one nation one language essay in english

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Should One Nation Mean One Language?

David Cameron’s desire for immigrants to learn English is part of a debate dating back to the origins of the modern state.  

France, 1794. With the Reign of Terror in full swing, France at war with every other major European power and civil war raging in the western provinces, the deputies of the National Convention took time to consider a matter of crucial importance: the language of their fellow citizens. At the time, the majority of the population spoke little or no French, communicating instead through regional languages and dialects. The leaders of the revolution feared that without linguistic unity the fledgling Republic would be swept aside by a wave of counter-revolution and foreign invasion. 

The fears of the revolutionaries offer telling parallels with contemporary debates in the UK about the links between language and citizenship. Critics of mass immigration warn of dangerous, ghettoised minorities that threaten the cohesion and security of wider society. Migrants, they insist, must integrate themselves, above all by learning English. This is a favoured theme of British Prime Minister David Cameron, as seen in recent comments on the language of immigrants, especially Muslim women. The government plans to increase funding for schools teaching English to immigrants, but also requires that those entering the country to live with their spouse learn English under threat of losing the right to remain in the UK.

The premier’s desire to build an ‘integrated and cohesive One Nation country’ resonates with the views expressed over 200 years ago in a very different context by Bertrand Barère, a member of the French National Convention and the ruling Committee of Public Safety in 1794, for whom  linguistic diversity was a grave threat. By linking an ignorance of English to backwardness, patriarchal oppression of women and the threat of violent extremism, Cameron echoes Barère, who claimed that ‘to leave citizens in ignorance of the national language is to betray the fatherland, it is to leave the stream of enlightenment poisoned or blocked in its path’.

Concerns about the linguistic unity of nations have a long and often murky past. Just like Cameron, the revolutionaries sought to impose the use of their national language on those who did not speak it. As the abbé Henri Grégoire, Barère’s colleague in the National Convention, remarked, the aim was to ‘annihilate’ other languages and ‘universalise’ French. Schools were the favoured means of achieving this and primary school teachers were obliged to instruct their students in the national language. During the 19th century a variety of unpleasant measures were developed in French classrooms to ensure the language took hold, most notably the use of the infamous ‘symbol’, the French counterpart to the ‘Welsh Not’. This involved the use of a ticket, ribbon or other token, which would be given to the first child to speak in their native tongue. The student would keep this object, sometimes grasping it arm extended, until another child used the language and the token could be passed on, with a punishment distributed to whoever was left holding it at the end of the day. This practice was intended not only to make sure children practised their French, but to impart a sense of shame in speaking one’s native tongue. 

Throughout 19th-century Europe, nationalists pursued linguistic unity with similar vigour and this has often manifested itself in state-sponsored discrimination. Linguistic minorities, especially Polish speakers, in the second German Reich suffered under Bismarck’s Kulturkampf during the final decades of the 19th century, an experience similar to those enduring Russification under Tsars Alexander II and Alexander III at roughly the same time. As in France, this involved the imposition of the national language in schools and also the restriction of civic rights and freedoms for linguistic minorities. 

This is not just about tolerance or intolerance of minorities; it also touches on questions of individual freedom and citizenship raised during the French Revolution. Cameron insists that teaching English to immigrants is also about individual freedom, that without knowledge of the common language, individuals are denied access to the choices enjoyed by the majority. The abbé Grégoire’s opposition to linguistic diversity in France had similar roots. Grégoire feared that the interests and rights of ordinary people would never be recognised unless they could read and write enough French to participate in politics. As Grégoire argued in his speech before the Convention in 1794, the collective rights of minorities to have their culture respected conflicted with the rights of individuals to participate fully in society. These individual rights could be secured only through the intervention of the state.

The UK today is not Revolutionary France, nor is it Tsarist Russia or Germany under Bismarck, but these historical experiences can illuminate our current debate about the relationship between language and citizenship. Most pertinently, it is worth observing that language policies have often not worked quite as politicians hoped. France only achieved a real degree of linguistic unification after the Second World War, revealing the limited ability of the state to impose its will in matters of language. Efforts under Napoleon to create a monolingual legal system were opposed by legal officials who continued to communicate with locals in regional languages in order to be understood. Grégoire, like many contemporaries, hoped that large-scale conscription to the French-speaking army would assimilate the rural population, but when veterans returned home they often returned to the local dialect under pressure from families and friends. Even the French school system, universal and free at primary level after 1881, was less important than urbanisation and the development of transport links in the countryside. Discriminatory policies in Russia and Germany were often counter-productive, strengthening the appeal of minority identities and stimulating opposition. The history of language and the state in Europe shows how the social and economic context influenced the linguistic choices of individuals far more than narrow government interventions.

Stewart McCain is Lecturer in History at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

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One Nation, One Language

Updated on 19 September, 2019

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One nation, one language: In an occasion of ‘Hindi Diwas’, Union Home Minister had proposed to promote Hindi as the country’s common language, which led to several protests in Non-Hindi speaking states. Background Constitution on the Hindi Language: Part XVII of the Indian Constitution deals with Official Language. Article 351 says that it is the duty of the Union to encourage the spread of the Hindi language so that it may serve as a medium of communication. Article 343(1): As per the article, the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals. Article 343 (2): The article mentioned that Hindi shall be the official language, but for a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution. Language Act: Hindi was voted as the official language by a single vote in the constituent assembly and it added, English would continue to be used as an associate official language for 15 years. In early 1959, Jawaharlal Nehru had given an assurance in Parliament that English would continue to be in use as long as non-Hindi speaking people wanted it. After that, the Official Languages Act came into effect on the expiry of this 15-year period in 1965 which aggravated anti-Hindi agitation. Recently, a reference in draft NPE, 2019 to mandatory teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking States set off a political storm in  Tamil Nadu,  which is traditionally opposed to the compulsory study of Hindi.  The draft had a sentence on flexibility in the choice of language for school students. Subsequently, the reference to Hindi was dropped by the committee. Three Language Formula   Introduced by the first National Education Policy , the three-language formula stated that state governments should adopt and implement a study of a modern Indian language, preferably one of the southern languages, apart from Hindi and English in the Hindi-speaking states, and of Hindi along with the regional language and English in the non-Hindi speaking states. The draft policy recommended that this three-language formula be continued and flexibility in the implementation of the formula should be provided. On promotion of Hindi ,  the NPE 1968 said every effort should be made to promote the language and that “in developing Hindi as the link language , due care should be taken to ensure that it will serve, as provided for in Article 351 of the Constitution , as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India. The establishment, in non-Hindi States, of colleges and other institutions of higher education which use Hindi as the medium of education should be encouraged.   Incidentally, the NPE 1986 made no change in the 1968 policy on the three-language formula and the promotion of Hindi and repeated it verbatim.   Recent Protests against Hindi Imposition: In the wake of this contentious issue, several non-Hindi speaking states showed anger and protests against the pitch of wordings by the Union Home Minister. Many of pro-Kannada organizations took to streets in Bengaluru and other places in Karnataka to protest union home minister’s proposal of ‘One Nation, One Language’ . Apart from them, other non-Hindi speaking states like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andra Pradesh also saw several leaders lead protests against the proposal made. Tamil Nadu’s Stand   Southern states and Tamil Nadu, in particular, do not oppose the voluntary learning of Hindi. For example, the unhindered work of the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, established in Chennai by Mahatma Gandhi in 1918 should be given due consideration. There is no bar on private schools , most of them affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, offering Hindi. The State has been following the two-language formula for many decades , under which only English and one regional language are compulsory in schools. An important aspect of the opposition to Hindi imposition is that many in Tamil Nadu see it as a fight to retain English . English is seen as a bulwark against Hindi as well as the language of empowerment and knowledge. Need for a Common Language Influence of Foreign Language: As per the Indian Home Ministry, there is a need for common language as there is a huge influence of English on the citizens of India. Impact on Indian Linguistic Culture: Due to the influence of foreign language, some of the Indian languages have been losing their inherent culture of talking common tongue. Making Unique Identity: As per the statements, it is important to have a language of the whole country which should become the identity of India globally. Why the Protests? India is the home to many heterogeneous people speaking many languages and their dialects. As per the census of 2011, only 60% of total Hindi-speakers speak the native Hindi dialect. It is Article 29 that has given the right to a distinct language, script & culture to the India citizen. Southern states acknowledged that the imposition of ‘Hindi’ is a violation of Article 29. The southern States since long have been protesting against Hindi as they fear that the plan to promote Hindi might make them secondary citizens and undermine the country’s integrity. Since 1965, Tamil Nadu had resisted the imposition of Hindi and also witnessed violent protests against the proposal that Hindi would be India’s only official language. Southern states also feel that the imposition of Hindi is the hegemony of the North and the introduction of monoculture. Pros and Cons of ‘One Nation one Language’ Pros Common Identity for India: As India is the country of different languages, one common languages would reflect the identity of India in the world. Unity among the people of India: Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India, the common Hindi language will unite people from different parts of the country. Glory in the multilingual nation: The people of this nation of different states are sometimes not able to communicate with each other, just because of the diversity in languages. Adopting a common national language helps them communicate with other linguistic groups. National Language: Indians can’t accept a foreign language as a national language. As Hindi has already been accepted as the Official language, imposition can provide its national status. Cons Hindi Imperialism: Many of the critics believed that imposition of one common language for India as an imposition of Hindi imperialism for others Non-Hindi speaking Breaking the diversity & beauty of the Tongues: As India is a diverse country with many languages, the imposition of Hindi as a common language will break the beauty of diversity in languages. Threats to Mother Language   When languages fade, so does the world’s rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Opportunities, traditions, memory, mode of thinking and expression are lost. At least 43% of the estimated 6000 languages spoken in the world are endangered. UN says every two weeks a language disappears. Only a few hundred languages have a place in education systems and public domain. Less than a hundred languages used in the digital world. Rush to learn foreign languages for better job opportunities have played a deceptive role. Importance of Mother Language  It is Important in shaping feelings, emotions and thought processes. It maintains the languages of an ethnic and cultural group that is critical to preserve cultural heritage and identify. Using one’s mother tongue at home makes it easier for children to be comfortable with cultural identity. It develops fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance, and dialogue.   Way Ahead There are 22 languages constitutionally approved in India and besides this, hundreds of dialects (our nation has more than 415 different dialects) are spoken across the country. The imposition of a common language can give a blow to the federal spirit of the constitution and also can create burning contentions among the different linguistic groups. Looking at this scenario, the government must act diplomatically and also take measures for the quality implementation of the ideas and make it easily accessible to the people. Otherwise, the imposition of Hindi may lead to the deep-seated language crisis in India. Read More Articles: One Nation One Ration Card system Centre In Damage Control Mode Over Anti-Hindi Protests

