Ravi Kishan’s Bhojpuri Bill: Promoting language, countering stereotypes
With about 50 million speakers, Bhojpuri is a language that is mostly spoken in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
A well-known actor and member of parliament from Gorakhpur, Ravi Kishan, has made a substantial contribution to improving the standing of the Bhojpuri language in India. He presented a private member’s Bhojpuri Bill in the Lok Sabha on July 26, 2024, to add Bhojpuri to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, making it an official language.
It is believed that this legislative action is an important step towards acknowledging and promoting the rich literary and cultural legacy of Bhojpuri, dispelling the myth that the language is only connected to “crass songs.”
Ravi Kishan stressed in his speech to the Lok Sabha that Bhojpuri has profound literary and cultural value and is more than just a language for absurd songs. He said, “This language is not about useless songs; it has a rich cultural history and literature that needs to be promoted.” Ravi Kishan hopes to draw attention to Bhojpuri’s significance as a mother tongue for millions of speakers as well as its part in the thriving Bhojpuri film and music industries, which employ a large number of people. Kishan is fighting for Bhojpuri’s recognition.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced by Ravi Kishan, aims to add the Bhojpuri administration to the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. There are now 22 languages recognized by the Eighth Schedule, and adding Bhojpuri would validate its usage in official capacities as well as promote its expansion in government and education.
The bill’s introduction coincides with an increase in demand for regional languages to be recognized throughout India. With about 50 million speakers, Bhojpuri is a language that is mostly spoken in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Ravi Kishan project is in line with larger cultural initiatives that support regional languages, which are sometimes neglected in favor of more widely spoken languages like Hindi and English.
Many people have taken notice of Kishan’s initiative, including local officials and cultural activists who are in favor of Bhojpuri’s recognition. They contend that giving the language official status would promote its usage in many areas of public life, maintain it, and give it more prestige.
Fighting the myth that Bhojpuri is always associated with subpar entertainment is one of Kishan’s main advocacy themes. He said, “People will take the language seriously; it is not just about crass songs.” This comment reflects a larger worry among speakers of Bhojpuri, who believe that the language’s complexity and diversity are frequently not adequately reflected in popular media representations of it.
Through inspiring a new generation of Bhojpuri writers and speakers, Kishan hopes to instill pride in their linguistic history in the language’s heritage. His aim in endorsing Bhojpuri literature and arts is to modify attitudes and motivate more individuals to interact with the language in significant ways.
Kishan is fighting for both the celebration of a language that conveys the voices and stories of millions of people, as well as for the acknowledgment of Bhojpuri, by attempting to incorporate it in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
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