7%, French -- 19.2%, Italian -- 7.6%.

Singapore is a multilingual country. Main languages are Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Chinese -- 76%, Malay -- 14%, Tamil -- 7%.

Onkar, I happened to browse your article after having big conversations on an other one ("hindi nahin maloom") I was trying to explain hindi is official language dont bring this u shud know hind cuz it is national language. Speaking of Tamil, Tamil is also loosing its lit/arts because of English not because of Hindi these days. In Chennai its a shame to talk in tamil in malls or even with 12 Tamil Channels (maximum outside hindi) none of the comperes speak proper tamil except the news readers. All the Indian languages are having the threat of English including hindi so in future u might not be surprised to see tamil spoken only in Singapore and Srilanka as it is compulsory there. FYI In TN, you can get all forms in English. Well you can even dowload many of the forms from the net. www.tn.gov.in. So All are welcome there, you would not have any problem if u can speak English.

You seem distanced from Indian cinema if you think Marathi cinema did not have a strong tradition. Have you heard of the Dadasaheb Phalke award? Yes, its there because it was this Marathi pioneer who made films when no one thought he could. Marathi, Gujarati and Bengali theatre has survived because they have had strong theatre all along. Though I do not think that they are flourishing. Going to the theatre has lessened with consderably over the years, don't you agree?

**Pray do explain the demise of regional cinema in Bengal, Punjab, Assam, Maharashtra and Gujarat after the Stalinisation wave of Hindi. The above states except for Bengal have never had a strong tradition of cinema. Pray explain the continuing flourishing of theatre in Bengal and Maharashtra and the near demise of Hindi theatre.

Pray do explain the demise of regional cinema in Bengal, Punjab, Assam, Maharashtra and Gujarat after the Stalinisation wave of Hindi. As against this, the cinema in Tamil has not only thrived but flourished economically. Do you not think that it has something to do with the way the Tamilians vociferously opposed the imposition of Hindi? The question is not of just talking on the street in Marathi or Gujarati. The question is of actually having an active literature. There are languages in the north-east that are in danger of extinction because of the schools there are teaching Hindi instead. Its just a matter of time.

>Should we lose vast amounts of literature and culture in >regional languages just so that a Tamilian can easily get a >room in Mumbai? ----- do you seriously think a national language will damage the literature of other languages? aren't you still going to speak and learn marathi even if hindi becomes a dominant language? and btw, in case you haven't caught up to it, "purity of language" is a myth just like "purity of culture". All things change and evolve, and thereby lies their richness.

Your attitude is going to mongrelise all the regional languages that have a sea of literature. If people do not think in Marathi, how is the philosophy of Dnyaneshwar going to reach people? How are Tamilians going to understand Thiruvalluvar if they are not going to maintain the purity of the language. The difference between the Tamil spoke in Chennai and Madurai warrants my claim. The reason why the article is an emotional outburst because I am convinced that Indians who have been indoctrinated by this ideology that whatever the Centre decides is right, because the common Indian man is lost to reason in the last 50 years of systematic Stalinisation of this country. I went to a good school, a good college, and yet I did not know that Tamil and Marathi are national languages. Call me stupid. This is a 'naro vaa kunjaro vaa' from the Mahaabhaarata. Hindi is the national language, but it is not the only national language. The issue stands at this. Should we lose vast amounts of literature and culture in regional languages just so that a Tamilian can easily get a room in Mumbai? English is the buffer between Indians and Americans, why can it not be the buffer between Marathis and Tamilians? The Mahrashtra government has already begun English at the primary and rural levels. I am sure that other states will follow the example. Mail me at onkar@sulekha.com. I would like to write you more about this.

this article seems to be the an emotional outburst rather than a well-thought argument. The author seems focussed more on what he will NOT do rather than what he will do... i recently purchased a property in chennai from a maharashtrian couple. they had a tough time finding someone to fill out the tamil forms. i had a similar problem when i was in pune since all the forms were in marathi. this is the outcome when people go overboard with their "love for the native language". I don't see why my speaking hindi with a group of Indians from different states, decreases my love or respect for my own language. I also don't think my language will die unless made official. You seem to have no confidence in the longevity of your language.. I can think in english, speak english at work, speak hindi with certain sets of friends, tamil at home and still love and respect all three languages. I don't have problems with that. If you do, that's your problem, not a national issue for god's sake..

I am Maharashtrian but I dont agree with Onkar when he says there has been 'stalinization of Hindi'. I can speak Marathi, English and Hindi with the same fluency. Just cause we know more languages does not mean we are ignoring our mother tongue. We also have to think abt it in a practical way than being carried away by emotions. Although Indians may speak different languages, we basically share the same culture all over the country. Also due to mass migration not only within but also outside the country, it has become imperative that we know atleast 2-3 languages. Most Europeans today can communicate in atleast 2-3 languages. Each language has something unique to offer and the best policy would not be limiting urself to only one language. The need of the times is to know more languages to gain wider access around the world.