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E-Justice India

One nation, one language: pros and cons.

One Nation One Language

Author : Neha Singh

India is a country of diversity. From culture, customs, traditions to languages everything changes as you step ahead. As of 2011 census India have 1,369 languages and dialects and out which 22 official languages have been recognized on the 8 th schedule of constitution of India. Hindi being one the recognized languages is also the most spoken language in India, about 40% of the population speaks Hindi while its hard for other languages to even reach the mark of 10%. The concept of one nation, one language has been there for ages and very recently Home Minister Amit Shah even made a remark on making Hindi the official national language which sparked controversy and started protests in the non-Hindi speaking states of India.

After gaining independence in the year 1947, the leaders of the nation wanted one universal language to bind the regions of India together and Hindi played an important role in doing so during the protests before independence and hence seemed the obvious choice to our leader. Subsequently violent protests started against the imposition of Hindi as a national language in the states of Tamil Nadu. Under Article 343 of constitution of India and the official languages acts declared Hindi as the official language of the union and usage of English was ceased till 15 years by parliament but after the alarming response of the south Indian states, the parliament decided to use both Hindi and English for their official purposes.

Anti-Hindi protest has been there and people have opposed Hindi as their national languages because they inter-join their culture with their language. People consider their culture as their identity while language is a medium to express it. Changing the medium of expression would not change one’s identity and preservation of both culture and languages can be done as we have seen with the language Sanskrit in India, which one of the world’s ancient languages and yet schools and colleges are teaching it. One of the most successful example is of the country Indonesia, it was very similar to India’s present scenario with various ethnic identities and over 600 languages in the country it was hard to come up with a systematic function and hence the country introduced its national language policy which turned out to be effective and helped in unifying the nation and promoting the similar education and literacy throughout the nation.

Hindi is world’s 4 th most spoken language in the world and with it being the national language of India will make the most spoken language of the world, it will benefit the domain of business, trade, research, education, job opportunities, etc. in the nation. Tourism in India will be easier as the barrier of language will be eliminated. The global dominance of the language will also be helpful for the citizens to have companies learning the language to establish themselves in the nation. It will oust the English language from India as the language is a sad reminder of the colonization of the nation. The language will represent India in the international arena. This will also be beneficial for aspect of the national security, in the realm of politics and military services. The advantages of Hindi in the job prospectus is very broad. One nation, one language policy will foster national unity.

The non-Hindi speaking states will have an extra burden of learning a new language while the Hindi speaking states don’t have to. The local and regional languages will be threatened with the imposition of one national language, the glory of the nation in being a multi-national language will disappear. The imbalance ratio in employment opportunities will be high. Imposing one national language can be considered an economic disaster as it will slow down migration and ease of capital flow. A splitting into two nations can be anticipated as happened in the case Bangladesh when imposition of Urdu was made over Bengali that played a major part in dividing the nation. India is said to be a multilingual society throughout history and the idea of one nation, one language itself is European while India is a nation that believes in Unity in Diversity.

People are still divided over the topic of the language and it may spark protests again similar to the past. Being a multi-lingual country consensus of each state is required and continuing recklessly with the ideology may ignite protests throughout India and inestimable harm to the essence of nationalism. Idea to execute the three languages policy by Kothari commission to compensate the non-Hindi speaking states have failed in the past and hastily imposing the national language will only result in further conflict. The nation should strive to maintain the status of unity in diversity and embrace the importance of local and regional languages.

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The Historical Linguist Channel

One Nation, Many Languages

Lies your geography teacher told you.

We all know that each country has one and only one language, right?

In China they speak Chinese, in England they speak English, in Iran they speak Farsi, and each language is neatly contained within the borders of its respective state, immediately switching to another language as soon as these are crossed.

Well, if you’ve been reading our blog, you have probably become rather sceptical of categorical statements like this, and for good reason: it turns out, in fact, that a situation like the one described above is pretty much unheard of. Languages spread across borders, sometimes far into a neighbouring country, and even within the borders of a relatively small state it’s not uncommon to have four or five languages spoken, sometimes even more, and large countries can have hundreds or more.

Then there’s the island of New Guinea, which fits 1,000 languages (more than some continents) in an area slightly bigger than France.

And yet, this transparent lie is what we are all taught in school. Why? Well, you can thank those dastardly Victorians again.

Before the rise of nationalism in the late 18th century, it was common knowledge that languages varied across very short distances, and being multilingual was the rule, not the exception, for most people. Even as a peasant, you spoke the language of your own state and one or two languages from neighbouring countries (which at the time were probably a few miles away, at most). Sure, most larger political entities had lingua francas, such as Latin or a prestige language selected amongst the varieties spoken within the borders (usually the language of the capital), but this was never seen as anything more than a way to facilitate communication.

It was the Victorian obsession with national unity and conformity which slowly transformed all languages different from the arbitrarily chosen “national language” into marks of ignorance, provincialism, and, during the fever pitch reached in the 1930s, even treason; this led to policies of brutal language suppression, which resulted the near-extinction of many of the native languages of Europe.

Why then is this kind of thing still taught in schools? Because, sad to say, things have only become slightly better since those dark times. Most modern countries still accept the “One Nation, One Language” doctrine as a fact of life without giving it a second thought. Some countries still proudly and openly enact policies of language suppression aimed at eliminating any language different from the national standard (je parle à toi, ma belle France…).

Which brings me to our case study: my own Italy.

La bella Italia

Given my tirade above, it should not come as a surprise to you now when I tell you that Italian is not the only language spoken in Italy. Not by a long shot. In fact, by some counts, there are as much as 35! The map below shows their distribution.

