Understanding the Kothari Commission's Language Policy Recommendation

The Kothari Commission, officially known as the Education Commission (1964-66), was a landmark commission set up by the Government of India to examine all aspects of the education sector in India. One of its crucial recommendations concerned the language policy for education across the country. The aim was to address the linguistic diversity of India while promoting national unity and ease of communication.

The Three-Language Formula by Kothari Commission

The key policy recommended by the Kothari Commission relating to language was the Three-Language Formula. This formula was designed to facilitate linguistic integration and provide students with competency in multiple languages.

The Three-Language Formula proposed that in Hindi-speaking areas, the languages studied should be:

• First Language: Hindi (and possibly Sanskrit as part of it or separately).
• Second Language: A modern Indian language, preferably one of the Southern languages.
• Third Language: English or any other modern European language.

In non-Hindi speaking areas, the languages studied should be:

• First Language: The regional language.
• Second Language: Hindi.
• Third Language: English or any other modern European language.

The primary objective of this formula was to promote multilingualism and enable communication between people from different parts of India. It aimed to ensure that citizens in Hindi-speaking areas learned a non-Hindi Indian language, and those in non-Hindi areas learned Hindi.

Why Other Options Are Not the Kothari Commission's Recommendation

Let's briefly look at why the other options are not the policy recommended by the Kothari Commission:

• Standard language formula: This is a very general term and not a specific policy recommended by the Kothari Commission. Education commissions often discuss standards, but this doesn't define the language structure itself.
• Two - language formula: While some states might adopt a two-language policy in practice, the explicit recommendation from the Kothari Commission was for a three-language formula to achieve broader linguistic competence and national integration.
• Re - interpretation of national language and official language: The Kothari Commission focused more on the language of instruction and language learning within the education system rather than fundamentally redefining the constitutional status of national or official languages. Its work laid emphasis on the pedagogical approach to languages.

Therefore, the policy specifically associated with the Kothari Commission (Education Commission 1964-66) for language in education is the Three-Language Formula, making it a cornerstone of the Indian education system's language policy debates.