Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the MBBS Hindi course book at Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal, making Madhya Pradesh the first state in the country to begin the MBBS course in Hindi On Sunday, October 16.
According to report in Andhra Pradesh medical university, Dr NTR University of Health Sciences (Dr NTRUHS), has opposed the Union government’s proposal to implement Hindi as the medium of instruction for professional courses, just a day after Home Minister Amit Shah released MBBS books in Hindi in Madhya Pradesh.
The Vice-Chancellor of NTRUHS, Dr Syama Prasad Pigilam, stated that Hindi or the regional language will not be used in medical education in the state. “We want to change the medium of instruction for at least five years,” he said, according to TNIE. Dr Prasad, a member of the National Medical Council (NMC), was surprised by how quickly the Madhya Pradesh government published the MBBS texts in Hindi.
“There was no discussion regarding the implementation of Hindi or regional languages as the medium of instruction. Although I am an NMC member, I was not informed of any such proposal,” he exclaimed.
If implemented, students will face severe problems while working in other countries, Dr Prasad opined and explained, “Mother-tongue is used as the medium of instruction in countries like China, Russia and Germany, but the same cannot be done in India as there are several languages.”
Before making a decision, the University VC advised the government to consult with seniors, experts, and academicians from each college, adding that teaching in Hindi would be difficult for teachers at medical schools as well. He says that if students complete their MBBS in a regional language such as Hindi, they may need to take a bridge course before continuing their education.
Meanwhile, experts, doctors, and academicians have expressed opposition to the plan to use Hindi or regional languages as a medium of instruction in all technical and non-technical educational institutions, including central universities, as suggested by Amit Shah’s official language committee.
Dr Samala Ramesh Babu, Honorary President of Telugu Bhasodyama Samakhya and a senior Ayurvedic medicine practitioner, says that if the Centre forces its ideology on the southern states, they may encounter difficulties remaining in the Indian Union. He asked that the textbooks be published in all of the Constitution’s recognised languages, stated a report on TNIE.
Andhra Pradesh Government Doctors’ Association State president Dr Jayadheer said, “If the proposal is implemented, students of India cannot present their thesis on global platforms and they will not understand the thesis of other researchers from foreign countries. The Centre’s decision will create long-term problems,” he added and also demanded that English be retained as the medium of instruction for MBBS students.
Faculty at medical colleges have also expressed their inability to teach in Hindi or other regional languages if the idea is implemented suddenly. Prof Dr Ambati Naga Radhakrishna Yadav, Pediatric Dental Surgeon from Eluru, stated that if students graduate in Hindi, they may lose the opportunity of updating themselves. “What about their higher studies, which is a national pool exam and they can secure a seat anywhere in the country?” he asked. Dr Yadav suggested bilingual textbooks might help people who have a language disadvantage.