“Hindi is the thread that binds Arunachal Pradesh’s unity: Pema Khandu”

Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu stated that Hindi serves as a unifying language in his state, where each tribe speaks its own distinct dialect and language. He mentioned that Hindi has been part of the school curriculum since the beginning of education in Arunachal Pradesh and is not difficult to learn.

In an interview, Chief Minister Khandu said, “Arunachal Pradesh is so diverse that 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes speak their own languages and dialects. If I speak in my dialect, people from other tribes won’t understand. That’s why everyone communicates in Hindi. There might be some grammatical errors, but even in villages, people understand and speak Hindi. We use Hindi during election campaigns and in the Legislative Assembly as well.”

Hindi as a Unifying Language, Emphasis on Preserving Native Tongues: Pema Khandu

The BJP leader stated, “Hindi is undoubtedly a binding language. There’s no difficulty in learning it. It should be learned.” He explained that Arunachal Pradesh is a strategic location where security personnel from various states are posted, and most communicate in Hindi. “The Border Roads Organisation is also present here. So, through multiple avenues, we’ve learned Hindi quickly,” he added.

When asked about opposition to Hindi in some states, the Chief Minister said everyone has their mother tongue, every state has its language, and each tribe has its distinct language. “These should be valued. I also believe that the diverse languages of tribes in my state should be preserved,” he said. He mentioned that his government has established a Department of Indigenous Affairs to protect and promote native languages and culture.

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Chief Minister Khandu advised students going outside the state for studies to continue speaking their native language when they return home. “Because that is their identity.” He added, “Our country has many communities, diverse religious groups, and people from different backgrounds. Preserving one’s language in its place is extremely important.”