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Closure of a Gondi-Medium School
Context:
The recent decision to shut down the only Gondi-medium school in Mohgaon village, located in the Fifth Schedule area of Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, raises critical questions about the recognition and preservation of tribal languages and cultures.
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- Established in 2019 through a resolution passed by the local gram panchayat, the school was intended to enhance learning outcomes for tribal students by providing primary education in their mother tongue.
- This initiative aligns with Article 29 of the Indian Constitution, which safeguards the right of minorities to preserve their distinct languages, scripts, and cultures, as well as Article 350(a), which mandates adequate provisions for children from minority groups to receive instruction in their native languages.
Articles 29 and 30 of the Indian Constitution
Article 29: Protection of Interests of Minorities
- Article 29(1): This clause safeguards the right of any section of citizens residing in India to conserve their distinct language, script, or culture. It applies to all citizens, not just minorities, and ensures that they can maintain and promote their cultural heritage.
- Article 29(2): This provision prohibits discrimination in admission to educational institutions maintained by the state or receiving state funds based on religion, race, caste, language, or any of these grounds.
Article 30: Right of Minorities to Establish and Administer Educational Institutions
- Article 30(1): This clause grants all minorities, whether based on religion or language, the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. This right is specifically for minority groups and does not extend to the general population.
- Article 30(1A): Added by the 44th Amendment Act of 1978, this provision ensures that any law providing for the compulsory acquisition of property from minority educational institutions must not restrict their right to establish and administer such institutions.
- Article 30(2): The state cannot discriminate against any educational institution managed by a minority when granting aid, ensuring equal treatment for minority institutions.
Judicial Interpretations
- T.M.A. Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka: This landmark case established that while governments can regulate minority institutions to ensure academic excellence, such regulations must not harm the character of these institutions.
- P.A. Inamdar v. State of Maharashtra: This case clarified that unaided institutions can enjoy full protection under Article 30, but those seeking state aid or recognition must comply with government regulations.
Bureaucratic Justifications and their Implications
- No Registration: The local administration has justified the closure by stating that the school is not registered under the Right to Education Act, 2009, which makes it difficult to monitor its academic standards.
- Non-Recognition: Additionally, non-recognition could create challenges for students transitioning to higher classes.
- However, an education officer has assured that affected students will be ‘absorbed’ into other schools.
- Marginalisation: Although this argument appears procedural, it is ultimately a question of power rather than mere bureaucratic compliance.
- The refusal to recognise the school reflects the structural and socio-political marginalisation of Adivasi communities.
- The state’s normative bias against tribal languages and cultures contributes to the systemic subordination of these communities.
- Therefore, it is crucial to examine the moral and political context behind this administrative decision.
Historical Context and Constitutional Safeguards
- India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, strongly believed that Adivasi communities should be allowed to evolve according to their own traditions and customs.
- This perspective was shaped by historical experiences, as many indigenous communities worldwide were driven to near extinction due to colonial exploitation and violence.
- Recognising these dangers, the Indian Constitution includes provisions to protect the tribal way of life, ensuring their rights over land, language, culture, and customs.
- These safeguards aim to enable Adivasi communities to participate in nation-building while preserving their unique identities.
Forces of Absorption and Cultural Erosion
- Absorption: Despite these constitutional guarantees, forces of absorption—both secular and religious—have significantly impacted tribal communities since Independence.
- The state and the market act as agents of assimilation in the secular sphere, while religious forces seek to distort or erase tribal spiritual traditions.
- These processes often reinforce each other, leading to the gradual erosion of indigenous cultures.
- Role of State: The closure of the Gondi-medium school exemplifies how the state facilitates assimilation by refusing to recognise tribal cultural elements.
- This is particularly evident in the status of Adivasi languages within the Indian Constitution.
- While 22 languages are included in the Eighth Schedule, major tribal languages like Gondi and Bhili remain excluded.
- Gondi Language: Gondi, spoken by over 2.9 million people across six states according to the 2011 Census, has yet to receive official recognition.
- As a result, the state has no obligation to promote it at the national level.
- Sanskrit: In stark contrast, Sanskrit—a language spoken by fewer than 25,000 people—is listed in the Eighth Schedule and receives state support.
- This disparity highlights how socio-political power influences language recognition, with privileged communities ensuring state patronage for their languages while marginalised groups remain neglected.
Need for Recognising Adivasi Languages
- Oral Traditions: State recognition is particularly vital for Adivasi communities due to their predominantly oral traditions.
- Their histories, religious beliefs, and cultural knowledge are passed down through storytelling rather than written records.
- In the face of deforestation, urbanisation, and the encroachment of market forces, this oral heritage is increasingly at risk.
- Cultural Identity: The loss of an Adivasi language could mean the irretrievable disappearance of an entire cultural identity.
- Therefore, special measures must be taken to protect and promote these languages.
It is deeply ironic that those who uphold the Indian Constitution, which derives its legitimacy from “We, the People,” actively support Sanskrit (considered the language of the gods) while neglecting Gondi, a language spoken by a significant indigenous population. This moral failure must be addressed.
