The Maharashtra government on Sunday (2nd October ‘22), on the day of Gandhi Jayanti, launched an awareness campaign urging people to use various Indian greetings such as “Vande Mataram” while receiving phone calls instead of the word ‘hello’. The word ‘hello’ is much less understood among Bhartiya people, especially among people coming from rural backgrounds in Bharat. As India or Bharat has more than 60% of its population living in rural places, most people don’t use English for everyday communication. Or they are not as comfortable with English as they are with their native language. So, they usually greet others by speaking out some common ideals rather than “hello”.
These ideals may be thinking good for the world (Vishwa Ka Kalyan Ho i.e. May the world attain Salvation), thinking good for the Mother Nation (Bharat Mata Ki Jai Ho i.e. Long Live Mother India, Vande Mataram, etc.). There are many personalities whose conduct has become ideal for society to follow. One such personality is Lord Ram, and in almost all the villages of Bharat greeting is either “Jai Shree Ram” (Victory to Lord Ram) or “Ram Ram”, “Hari Om”, or “Radhe Radhe”. The conduct of such personalities is worth deep analysis.
The State General Administration Department had issued a Government Resolution (GR) making it mandatory for all employees working in government and government-funded institutions to use ‘Vande Mataram’ instead of ‘hello’ while receiving telephone or mobile phone calls from citizens or government officials. This was needed as an average person in India might feel inferior while greeting in a foreign and a lesser-known language. This step will prove to be significant in removing various discrimination. Moreover the meaning of the word “hello” is a mystery to more than 90% (or 99?) of Bhartiya Janta. Saying something without understanding seems like an ignorant attitude and a good ruler is one who helps remove ignorance from their state.
Maharashtra state Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “ ‘Vande Mataram’ means we are bowing before our mother. Hence, it is our appeal to the people to use this instead of ‘hello’.” Mr. Mungantiwar further said that it was all right if people chose to say ‘Jai Bhim’ or ‘Jai Shri Ram’ or even mention their parents’ names while answering a phone call.
“All forms are fine with us. We are trying to get people to avoid saying ‘hello’ while receiving a call.”
The Minister said that even Mahatma Gandhi supported the chanting of ‘Vande Mataram’ and had said so in a column published at the time.
The Government Resolution issued by the State government regarding the use of the ’Vande Mataram’ greeting, also said that while “it was not mandatory, the heads of departments in the government should encourage their staff to do so.” It said that ‘hello’ carried with it connotations of the Western culture and that the word did not have any specific meaning.
“The word is just a formality that does not arouse any emotion. Greeting people by saying “Vande Mataram” will create a feeling of affection”, said the Resolution. People who follow the worship methodology as described in Islamic texts want to say ‘Saare Jahan se Acha Hindustan’ instead of ‘Vande Mataram’. This move of Muslims is appreciated by everyone.
Apart from that, India is facing various challenges such as inflation, unemployment, fall of Rupee etc., which are a major concern. These challenges are to be taken up by the people, especially youth of India. Once the challenges have been taken up, they will certainly be solved. Removing ignorance from the speech of the common man is one step forward in this process.