Word: hindi
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...Kamaraj seemed to consider Y. B. Chavan, 51, Shastri's Defense Minister and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra state. But he gave up on him (too many political enemies), passed over Interim Prime Minister Gulzarilal Nanda (lackluster), and ruled himself out on the ground that he speaks neither Hindi nor English. Increasingly, Kamaraj found that the person with the fewest serious enemies, the widest reputation and the most attractive personality was Indira Gandhi. Nor was the lady shy. "I will do what Mr. Kamaraj wants me to," she told reporters. Her main competition came from former Finance Minister Morarji...
Galbraith said last night before leaving for Washington that Shastri's ability to manage Indian affairs during "one of the most difficult periods in Indian history" was a "very considerable achievement." He cited Shastri's skill in dealing with India's food and border problems and in substituting Hindi for English as the official language...
...horrified to "learn" that Nehru "could barely speak Hindi." Nehru could speak Hindi as barely as Winston Churchill could speak English...
View from the Falls. Shastri's compulsion to compromise was better applied in the great January language crisis. In that month, India adopted Hindi (which only 40% of Indians speak) as the nation's official language. Southern Indians - speaking mostly Tamil or Telugu-rose up in a wave of riots, murders and suicides to protest so blatant a move on the part of the "arrogant" Indo-Aryans of the north. Shastri muddled through several weeks of bloodshed, finally decided to rescind the January order and for the moment retain English as well as 14 southern languages. "We have...
...Bombay and Calcutta, to the humid tip of the subcontinent at Cape Comorin, India is a kaleidoscope of contrast (see color pages). Within its embattled boundaries it embraces six distinct ethnic groups, seven major religions, 845 languages and dialects, and two ancient and antagonistic cultures: the Indo-Aryan (primarily Hindi-speaking) in the north, the Dravidian (speaking mainly Telugu and Tamil) in the south. Its peoples range from sultry Sikhs in silken turbans to naked Nagas armed with crossbows; from country dwellers who are seared black by a cruel sun to pale and perfumed maharanees who ride to the beaches...