What is today known as Standard Italian (or simply Italian) is a rather polished version of the Tuscan language (shown as TO on the map). Why not Central Italian, the language of Rome? For rather complex reasons which have to do with the Renaissance, and which we won’t delve into here, lest this post become a hundred pages long.

Even though Italy stopped enforcing its language suppression policies after WWII, it is a sad fact that even the healthiest of Italian languages are today classified as “vulnerable” by UNESCO in its Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger, with most of them in the “definitely endangered” category.

The Italian government only recognises a handful of these as separate languages, either because they’re so different it would be ludicrous to claim they’re varieties of Italian (such as Greek, Albanian and various Slavic and Germanic languages spoken in the North), or because of political considerations due to particularly strong separatist tendencies (such as Sardinian or Friulan, spoken in the Sardinia and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions, respectively). All other languages have no official status, and are generally referred to as “dialects” of Italian, even though some are as different from Italian as French is! [1]

Stereotypically, speaking one of these languages is a sign of poor education, sometimes even boorishness: in the popular eye, you’re not speaking a different language, you’re simply speaking Italian wrong. [2]

To see how deep the brainwashing goes: suffice to say that it’s not uncommon, when travelling to areas where these languages are still commonly spoken, to address a local in Italian and receive an answer in the local language. When it becomes clear to them that you don’t understand a word of what they’re saying, the locals are often puzzled and surprised, because they’re sincerely convinced they’re speaking Italian!

To better highlight the differences between Italian and these languages, here’s the same short passage in Italian and in my own regional language, Emilian (Bologna dialect):

Si bisticciavano un giorno il Vento di Tramontana e il Sole, l’uno pretendendo d’esser più forte dell’altro, quando videro un viaggiatore, che veniva innanzi avvolto nel mantello. I due litiganti convennero allora che si sarebbe ritenuto più forte chi fosse riuscito a far sì che il viaggiatore si togliesse il mantello di dosso.

Un dé al Vänt ed såtta e al Såul i tacagnèven, parché ognón l avêva la pretaiśa d èser pió fôrt che cl èter. A un zêrt pónt i vdénn un òmen ch’al vgnêva inànz arvujè int una caparèla. Alåura, pr arsôlver la lît, i cunvgnénn ch’al srêv stè cunsidrè pió fôrt quall ed låur ch’al fóss arivè d åura ed fèr in môd che cl òmen al s cavéss la caparèla d’indòs.

Pretty different, aren’t they?

You can hear the Italian version read aloud here , and here is the Emilian version [3] .

Here’s the English version of the same passage for reference:

The North Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger, when a traveller came along wrapped in a warm cloak. They agreed that the one who first succeeded in making the traveller take his cloak off should be considered stronger than the other.

It is pretty hard to argue that these two are the same language, and yet this is what most people in Italy believe, thinking of Emilian as a distorted or corrupted form of Italian.

Compare this to the situation during the Renaissance, when Emilian was actually a very prestigious language, to the point that Dante himself once wrote an essay defending it from those who would claim the superiority of Latin, calling it the most elegant of the languages of Italy.

Italy is by no means an isolated example, as I’ve already made clear in the first section of this post: wherever you go in the world, you’ll find dozens of languages being suppressed and driven to extinction due to myopic language policies left over from an era of nationalism and intolerance.

The good news is that the situation is improving: in Italy, regional languages are not stigmatised as they once were. In fact, many people take pride in speaking their local language, and steps are being taken to teach it to the youngest generations and preserving them through literature and modern media. However, the damage done in the past is enormous, and it will take an equally enormous effort to restore these languages to the level of health they enjoyed a hundred years ago. For some of them it might very well be too late.

So if you speak a minority language, or know someone who does, take pride in it. Teach it to your children. They’re not “useless”, they’re not marks of poor education, they are languages, as dignified and deep as any national language.

And don’t mind the naysayers: whenever someone tells me Emilian is a language for farmers, incapable of the breadth of expression displayed by Italian, I remind them that when Mozart studied music in Bologna, he spoke Emilian, not Italian; and that when the oldest university in the western world opened its doors in 1088, and for 700 years after that, it was Emilian, not Italian, that was spoken in its halls.

• Lisa discussed the tricky question of  what’s a language and what’s a dialect here ↑
• The same thing that happens to Scots or AAVE. See here ↑
• The passages are taken from a short story used to compare different italian regional languages. All currently recorded versions can be found here . ↑

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One nation, one language? The case of Belgium

In this article the linguistic situation in Belgium and its historical development is discussed. The country has often been called a role model for the linguistic future of Europe because of its alleged success in granting equal rights to its French and Dutch language communities while preserving political unity. This paper, however, argues that Belgium is an example of a European region where the struggle for linguistic rights led from the establishment of monolingual territories (Flanders and Wallonia), to an opposition to individual bilingualism and fi nally to communicative ‘isolation’ of its language communities. This claim is based on a critical account of language use in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Flanders and of language ideologies in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Belgium.

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This study investigates the Linguistic Landscape (LL) within the Germanspeaking Community of Belgium with a focus on the role of French. Through examining the signs present in the towns of Eupen (north) and Sankt Vith (south), it contrasts the linguistic situation, highlighting differences regarding linguistic dominance of German and attitudes towards the use of French or other languages. Quantitative analysis consisted of photographing the signs on the main street of each town and found that German was more dominant in Sankt Vith. The qualitative analysis involved comparing similar signs and collecting interview and questionnaire data. Whilst a reason given for using German in Sankt Vith was pride in the language, similar responses in Eupen drew attention to linguistic conflict, which would have otherwise gone unnoticed had only the LL been investigated. The investigation provided an insight into the multilingual situation in East Belgium and suggests that French plays a larger role in Eupen.

VERHOEVEN, J. C. (1982) 'Belgium: linguistic communalism, bureaucratisation and democratisation.' in: DAALDER, H., E. SHILS & eds. Universities, Politicians and Bureaucrats. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press pp. 125-171

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When a wave of student agitation swept through the Western European universities in 1968 and 1969, Belgium did not escape. Fights with the police and the occupation of university buildings were familiar sights at some of the Belgian universities. Although this agitation had to a large extent the same objectives as in the neighbouring countries, namely the `democratisation of the universities', one element was different: in Lou¬vain, the Flemish students supported and encouraged by the Flemish teachers protested against the presence of a French-speaking university in the Flemish town; they also opposed the amalgamation of the Flemish and Walloonian sections of the university under a single university govern-ment. This chapter describes the situation of the Belgian universities during the student revolts in the 1960s, and the policy of the government, universities and students searching for a solution for the fierce opposition of students against the traditional university.

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Idea of One Nation One Language in Indian Society

