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Ex-Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai slams ‘excessive use of Hindi’ in central government communication: ‘Please do not impose’

Ex-Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai called the “excessive use of Hindi” in central government communication “wrong.” He further tagged PM Modi, Amit Shah in his X post.

Published on: Nov 7, 2024, 11:05:31 IST
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Ex-Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai, reacting to an X share by MP John Brittas, slammed the central government for “excessive use of Hindi” as a language of communication. He called the situation “worrisome” and “wrong.”

Ex-Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai’s post on "excessive use of Hindi" in central government communication has divided the internet. (Abhijit Bhatlekar/ Mint)
Ex-Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai’s post on "excessive use of Hindi" in central government communication has divided the internet. (Abhijit Bhatlekar/ Mint)

What did John Brittas share?

Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas shared how he responded to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravneet Bittu in Malayalam after receiving a communication from him in Hindi.

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“It has been a norm and precedent that letters addressed from Union Govt to south MPs are written in English. Lately however that's not the case, and @RavneetBittu makes it a point to write exclusively in Hindi. Am compelled to reply him in Malayalam!” Brittas wrote, tagging Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in his post.

What did Mohandas Pai say?

Reposting the MP’s X post, the industry leader wrote, “Agree this excessive use Of Hindi in central govt communication is wrong and worrisome.” In his post, he tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah.

“Citizens are entitled to a reply in their native language or in English, not always Hindi. I know Hindi but oppose govt giving me a reply only in Hindi. Pl do not impose any one language on citizens,” he added.

Take a look at the post here:

What did social media say?

Boregowda Shivaraj, a senior fellow at Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), wrote, “English shall be the official language of the union government is clearly written in the constitution.” Forensic auditor Vivek Shah asked, “In which language did he write the letter, was it in English?”

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An individual suggested, “Always reply back in your language if you get government memos in Hindi. Same goes for state govt memos.” A fourth commented, “No, it is not wrong.”

About Mohandas Pai:

A Padma Shri Awardee, he co-founded Akshaya Patra, “the world's largest school meal program for students.” The former CFO and Board Member at Infosys is now the chairman at Aarin Capital.

As per his LinkedIn, he has “served on the Boards of SEBI, the National Stock Exchange, the Manipal Group, and many other institutions. He has served on several regulatory and consultative committees, including the Primary Markets Committee of SEBI, several IITs, and the CAFRAL of the RBI. He is currently on the board of Havells.”

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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