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customer wants, he can get the passbook printed in Hindi by choosing the option of Hindi language; money can also be withdrawn from the ATM machine by adopting the option Hindi language or any app of the bank can now be used in Hindi, but most of the customers use the technical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

• 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.
• 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, Ahmedabad Based Senior Columnist, views are personal. Mobile number-8294586892