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• May 5, 2020

IDEA OF ONE NATION ONE LANGUAGE IN INDIAN SOCIETY - Priyanka Priyadarshini Nayak India is a land of many states and we all are multi-linguistic, multi-cultured, and having multi-society.Part XVII of the Indian Constitution deals with 22 official languages and many more. No doubt language is a powerful tool for every country; it reflects the values, beliefs and customs of a particular state. Language can thus be said to be at the core of humanity.Society is always reflecting through language; every person has its freedom to choose their language and there are many instances where language becomes the only reason of dismantling the whole nation. There is a familiar adage “No man is an Island”. This goes to say that an individual always remain isolated when there is no language to establish and to maintain a relationship between people. Every language has its priority, it’s important to respect and equally accept it. India can’t be described as a field of one language; Is it necessary to have one language to form one nation or to run the nation smoothly? For truncating the language problem, our nation decided to choose Hindi as the Country’s common language and also thought of making it our National language.  ARTICLE 343(1) -states that Devanagari script shall be in Hindi language. ARTICLE 343(2) -this article stated that Hindi shall remained as the official language. We should always keep in mind that there’s a big difference between official and national language. National language is represented as a national symbol whereas official languages are realistic.  ARTICLE 351 – stated that it’s the Union’s duty to invigorate extend the use of Hindi language so that it can become the medium of communication.  After the declaration, some of the non-speaking Hindi states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana stand opposite to the decision. There some pro-Kannada organization, who were opposing and showing their anger against the proposal of ‘One Nation One Language’. And for that they never tried to learn Hindi. Again, one question arose why Hindi was not declared as national language? If it would happen then an unwarranted dominance will evolve in Hindi-speaking parts and will also become a threat to the establishment of other regional languages.India is a multi-lingual country and declaration of one language as national language is never required. The main purpose of adopting one language is to make the nation united, nevertheless it was not a compulsory task to change the polyglot nation.There was a debate going on the idea of one nation one language, where one person quoted that “If it is claimed by passing an article in the Constitution of India one language is going to be accepted by all by a process of coercion, then that will never be possible to achieve.”[1]We always say that our country works on the concept of “Unity in Diversity”, so we should mark it as India’s keynote to achieve it with the process of proper assimilation and acceptance. There’s a famous phrase “United we stand divided we fall” that coveys a clear meaning and whenever it comes to display patriotism towards our nation or for any other motive, each and every state unites who doesn’t even care about different languages. Then lies how the states will communicate? This was an unsolved problem which took place after the proclamation. So,English was also declared as a second official language of India, so that there will be no such discrimination attitude towards non-Hindi speaking states. The teaching of Hindi was made mandatory in 2019 by NPE (National Policy on Education). It was then opposed by the Tamil Nadu, the reference to Hindi language was subsequently dropped by the committee. The students of Madras or other non-Hindi speaking states felt that it was unfair for them to learn Hindi as well as English, whereas speakers of the favoured states would need only to learn English. After looking out to this problem government decided to introduce Three Language Formula for making education system fair. In this system non-Hindi areas would learn Hindi, English and their regional language, whereas in Hindi speaking areas would be taught Hindi, English and one another language (French, Sanskrit).Many political parties involved in this issue and somewhat made this language politics like DMK-Dravida Munnetra Kazagham has proven this plan as a failure. Indian society thinks that many languages are a drawback. One language will never lead to the development of the nation. Adopting Hindi language should never look like enforcement of Hindi imperialism.Yes, it is important to learn Hindi and English when required like for adopting modern culture, or for job qualification. Standing against a statement, on not having a national language never connotes that you can’t speak Hindi. MONOLINGUALISM VERSUS MULTILINGUALISM India can never be lingua francaas it fades away the diversity of our nation and it degrades the fundamental development.The moment we use terms like unity, unified, etc., we are actually addressing the idea of being ‘one’.The term ‘one nation’ doesn’t measure quantity.Quantity is seen as a preponderance, and our nation cannot run through preponderance and it doesn’t even lead to the quality of oneness. The creation of bigger numbers is a majority which never follows the idea of the ‘one nation’. Even if our country’s 90% of the population speaks Hindi, but it is still not adequate to make ‘one nation’.At the same time, without sharing the same languages it is still achievable to have the quality of oneness. Hindi being decided as an official language leads to promote the use of foreign language by the speakers of non-favoured languages as a medium of communication. Undeniably this situation helped English language to always remain as a part of India.India being multilingual country, it becomes difficult to look our country with one vantage point. As we know a rainbow has seven colours which make it more attractive, like these different languages add flavours to our nation. Every writer is meant to develop the multi-lingual ambience in Indian society. We can’t say that one language can bring national feeling or national unity towards our nation. Our nation can easily run through many languages, and whenever it is needed to learn Hindi, then one person can easily opt for this.Former President Pranab Mukherjee also stated that ‘India is not a place of one language or one religion or one enemy’ he further added that it is ‘Perennial Universalism’. All the citizen from different religion, culture and language lives under one flag, and recognized or given one identity of being Indian or Bhartiya. Tolerance is connatural, with this so many religions survive, so no doubt many languages can also survive; Our nation could never split, as there is general linguistic tolerance. India is known for its diversity, so how can you expect that only one language is enough to keep our nation united? India is the biggest democratic nation in the entire world, here we all are there to appreciate all languages and their tradition. Having one or multiple languages doesn’t matter at all, if you have the unity on every strenuous situation.India will always remain an idea of many languages one nation.  ----------- REFERENCES   [1] V K R V Rao, “Many Languages, One Nation: Quest for an All-India Language” (1978) 13 JSTOR 1025 [2] Sundar Sarukkai, “The meaning of oneness is ‘one nation’” The Hindu (Bangalore, 26 September 2019)  <https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-meaning-of-oneness-in-one-nation/article29511161.ece> accessed 3 April 2020 

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One Nation One Election Essay in 500+ Words

• Updated on  
• Feb 1, 2024

One Nation One Election Essay: The main idea of the “One Nation One Election (ONOE)” is to have all Vidhan Sabha or state elections happen at the same time as the Lok Sabha or general elections every five years. This concept aims to make the electoral process more efficient by reducing the number of elections and saving time and resources.

In India, the concept of ONOE has been around since 1983. It was proposed by the then Election Commission of India (ECI) . However, before 1967, India regularly conducted simultaneous elections. The first time general elections and state legislative assembly elections were held together was in 1951-52. This practice continued in 1957, 1962, and 1967. 

Unfortunately, due to the early dissolution of some Legislative Assemblies in 1968 and 1969, the cycle was disrupted. In 1970, the Lok Sabha itself was dissolved prematurely, leading to fresh elections in 1971. So, until 1970, only the First, Second, and Third Lok Sabha completed full five-year terms.

Also Read: Essay on Bhimrao Ambedkar in 500 Words

Resurfacing of One Nation One Election 

After many decades, the idea of “One Nation One Election” resurfaced again in 2023. In September 2023, the Union Government of India established a ‘High-Level Committee on ONOE’. The committee was chaired by former President of India Ramnath Kovind. 

Since then, the committee has convened three times and gathered opinions from political parties and eminent jurists. While there is no set timeline for the committee’s recommendations, the fact that it aligns with the lead-up to the 2024 general elections raises concerns. Given the potential to reshape the democratic structure and federal system , it is crucial to promptly analyze the legal aspects of this initiative.

Also Read: Essay on Democracy in 100, 300 and 500 Words

Countries following One Nation One Election

Many countries like Sweden and South America follow the One Nation One Election policy. In Sweden, elections are conducted according to a fixed schedule. The elections for the provincial legislature (Landsting), local bodies (Kommunfullmaktige), and national legislature (Riksdag) are conducted every fourth year on a set date, specifically on the second Sunday in September.

Furthermore, in South Africa, elections for both the national and provincial legislatures take place simultaneously every five years. However, Municipal elections are held separately, occurring two years after the national and provincial elections.

Also Read: How is the Speaker of Lok Sabha Elected?

Advantages of One Nation One Election

The main advantage of ‘One Nation, One Election’ is the reduction in election costs, as each separate election requires a significant amount of financial resources. Also, simultaneous elections would allow the government to focus more on governance rather than being in election mode. With a reduced focus on elections all around the country, political parties in power can prioritize development over election campaigns.

Additionally, holding simultaneous elections would reduce the workload on administrative and security forces. Besides, ONOE will boost voter turnout because it will be easier for people to cast multiple ballots at once.

Also Read: What is Representative Democracy?

Modi Govt wants Democratic India to slowly turn it into a Dictatorship. This gimmick of forming a committee on 'One Nation, One Election' is a subterfuge for dismantling the Federal Structure of India. There will be at least five Amendments required in the Constitution of… — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) September 3, 2023

Disadvantages of One Nation One Election

On the other hand, critics of unified elections in India believe that the cost of conducting free and fair elections to choose a government elected by the people is a price that should never be considered too high. They propound that having elections simultaneously undermines the autonomy and independence of state governments. This not only weakens the federal structure but also raises the potential for conflicts of interest between the central government and the states.

Also, implementing simultaneous elections presents big challenges, like making sure there are enough secure electronic voting machines, personnel, and other necessary resources. 

Thus, we can conclude that despite being cost-effective and convenient, one nation one election is dangerous to a democratic country like India as it is a threat to the autonomy of the state governments. Besides, simultaneous elections would obstruct the growth of regional parties as as the spotlight on national issues during a unified electoral process may overshadow regional concerns. 

Also Read: Essay on Indian Constitution in 100, 250, and 350 words

Ans: The then-President of India, Mr Ramnath Kovind, chaired the committee.

