Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said primary education should be taught in one's mother tongue and it was not possible to progress in the country without the Hindi language.
Mr. Naidu was the chief guest at the Hindi Divas function organised annually by the Union Home Ministry.
He said English was an “illness” left behind by the British. "When I was young, I participated in anti-Hindi protests. Later, I realised it was not possible to progress without Hindi. I came to Delhi, spoke in broken Hindi but was accepted by all," he said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke at the event, where officials and writers who have worked to promote Hindi, were felicitated.
"When the Chinese President came here he spoke in his mother tongue. The Iranian President, a P.hd in English, also spoke in his mother tongue when he was here. One should never forget their mother tongue," he said.
PM's suggestion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had suggested that Hindi-speaking people should learn one language from the South and those from the South should learn one language from the North, he said.
"Bank and railway officials speak in English. Those who come to them don't know the language. You should speak in a language that people know, we have not made any effort in this regard."
Mr. Naidu, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chairman, said arrangements have been made in the Upper House for members to speak in 22 Indian languages.
