Rajasthani language introduced as part of Rajasthan State Open School System, says Education Minister Dotasara

Rajasthan State Open School has introduced Rajasthani as a medium of instruction and examination as well as a key subject and part of the curriculum. The announcement in this regards was done by Rajasthan State Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara on Wednesday. Minister while announcing this decision said that students enrolled with Rajasthan Open Schools will now be able take up the examination in Rajasthani language.

Prior to this, Rajasthani language was not an official part of State’s Open School System. The minister further added “Students can now give the examination in Rajasthani language as well. The state government is expected to prepare a detailed draft report on the topic and invite suggestions and comments from academicians. The draft report will ensure that maximum benefits of Rajasthani language are passed on to the students enrolled as part of the State’s Open School System.

Reiterating Rajasthan Government’s commitment and efforts to provide quality education to the students and to help them build a bright future ahead, Dotasara added that introduction of Rajasthani language will strengthen the state’s open school centres. He further also added that the government remains committed to ensure that no politicisation of education takes place in the state. However, despite the elaborate announcement, very few people yet know and understand what is ‘Rajasthan language’ as referred to by the minister.

Traditional understanding of Rajasthani language is the combination of all the group of dialects that are spoken in different regions of the state. These dialects include  Marwari, spoken Marwar region of western Rajasthan, Malvi, spoken in Malwa region, Dhundhari, spoken in Dhundhar or Jaipur region. While most of these dialects use Devanagri script in the written format. In addition to the aforementioned dialects, languages like Harauti, Mewari, Ahirwati, Shekhawati, Wagdi and few more are also considered to be an integral part of the Rajasthani language. Therefore, currently, the confusion remains around the dialect that would be followed as part of the Rajasthani language in the Open School System of the state.

Replying to the query on the subject, Rajasthan Open School Education Secretary Ram Chandra Bagadia said “the common features of various dialect” would be part of the open school curriculum and be taught in schools.