Ans: You can start by defining ONOE. Following this, you can mention the advantages and disadvantages of simultaneous elections. Also, you can explain its significance in the Indian context and other countries that conduct unified elections.

Ans: Sweden, South Africa, and Britain conduct simultaneous elections. 

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Ankita Singh

Ankita is a history enthusiast with a few years of experience in academic writing. Her love for literature and history helps her curate engaging and informative content for education blog. When not writing, she finds peace in analysing historical and political anectodes.

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One nation, One language

Necessity of one nation and one language in democratic society:, whether one nation and one language is sufficient for a democratic society:, why hindi should be imposed as a national language to the rest of the country, what is the need to create a national language:, various problems for one nation and one language:, law article in india, please drop your comments, you may like.

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One nation, one language only english spoken here.

BYLINE: By Susan Headden; Linda Rodriguez Bernfield; Sally Deneen; Missy Daniel; Monika Guttman; Barbara Burgower Hordern; Scott Minerbrook; Debra A. Schwartz; Jill Jordan Sieder

DATELINE: Miami; Boston; Los Angeles; Houston; New York; Chicago; Atlanta

For a Sherman Oaks, Calif., election worker, the last straw was hanging campaign posters in six languages and six alphabets. For a taxpayer in University Park, Texas, it was a requirement that all employees of the local public utility speak Spanish. For a retired schoolteacher from Mount Morris, N.Y., it was taking her elderly and anxious mother to a Pakistani doctor and understanding only a fraction of what he said.

As immigration, both legal and illegal, brings a new flood of foreign speech into the United States, a campaign to make English the nation’s official language is gathering strength. According to a new U.S. News poll, 73 percent of Americans think English should be the official language of government. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and more than a third of the members of Congress support proposed federal legislation that would make English America’s official tongue; twenty-two states and a number of municipalities already have English-only laws on the books. Like flag burning and the Pledge of Allegiance, the issue is largely symbolic. Without ever being declared official, American English has survived — and enriched itself from — four centuries of immigration. It is not much easier for today’s Guatemalan immigrant to get a good education and a good job without learning English than it was for his Italian, Polish or Chinese predecessors. And at best, eliminating bilingual education might save about a dollar per student per day. But many Americans are feeling threatened by a triple whammy of growing economic uncertainty, some of it caused by foreign competition; rising immigration, much of it illegal; and political pressure to cater to the needs of immigrants rather than letting them sink or swim. “Elevating English as an icon,” says author and bilingual expert James Crawford, “has appeal for the insecure and the resentful. It provides a clear answer to the question: Who belongs?”

Nation of strangers. There is no question that America is undergoing another of its periodic diversity booms. According to the Census Bureau, in 1994 8.7 percent of Americans were born in other countries, the highest percentage since before World War II. More tellingly, at least 31.8 million people in the United States speak a language other than English at home. Of the children returning to urban public schools this fall, a whopping one third speak a foreign language first. “It blows your mind,” says Dade County, Fla., administrator Mercedes Toural, who counts 5,190 new students speaking no fewer than 56 different tongues.

English-only advocates, whose ranks include recent immigrants and social liberals, believe that accommodating the more than 300 languages spoken in the United States undercuts incentives to learning English and, by association, to becoming an American. Massachusetts offers driver’s tests in 24 foreign languages, including Albanian, Finnish, Farsi, Turkish and Czech. Federal voting rights laws provide for ballots in multiple translations. Internal Revenue Service forms are printed in Spanish. And in Westminster, Calif., members of Troop 2194 of the Boy Scouts of America can earn their merit badges in Vietnamese. “It’s completely insane,” says Mauro Mujica, the chairman of the lobbying group U.S. English and himself an immigrant from Chile. “We are not doing anybody any favors.”

Pulling the plug. The proposed official-English laws range from the barely noticeable to the almost xenophobic. A bill introduced by Missouri Republican Rep. Bill Emerson would mandate English for government use but provide exceptions for health, safety and civil and criminal justice. Although it is the most viable of the bunch, it would change the status quo so little that it begs the question of why it is needed at all. The most extreme official-English measures would pull the plug on what their sponsors consider linguistic welfare, ending bilingual education and bilingual ballots.

Advocates of official-English proposals deny that their measures are draconian. Says U.S. English’s Mujica: “We are simply saying that official documents should be in English and money saved on translations could go to help the people learn English. We’re saying you could still take a driver’s test in another language, but we suggest it be temporary till you learn English.”

U.S. English, which reports 600,000 contributors, was founded by the late U.S. Sen. S.I. Hayakawa, a Japanese-American linguistics professor, and boasts advisory board members such as Saul Bellow and Alistair Cooke. The group was tarred eight years ago when its founder, John Tanton, wrote a memo suggesting that Hispanics have “greater reproductive powers” than Anglos; two directors quit, Tanton was forced out and the group has been rebuilding its reputation ever since. Its competitor, English First, whose founder, Larry Pratt, also started Gun Owners of America, is more hard-line.

Defenders of bilingual education, multilingual ballots and other government services ask whether legal immigrants will vote if there are no bilingual ballots. If foreign speakers can’t read the street signs, will they be allowed to drive? Such thoughts bring Juanita Morales, a Houston college student, to tears. “This just sets up another barrier for people,” she says. “My parents don’t know English, and I can hardly speak Spanish anymore and that’s painful to me.”

Go it alone, the hard-liners reply, the way our grandfathers did. But these advocates don’t mention that there is little, if any, evidence that earlier German or Italian immigrants mastered English any faster than the current crop of Asians, Russians and Central Americans. And it’s hard to argue that today’s newcomers aren’t trying. San Francisco City College teaches English to 20,000 adults every semester, and the waiting list is huge. In De Kalb County, Ga. 7,000 adults are studying English; in Brighton Beach, N.Y., 2,000 wait for a chance to learn it.

The economic incentives for learning English seem as clear as ever. Yes, you can earn a good living in an ethnic enclave of Chicago speaking nothing but Polish. But you won’t go far. “Mandating English,” says Ron Pearlman of Chicago, “is like mandating that the sun is going to come up every day. It just seems to me that it’s going to happen.”

What worries many Americans are efforts to put other languages on a par with English, which often come across as assaults on American or Western culture. Americans may relish an evening at a Thai restaurant or an afternoon at a Greek festival, but many are less comfortable when their children are celebrating Cinco de Mayo, Kwanzaa and Chinese New Year along with Christmas in the public schools. In Arlington, Va., a classically trained orchestra teacher quit the public school system rather than cave in to demands to teach salsa music.

But diversity carries the day. The U.S. Department of Education policy is not simply to promote learning of English but also to maintain immigrants’ native tongues. And supporters of that policy make a good case for it. “People ask me if I’m embarrassed I speak Spanish,” says Martha Quintanilla Hollowell, a Dallas County, Texas, district attorney. “I tell them I’d be more embarrassed if I spoke only one language.”

Language skills. That may be what’s most disturbing about the English-only sentiment: In a global economy, it’s the monolingual English speakers who are falling behind. Along with computer skills, a neat appearance and a work ethic, Americans more and more are finding that a second language is useful in getting a good job. African-Americans in Dade County, now more than half Hispanic, routinely lose tourism positions to bilingual Cubans. Schoolteachers cry foul because bilingual teachers earn more money while monolingual teachers are laid off. “There is no way I could get a job in the Los Angeles public schools today,” says Lucy Fortney, an elementary school teacher for 30 years.

The proliferation of state and local English-only laws has led to a flurry of language-discrimination lawsuits and a record number of complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ed Chen, a lawyer with the San Francisco office of the American Civil Liberties Union, says clients have been denied credit and insurance because they don’t speak English. But courts increasingly have endorsed laws that call for exclusive use of English on the job. Officials at New York’s Bellevue Hospital, where the vast majority of nurses are Filipino, say an English-only law was necessary because nurses spoke Tagalog among themselves.

