The Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research recently banned the use of Malayalam language at the hospital premises. Since the hospital is located in Delhi, staff conversing in Malayalam – especially with patients causes a lot of inconvenience to those seeking treatment. Based on a complaint received by a patient, GB Pant hospital had ordered the nursing staff to speak in English and Hindi alone, failing which the authorities warned of strict action. The said order, which now stands withdrawn, garnered national liberal outrage.
A circular earlier issued by the hospital said “A complaint has been received regarding Malayalam language being used for communication in working places in GIPMER,” and added, “Whereas maximum patient and colleagues do not know this language and feel helpless causing a lot of inconveniences. So, it is directed all nursing personnel to use only Hindi and English for communication. Otherwise, serious action will be taken.”
After widespread and largely misplaced outrage regarding this particular order, the hospital issued another circular, saying the order was issued without the administration knowing about it.
Delhi Health Dept issues memo to Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (GIPMER) in connection with its recent notice directing nursing staff to communicate only in Hindi/English, after complaint received against the use of Malayalam language.
— ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2021
This is a classic case of an institution succumbing to social media pressure and outrage, despite having taken a step in the right direction. The decision to mandate that all nursing staff speak to patients in Hindi and English alone, and not in their mother tongue was the wisest move to be made, which would have ensured that patients do not have to struggle to try to decipher what the hospital staff is trying to convey to them.
Of course, to see any reason behind the order would have been too much to ask for from the Congress party and its liberal sycophants. And then, when the misinformation campaign is led by the likes of Rahul Gandhi and Shahi Tharoor themselves, liberals tend to believe that the institution being attacked is solely at fault.
Read More: Kannada – a language of royalty and poets is the ugliest language as per Google
“It boggles the mind that in democratic India a government institution can tell its nurses not to speak in their mother tongue to others who understand them. This is unacceptable, crude, offensive, and a violation of the basic human rights of Indian citizens. A reprimand is overdue!” Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said on Twitter. Rahul Gandhi chipped in saying, “Malayalam is as Indian as any other Indian language. Stop language discrimination!”
Malayalam is as Indian as any other Indian language.
Stop language discrimination! pic.twitter.com/SSBQiQyfFi
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 6, 2021
It boggles the mind that in democratic India a government institution can tell its nurses not to speak in their mother tongue to others who understand them. This is unacceptable, crude,offensive and a violation of the basic human rights of Indian citizens. A reprimand is overdue! pic.twitter.com/za7Y4yYzzX
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 5, 2021
Malayali Nurses speaking to each other in Malayalam in Delhi is a Problem!
Modi & Adityanath speaking in Hindi to Malayalis in Kerala is a Masterstroke?!
Remember, Adityanath had said Kerala's Healthcare was worse than UP & Modi had compared Kerala to Somalia 🙄😂
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) June 6, 2021
It is unfortunate that the outrage led the hospital to withdraw its earlier order mandating Hindi and English as a mode of communication. Though leftists have created the narrative of discrimination, the truth is that language must never be a barrier in places of importance like a hospital.
I generally agree with your views but the above said order is blatant language discrimination and down right stupid. If the problem is Nurses conversing (in whatever language) and disturbing patients then orders asking staff to keep quiet is what should have been given. But, an order asking people from same native not to talk to each other in their mother tongue is stupid. Such orders will ensure Right wing not making any headway in South. Every Indian Language is an INDIAN language period
While i respect Malayalees to talk to each other in Malayalam, i have seen this bad habit of nurses attending to a patient talking with each other in Malayalam. It is the patients right to know what is being discussed without him or her having to know Malayalam. They can discuss with each other in Malayalam when they are alone in the nursing station but in presence of patient or relatives, they should only use English or the local language. Will they dare talk in Malayalam in a British or US hospital?