The number of students learning Hindi at the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha (DBHPS) centres across South India declined sharply just a year before the pandemic and has not rebounded to previous levels since then. According to Prachar Sabha data, the total number of students appearing for various Hindi exams conducted by the organisation across southern States that crossed 9 lakh in 2018 dropped to just under six lakh in 2019. The lower numbers continued during the pandemic and are now less than half of pre-pandemic numbers.
Prachar Sabha officials say that such ups and downs are not unusual and they are making efforts to popularise the courses. Some four lakh people enrolled for the various courses in 2024. At the office in T. Nagar in Chennai, those who are taking the courses are still enthusiastic about learning Hindi. They talk about the reasons for learning Hindi such as more job opportunities, a widening of horizons and the practical aspect of being able to interact with Hindi speakers.
Urmila Koushal, 42, from Tambaram, said that many people above fifty years of age approach her to learn Hindi so they can communicate better at work. She has received such requests from as far as Canada. “Learning Hindi is the need of the hour for school and college students,” she said.
DBHPS, Tamil Nadu, was established in 1918 with the sole aim of propagating Hindi in the southern states, such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana (which are still combined), Kerala, and Karnataka. DPHPS offers nine levels of Hindi proficiency, such as Parichaya, Prathamik, Madhyama, Rashtrabhasha, Praveshika, Rashtrabhasha Visharad, and Rashtrabhasha Praveen.
Parichaya is the most elementary level, with Praveen Uttarardh being the most advanced, almost equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. Anyone interested in learning Hindi can enroll themselves at Parichaya, Prathamik, or Madhyama—all of which are elementary levels with varying difficulties, and students can choose them based on the difficulty they can handle. There are no criteria for enrollment.
Parichaya and Prathamik are two entry-level exams. Though there might be some overlap, in the sense that some who pass Prathamik may have passed Parichaya in the same year, a simple addition of the two figures would give a good indication of how many are entering the Hindi learning stream. And these numbers have declined and risen similar to the overall numbers.
As students move up in the scale of proficiency in courses, a natural fall in numbers can be expected. The year 2024, however, saw the lowest number of advanced learners, i.e., those who have cleared Praveen Uttarardh, across the four States. A positive feature is that, as per officials, more than 85% of the students who enroll in these courses and exams pass them.
The examinations happen twice a year, in February and August. Regular classes happen at the Institute three times a week. The classes start as early as 7–8:30 AM, and school students, both primary and secondary level, come and attend classes before going to their respective schools. There are online classes as well.
Since the classes at the Prachar Sabha have no age restrictions, anyone with any age or educational background is allowed to study the language. Students range from primary-level pupils to working professionals. Even parents study alongside the students, officials say.
Those who clear the exams can become teachers and open their own schools (Vidyalayas), and they will receive a registration number. Many teach students in their vicinity to learn Hindi, after which they enroll the students at their respective centers for their exams.
The interest is alive
Many teachers in Chennai who come to the DBHPS say that the students who study under them are predominantly Tamil students. They come from various parts of Chennai city.
D. Shanthikumari, 52, said that studying Hindi as a second language would open up opportunities for them. She said that many students are learning the language out of interest, and she thinks it immensely benefits them. “Learning a language is always an advantage for the students, especially if they are going to work in other states,” she said.
Saimeera, 37, a Ph.D. scholar from Nagpur at the DBHPS, said that learning a language is very essential in today’s world. Saimeera, who can speak many languages, including Tamil fluently, says that people should be allowed to learn whatever language they want to learn, but the language should not be imposed on them.
Malatesh Gadigeppa Guttal, Examination Secretary at the DBHPS, said, “Parents are happy that their child is learning a new language. Learning a language is always a good thing, and we do not put pressure or force them to learn the language.”
Published - March 28, 2025 07:38 pm IST