Other employers have wielded English-only laws as a license to discriminate, giving rise to fears that a national law would encourage more of the same. A judge in Amarillo, Texas, claimed a mother in a custody case was committing “child abuse” by speaking Spanish to her child at home. Another Texas judge denied probation to a drunk driver because he couldn’t benefit from the all-English Alcoholics Anonymous program. In Monterey Park, Calif., a citizens’ group tried to ban Chinese signs on businesses that served an almost all-Asian clientele. In Dade County, a since-repealed English-only law was so strict that it forbade using public funds to pay for court translations and bilingual signs to warn metrorail riders against electrocution.

Though it is not intended as such, the English-first movement is a reminder of a history of prejudice toward speakers of foreign tongues. Many American Indians were prohibited from speaking their own languages. The Louisiana Legislature banned the use of Cajun French in public schools in 1912, but instead of abandoning their culture, many Cajuns dropped out of school and never learned English. French was finally allowed back in the schools in the 1960s. As recently as 1971, it was illegal to speak Spanish in a public school building in Texas, and until 1923 it was against the law to teach foreign languages to elementary school pupils in Nebraska. At Ellis Island, psychologists tested thousands of non-English-speaking immigrants exclusively in English and pronounced them retarded.

Champions of diversity say it’s high time Americans faced the demographic facts. In Miami, with leading trade partners Colombia and Venezuela, businesses would be foolish to restrict themselves to English. If emergency services suffer because of a shortage of foreign-speaking 911 operators, it is downright dangerous not to hire more. As for embattled teachers, Rick Lopez of the National Association of Bilingual Education says: “Why should we expect students to learn a new language if teachers can’t do the same? We have to change the product to fit the market. The market wants a Toyota and we’re still building Edsels.”

Many Americans still value the melting pot: General Mills’s new Betty Crocker is a digitized, multiethnic composite. But Skokie, Ill., educator Charlene Cobb, for one, prefers a colorful mosaic. “You don’t have to change yourself,” she says, “to make a whole thing that’s very beautiful.” The question is whether the diverse parts of America still make up a whole. Related material on U.S. News Online on CompuServe. Free start-up kit: (800) 510-4247. A LANDSLIDE FOR OFFICIAL ENGLISH A rising tide A larger share of Americans were foreign born earlier in this century, but their numbers are again on the rise. Foreign born residents as share of U.S. population 1900 13.6 percent 1910 14.7 percent 1920 13.2 percent 1930 11.6 percent 1940 8.8 percent 1950 6.9 percent 1960 5.4 percent 1970 4.8 percent 1980 6.2 percent 1990 7.9 percent 1994 8.7 percent USN&WR — Basic data: U.S. Census Bureau American voters who favor making American voters who favor making English the official language of government (for instance, printing government forms only in English): FAVOR: 73 percent OPPOSE: 23 percent Voters who favor legislation that would prohibit bilingual election ballots and swearing-in ceremonies: FAVOR: 50 percent OPPOSE: 43 percent U.S. News poll of 1,000 registered voters conducted by Celinda Lake of Lake Research and Ed Goeas of the Tarrance Group on Sept. 11-13, 1995. Margin of error: plus or minus 3.1 percent. Percentages may not add up to 100 because some respondents answered, “Don’t know.”

DEFENDING THE MOTHER TONGUE

English not spoken here

Most of the 6.7 million non-English-speaking people in the United States live in the Southwest, south Florida and New York. So far, 22 states have enacted English-only laws. [Map is not available.] Note: Demographic data as of 1990 census and laws as of August, 1995. USN&WR — Basic data: U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. English

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One Nation, One Election:

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra has said that the Election Commission is ready to hold simultaneous elections or ‘ One Nation, One Election’.

• Earlier this year, on National Voters’ Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address had raised the topics of ‘One Nation, One Election’ and ‘One Nation, One Voters’ list’, and had said that the continuous cycle of election results is affecting development works.

What is ‘One Nation, One Election’?

It refers to holding elections to Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, Panchayats and Urban local bodies simultaneously, once in five year.

But, what are the challenges posed by frequent elections?

• Massive expenditure.
• Policy paralysis that results from the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct during election time.
• Impact on delivery of essential services.
• Burden on crucial manpower that is deployed during election time.
• Puts pressure on political parties, especially smaller ones, as elections are becoming increasingly expensive.

Benefits of Simultaneous Elections:

• Governance and consistency: The ruling parties will be able to focus on legislation and governance rather than having to be in campaign mode forever.
• Reduced Expenditure of Money and Administration.
• Continuity in policies and programmes.
• Efficiency of Governance: Populist measures by governments will reduce.
• The impact of black money on the voters will be reduced as all elections are held at a time.

Impact on Regional parties:

There is always a tendency for voters to vote the same party in power in the state and at the Centre in case the Lok Sabha polls and the state elections are held together.

For simultaneous elections to be implemented, Changes to be made in Constitution and Legislations:

• Article 83 which deals with the duration of Houses of Parliament need an amendment.
• Article 85 (on dissolution of Lok Sabha by the president).
• Article 172 (relating to the duration of state legislatures).

The Representation of People Act, 1951 Act would have to be amended to build in provisions for stability of tenure for both parliament and assemblies. This should include the following crucial elements:

• Restructuring the powers and functions of the ECI to facilitate procedures required for simultaneous elections
• A definition of simultaneous election can be added to section 2 of the 1951 act.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

• What is Model Code of Conduct?
• Powers of the Election Commission to conduct elections.
• Overview of the Representation of People Act, 1951 Act.
• Overview of Articles- 83, 85 and 172.

Mains Link:

Discuss the merits and demerits of the concept of “One nation, One election” for Indian polity.

Sources: the Hindu.

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One Nation One Election Essay | Why Crucial | The Pros & Cons | 100, 150, 200, 300 & 400+ Words

In a country as vast and diverse as India, elections are a mammoth task. With a population of over 1.4 billion people spread across different states and regions, it is no surprise that conducting simultaneous elections would be an uphill battle for any government. However, the concept of One Nation One Election has been gaining momentum in recent times. So let’s understand the topic and explore the pros and cons of this controversial idea through “One Nation One Election Essay.”

Essay on One Nation One Election- 100 words.

One Nation One Election is a revolutionary concept. It aims at conducting all elections together. Elections take place at different levels from the local to the national level. The idea of holding one nation, one election in India has been a topic of discussion for many years. Some people say that it would save time and resources. It will also reduce the burden on voters. On the other hand, there are some arguments that it will harm the smaller regional parties. Despite these challenges, some states have already taken steps towards synchronizing their elections with national ones. For example, Madhya Pradesh recently held simultaneous polls for local bodies along with state assembly by-elections. Ultimately, it is crucial to make the decision carefully.

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Essay on One Nation One Election- 150 words.

One Nation One Election is a concept that has gained significant attention in recent times. It suggests the unification of all elections in India, be it at the local, state, or national level. Promoters of One Nation One Election argue that it would reduce the continuous election cycle. It would reduce the burden on the government and save valuable resources spent on conducting multiple elections. Additionally, it would enable policymakers to focus more on policymaking rather than being preoccupied with election campaigns. Moreover, a One Nation One Election could potentially lead to better coordination and planning between different levels of government. It would help in facilitating the effective implementation of policies and programs. However, there are challenges to implementing this concept. Critics argue that synchronized elections may favour national parties over regional ones and undermine the federal structure of the country. In conclusion, One Nation One Election has the potential to streamline the electoral process and enhance governance. However careful consideration is required before implementing it.

Essay on One Nation One Election- 200 words

The concept of “One Nation One Election” has been a topic of debate for quite some time. This concept has now gained significant momentum in recent years. The idea behind it is to hold the Lok Sabha, State Assembly and Local Body elections simultaneously, once every five years. This would result in saving a considerable amount of time, money and effort spent on conducting multiple elections at different times. While this move can be beneficial in terms of reducing election-related violence and preventing political parties from exploiting the situation by spending a lot more money than necessary during election campaigns, there are certain challenges that need to be addressed before implementing this system effectively. Some critics argue that holding all three types of elections together may lead to confusion among voters who might not distinguish between local issues and national issues while casting their votes. Moreover, if one party wins majority seats across all levels- Centre as well as States- it could lead to an imbalance between Central dominance over state governments. However, implementing such a system requires a lot of planning and coordination between various political parties, states, and their respective electoral bodies. It also raises concerns about whether smaller parties will get overshadowed by bigger ones during simultaneous elections. Overall, whether or not the One Nation One Election will prove successful needs further analysis and discussion amongst the stakeholders involved.

