Bhojpuri- a sweet script or a language that has grown from the soil. Bhojpuri is one of the various scripts in the Hindi belt of the country. It is not just efficient enough to support the daily chores of life, had it been livelihood or something else, etc. *1 it has developed itself as a strong link linking NRIs to their motherland……..simplicity, sweetness and the liveliness are its special features that makes it flow along with blood.
In the recent years a few organizations accompanied by the politicians are making continuous approaches such that Bhojpuri may be added in the eighth schedule of the constitution. Largely it turned into a mission when scripts of maithli, bodo, santhali and dogri were decorated with the status of language in the eighth schedule of the constitution. Although Bhojpuri was supposed to get the status it deserved when the proposal was presented in the parliament. But, an amendment to the eighth schedule couldn’t be made rather was postponed till the decision upon languages for UPSC examination was to given a final shape. Recently in march when the languages for UPSC examinations were decided and the matter was given a final shape, the mission for Bhojpuri was brought again in action, which was natural.
Upon frowning of the various parliamentarians particularly those representing UP and Bihar; Home Minister P Chidambaram upon instructions *3 of UPA Chairperson declared that the government will declare its decision on the topic during the monsoon session of the parliament. Impact of the mission could be felt with the fact that the hon’ble minister P Chidambaram used Bhojpuri in his communications and was received positively. Remarkably it is to know that the hon’ble speaker of Lok Sabha Ms. Meera Kumar doubts if the monsoon session brings some good news or will become another hide n seek session of the government upon the matter.
Logically, it becomes important to consider upon different factors before we identify any script as a language. Primarily, exterior and interior are the two focus areas of the subject matter. The former raises a question if Bhojpuri is efficient enough for administrative jobs. *2 If Bhojpuri has its own grammar or the script, how rich is its literature; while the latter concerns upon the reason as to why should Bhojpuri be declared as language and the quantity of its followers.
Since ancient times, the Bhojpuri regions have a rich and interesting history. History full with rich heritage of sages, saints, politicians, artists, etc. thus, it shall not be easy to present an ordered history of Bhojpuri. Startlingly Bhojpuri has always marked its presence but more of orally and less in literature. Its written literature mostly exists in poems and prominently constituted by ( lokgeet), folksongs, stories, etc. is enough proof to establish it as a language. Interestingly Bhojpuri has not left the famous saints and poets like Tulsi, Jayasi untouched. It has been used exotically by them in their work and amongst them Kabir acquired the best position as most ancient use of the (boli) has been traced out in his poems only.
Among poets, poet Dharma Das has clearly used Bhojpuri in his work. Shiv Narayan, legendary poet Lakshmi Sakhi and several others through their enormous work proves the simplicity and unique ability of the (boli) to touch the hearts of the common people.
If we try and make an attempt to find the answers to above questions in the history our voyage shall start from Mughals and the Britishers. We can only explore the documentary proofs that they used for their need and as they needed. Yet we must not forget that a few of them have done substantial for Bhojpuri which we today consider as documentary proofs. The first name that comes to mind is George A Gearson as he did a favorable favor to collection of poems and then its publication. Aalha’s marriage songs, Aalha Badi and various such other articles and even books were published during this time. Besides, collection of songs of Fretcher Hindi folk songs; a book edited by A G Shiref, compositions of J Chemes, etc. are important.
For Indian involvement in the development of Bhojpuri, works of Bisaram, Badmaash Darpan of Teg Ali, incomparable literature book of Babu Ram Krishna Verma ‘Nayika Ke Bhed(secrets of an actress)’, Bharti Ke Geet written during the first world war; and Bhukamp Pachisi of Pt. Dudhnath Upadhyay are just unmatched masterpieces of the contribution made. Ambika Prasad’s Bhojpuri songs, famous drama ‘bideshiya’ of Bhikhari Thakur; which later became the plot of the famous and first feature film in Bhojpuri; Firangiya of Manoranjan Sinha, Dehati Dulaki of Shyam Dehati, Ram Vichar Pandey’s Biniya Bichiya are the twinkling stars of the vast sky of the literature of Bhojpuri. Brijendra Kumar’s Madhu Kalash, Saral Geeta of Nand Lal, marriage songs composed by Ram Nath, Sanskar Manjari of Ramdin are a few important and worthy contributions to Bhojpuri made outside India. Dr Sarita Bandhu in Mauritius, Pushpita Awasthi at the Netherlands, Vivekanand Verma in Fiji, Mohan K Gautam in Thailand are some of those adding milestones in the literature of Bhojpuri, globally.
As per the accumulated documentary proofs it won’t be obvious if we still call Bhojpuri merely as a boli and not a language, henceforth, it can’t join the eighth schedule of the constitution.
More than eighteen crore people across the five continents are invariably using Bhojpuri as their medium to communicate, says Bhojpuri Association of India. Association further elucidates that the Bhojpuri stands at tenth position as the medium for communication across the globe.
Moreover, question arises as to why Bhojpuri can’t be added to constitution and be established as a language if Maithli, Bodo or Santhali or Dogri be added to the constitution and be given the status of language, while their followers are much less if compared to those of Bhojpuri. We may agree to this that though their followers are less in number and these languages are attributed to a few particular communities of the society. Thus, in order to conserve these languages it really is viable to provide government support and be added to the eighth schedule of the constitution. Yet if we try to weigh Maithli against Bhojpuri, then quantitatively supporters of Maithli combined with Magahi (another language endorsed to Bihar) stands far behind to those of Bhojpuri alone. We may now suspect if the literature of Maithli is more vivid and powerful than Bhojpuri. Interestingly it may be noted that at present various universities like IGNOU, Nalanda, BHU, etc are running various masters and diploma courses in Bhojpuri. Thus this assures that Bhojpuri stands out and marks its position in literature, if compared with Maithli.
In accordance with above, it can’t be justified for not adding Bhojpuri to the eighth schedule and be given the status of language. Another question that may arise from here is if Bhojpuri be made a language, will Hindi suffer, or its tussle to be the national language is weakened. Further one may doubt if other boli like Braj, Awadhi, etc may brawl upon making them as language, and will that not affect the struggle of Hindi and will Hindi sustain its status of official language. These are definitely important questions which require deep think over, but certainly not at the cost of Bhojpuri.
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