Essay on One Nation One Election-300 words

One Nation One Election is a transformative idea. It aims to conduct all elections at the same time. All elections from the local panchayat elections to the national parliamentary elections will be held at the same time according to this scheme. This concept has been a subject of intense debate and discussion among politicians, policymakers, and citizens alike. Some people who favour the One Nation One Election put forth several compelling arguments. Firstly, it would reduce the immense strain on the resources and manpower required to conduct frequent elections. The current election system has politicians constantly campaigning, which takes away from their ability to govern effectively. Synchronized elections would allow governments to focus on their core responsibilities, leading to better outcomes. Secondly, One Nation One Election has the potential to reduce the massive expenditure incurred during elections. The cost of conducting multiple elections, including the deployment of security forces, the printing of ballots, and logistical arrangements, is staggering. Another advantage of this concept is the avoidance of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) that is enforced during election periods. The MCC imposes restrictions on the government’s decision-making capabilities, hindering policy formulation and implementation. By having elections at the same time, the government can operate without the constraints of the MCC, ensuring continuity and seamless governance. Despite the potential benefits, critics raise valid concerns about the feasibility and potential implications of the One Nation One Election. Regional parties fear that synchronized elections may favour national parties and dilute their influence. Moreover, the federal structure of India, which grants states significant autonomy, could be undermined if elections are solely focused on national issues. In conclusion, One Nation One Election is an ambitious concept that holds the promise of streamlining the electoral process, reducing expenditure, and promoting effective governance. However, it requires careful consideration of the concerns of regional parties and the maintenance of India’s federal structure. Further deliberation, consensus-building, and constitutional amendments may be necessary to make this idea a reality.

Essay on One Nation One Election- 400+ words

Introduction

Imagine a country where every citizen simultaneously casts their vote, without the chaos and confusion of multiple elections throughout the year. A nation where political parties focus on governance rather than campaigning for different elections. This is the idea behind ‘One Nation One Election,’ a topic that has been gaining momentum in recent years. Let’s understand the advantages and disadvantages of this proposal and analyze whether it’s feasible or not.

What is One Nation One Election?

One Nation One Election, as the name suggests, refers to holding elections across India at the same time. This means that both state and national elections would be conducted simultaneously, every five years. This concept aims to streamline the election process in India and reduce its cost by conducting it once for all levels of governance. Currently, we have different dates for state and national elections, which leads to constant campaigning throughout the year and a waste of resources. The idea behind One Nation One Election is also to ensure better governance with fewer disruptions caused by frequent elections. As politicians are constantly busy campaigning during election season, they may not be able to focus on their duties effectively. However, implementing this system requires constitutional amendments as well as consensus among all political parties. While some parties support this concept citing benefits like reducing costs and improving governance efficiency, others oppose it claiming it violates federalism principles. One Nation One Election could potentially bring about significant changes in India’s electoral process if implemented successfully.

Advantages of One Nation One Election

1.Cost-saving benefits: One Nation One Election: Saving Money Explanation: One Nation One Election can save a significant amount of money by reducing the cost of conducting multiple elections across different states. 2.Time-saving benefits: Streamlined Campaigns with One Nation One Election Explanation: One Nation One Election reduces the time spent on election campaigns, allowing political parties to focus more on governance and development activities. 3.Minimizing restrictions: Avoiding Prolonged Model Code of Conduct with Simultaneous Elections Explanation: Simultaneous elections prevent the prolonged imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which restricts government decisions during election periods. 4.Resource efficiency: Resource Optimization through One Nation One Election Explanation: Conducting One Nation One Election reduces the strain on resources like manpower and materials (such as electronic voting machines) that are frequently deployed during individual state elections.

Disadvantages of One Nation One Election

While One Nation One Election has its advantages, it is not without its share of disadvantages. 1.Potential neglect of regional issues: National Focus at the Expense of Regional Problems Explanation: One Nation One Election may shift the focus towards national parties and their agendas, potentially neglecting region-specific issues. 2.Disadvantage for smaller parties: Challenges Faced by Smaller Parties and Independent Candidates Explanation: Smaller parties and independent candidates may struggle to compete against larger national parties in terms of resources and funding, which could reduce diverse representation in government. 3.Logistical challenges: Coordination and Resource Strain in Simultaneous Elections Explanation: Holding simultaneous elections nationwide requires significant coordination and resources, potentially straining the election machinery and leading to logistical challenges such as inadequate polling booths and personnel shortages. 4.Disrupted political cycles: Disrupted Political Rhythms and Potential Instability Explanation: Different states have varying terms of office for their elected representatives and holding simultaneous elections every five years nationally may result in some governments being dissolved early or continuing past their term limit, causing instability within regions. While One Nation One Election has several benefits such as cost savings and efficient use of resources; there are also valid concerns regarding representational diversity, logistical challenges during election season etc., which need careful consideration before implementing this reform.

To sum it up, One Nation One Election is a concept that aims at reducing the frequency of elections in India and promoting better governance. While it has its advantages such as saving time, money and resources, and enabling stability in governance, it also faces certain challenges such as constitutional limitations, logistical issues and opposition from regional parties. Therefore, before implementing this idea on a national level, there needs to be extensive deliberation and consensus-building among all political parties. The focus should be on finding solutions to overcome the obstacles while ensuring that democracy remains vibrant and robust. We hope this essay on One Nation One Election for students has provided you with valuable insights into this topic. It’s important for us to understand both sides of the argument before forming any opinion or taking any action towards implementing such a significant change in our electoral system.

1)What is ‘One Nation, One Election’? Answer- “One Nation, One Election” refers to the concept of conducting the elections at the same time for all levels of government in a country. It proposes conducting simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament), state legislative assemblies, and local bodies such as municipalities and panchayats. The idea behind this concept is to have a uniform election cycle where all elections take place at the same time, typically once every five years. The proponents of “One Nation, One Election” argue that it can bring several benefits. First, it is believed that simultaneous elections will reduce the huge expenditure involved in conducting separate elections at different times. It can also minimize the disruption caused by frequent elections and the associated political campaigning, allowing elected representatives to focus more on governance and policy-making. Advocates of this concept also argue that it can help in better policy coordination between the central and state governments. As elections often result in a temporary halt in policy implementation, synchronized elections can ensure continuity and stability in governance.

2)Where did One Nation, One Election start? Answer- The concept of “One Nation, One Election” is not specific to any particular country or region. It has been discussed and debated in various countries around the world, including India. In the Indian context, the idea of synchronized elections was first proposed by the Law Commission of India in its 170th report in 1999. The report recommended holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies to reduce the frequency of elections and ensure better governance. Since then, the concept of “One Nation, One Election” has gained traction in Indian political discourse. It has been actively promoted by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a vocal supporter of the idea. While the concept originated in India with the Law Commission’s recommendation, it is important to note that similar discussions on synchronized elections have taken place in other countries as well. For example, in the United States, there have been proposals for aligning the terms of the President and Congress to achieve a similar objective of coordinated elections.

3) Who proposed ‘One nation, One election’? Answer- The concept of “One Nation, One Election” has been discussed and proposed by various individuals and organizations in India. While it is challenging to attribute the proposal to a single originator, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have been prominent advocates of the idea in the Indian context. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has actively promoted the concept of synchronized elections since his first term in office. He has highlighted the potential benefits of reducing election-related expenses, minimizing disruptions caused by frequent elections, and ensuring better governance through continuity and stability. In addition to the BJP, other political parties and organizations in India have also expressed their support or opposition to the concept of “One Nation, One Election.” The NITI Aayog, a policy think tank of the Indian government, has conducted consultations and deliberations on the subject, engaging with various stakeholders to gather inputs and opinions on the feasibility and implications of synchronized elections.

4) Do you want one Nation one Election? Answer- Public opinion on “One Nation, One Election” varies among individuals and different sections of society. There is no singular consensus on whether people want synchronized elections or not. Supporters of the concept argue that it can bring benefits such as cost savings, reduced political campaigning, and improved governance. They believe that synchronized elections can minimize the disruptions caused by frequent elections, allow elected representatives to focus on governance, and provide stability and continuity in policymaking. Opponents, on the other hand, have expressed concerns about the feasibility, potential centralization of power, and the impact on regional and local issues. Some argue that synchronized elections may dilute the voice of regional parties and undermine the federal structure of governance. Since public opinion can vary significantly across different regions, political parties, and demographics, it is challenging to make a definitive statement on whether people as a whole want “One Nation, One Election.” Ultimately, it is a matter of debate and requires a comprehensive assessment of the potential benefits and drawbacks, along with constitutional and logistical considerations, to determine the preferences of the populace.

5) Is one election for one nation feasible? Answer- The feasibility of implementing “One Nation, One Election” depends on several factors and can vary from country to country. While the concept of synchronized elections has its potential benefits, there are several challenges and considerations that need to be addressed.

• Constitutional and Legal Considerations: Implementing synchronized elections may require constitutional amendments and changes to existing legal frameworks. The electoral laws and structures of different regions or states within a country may need to be aligned to facilitate simultaneous elections.
• Political Consensus: Gaining political consensus among various political parties and stakeholders is crucial for the successful implementation of synchronized elections. All political parties need to agree on the terms and conditions, election cycles, and other aspects related to the unified election process.
• Election Infrastructure: The logistics of conducting elections across the entire country simultaneously can be a significant challenge. Sufficient infrastructure, including polling stations, election personnel, security arrangements, and voter registration systems, must be in place to accommodate the increased scale of the elections.
• Governance and Administrative Challenges: Conducting simultaneous elections for different levels of government can lead to significant disruptions in the administrative machinery. Coordinating election schedules, campaigning, and managing the transfer of power across various tiers of government can pose practical challenges.
• Regional and Local Dynamics: Different regions and states within a country may have their unique political dynamics and issues. Synchronized elections may dilute the voice of regional and local concerns, potentially leading to the centralization of power.

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One Nation One Election Essay 150 Words

The idea of “One Nation, One Election” has received a lot of attention nowadays. It favors combining all elections in India, whether they are local, state, or national. One Nation One Election backers contend that it would stop the ongoing election cycle. It would free up vital resources used for holding many elections and lessen the strain on the government. Additionally, it would allow decision-makers to concentrate more on crafting policies rather than being distracted by election campaigns.

A One Nation One Election might also result in improved communication and planning amongst the various levels of government. It would aid in making policies and programmes easier to implement successfully. However, putting this idea into practice presents difficulties. Synchronised elections, according to their detractors, could privilege national parties over regional ones and threaten the nation’s federal system. In conclusion, One Nation One Election has the potential to improve governance and streamline the political process. However, it must be carefully considered before being put into practice.

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One Nation One Election Essay 200 Words 

One Nation One Election, as the name implies, refers to elections taking place simultaneously throughout India. As a result, simultaneous state and federal elections would be held every five years. By conducting it just once for all levels of government, this idea seeks to simplify and lower the cost of the election process in India. Because state and national elections currently take place at separate times, there is nonstop campaigning all year long, wasting resources. One Nation One Election seeks to ensure better governance while minimising the disruptions brought on by recurrent elections.

During election season, politicians may not be able to adequately focus on their jobs since they are continuously engaged in campaigning. But to put this system into place, constitutional changes are needed, along with agreement from all major parties. While some parties are in favour of this idea and point to advantages like cost savings and increased government effectiveness, others are against it and argue it contradicts the ideas of federalism.

One Nation, One Election’s Benefits

• Cost-saving advantages: Saving Money: One Nation, One Election The cost of holding numerous elections in various states can be reduced by using one election, which can result in significant financial savings.
• Time-saving advantages: One Nation One Election streamlines campaigns, allowing political parties to devote more time to governance and development initiatives. One Nation One Election cuts down on the amount of time spent on election campaigns.

One Nation One Election Essay 250 Words

In India, elections are held every year, and the government invests a lot of time, effort, and resources into planning them. The need for the “One Nation, One Election” system has resulted from this. Elections for the General State Assembly and the Lok Sabha are conducted every five years in India. Additionally, numerous state assembly elections placed a heavy financial load on the administration. The NDA government has proposed a plan to have just one election nationwide every five years. “One Nation, One Election” backers claim that it has a number of advantages. 

This suggestion was brought up during the meeting that The PM presided over on June 19, 2019. All political parties came together to debate the difficulties, benefits, and drawbacks of the idea. The “One Nation One Election” concept seeks to synchronise the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections throughout the whole Indian election cycle.

This idea has been trialled before in India. It has also occurred before, during the simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies held in India in the years 1952, 1957, 1962, and 1967. In 1968 and 1969, the “One Nation One Election” practise was abandoned because a few Legislative Assemblies were dissolved before their terms were up for various reasons. Since they suffered their worst-ever defeat in the most recent Lok Sabha elections, the regional parties won’t support the implementation of this system. India is once again attempting to implement this electoral system, but execution of this movement is getting difficult due to lack of agreement between the central government and numerous political groups.

One Nation One Election Essay 300 words

The phrase “One Nation, One Election” refers to the idea of holding elections for all levels of government in a nation at the same time. The Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament), state legislative assemblies, and local government bodies like municipalities and panchayats would all be subject to simultaneous elections. The aim behind this notion is to have a standard election calendar, usually once every five years, when all elections take place at the same time.

“One Nation, One Election” backers claim that it has a number of advantages. First, it is believed that holding polls simultaneously will cut down on the enormous costs associated with holding separate elections at various times. Additionally, it can lessen the commotion that regular elections and the related political campaigning produce, allowing elected officials to concentrate more on governance and policy-making.

In addition, proponents of this idea contend that it can aid in greater policy coordination between the federal and state governments. Synchronised elections can ensure continuity and stability in governance, as elections frequently cause a temporary halt in the implementation of policies. Individuals and various sections of society hold varying opinions about “One Nation, One Election”. On whether people want synchronised elections or not, there is no universal agreement.

supporters of the concept claim that it can result in savings on expenses, less political campaigning, and better governance. They contend that synchronised elections can reduce the disruptions brought on by frequent elections, free up elected officials to concentrate on governance, and ensure stability and continuity in the formulation of public policy.

On the other hand, opponents have voiced worries about the viability, potential for power-centering, and impact on local and regional issues. Some contend that simultaneous elections could weaken the influence of regional parties and threaten the federal system of government.

One Nation One Election Essay 500 Words

Introduction.

One Nation One Election (OONE) is a plan for assembling all state legislative assemblies and the Lok Sabha, the lower chamber of the Indian Parliament, in parallel elections. Despite the fact that the proposal has been around for a while, it has recently received more attention as a result of the high cost of elections and the disruption they create to development efforts. The advantages of OONE could be numerous.

History of “One Nation, One Election”

Simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies were held shortly after independence. Elections in 1952, 1957, 1962, and 1967 all reflected this. However, this was abandoned because in 1968–1969 some State Legislative Assemblies had already been dissolved for a number of reasons. The Lok Sabha and state assembly elections are currently held separately. That is whenever the five-year term of the existing administration expires or the legislature is dissolved. The Legislative Assemblies’ and the Lok Sabha’s terms might or might not coincide. For instance, whereas Tamil Nadu won’t hold elections until 2021, Rajasthan held elections in late 2018.

Disadvantages of “One Nation, One Election”

• Even if concurrent elections are implemented, there are still a number of drawbacks to this reform. 
• Numerous political groups in opposition have said unequivocally that they oppose this proposal.
• Elections held concurrently could skew voters’ perceptions. Local concerns won’t typically receive as much attention from voters as national issues do.
• Regional parties won’t be able to properly address local and regional issues because of the powerful Central politics.

The tendency of Indian politics and polity to become more centralized will be strengthened. The government’s ability to be held accountable by the public may suffer from simultaneous elections. Elections are held periodically, which keeps the executive and legislative branches in check. This cannot happen if elections are held simultaneously.

But to put this system into place, constitutional changes are needed, along with agreement from all major parties. While some parties are in favour of this idea and point to advantages like cost savings and increased government effectiveness, others are against it and argue it contradicts the ideas of federalism.

Advantages of “One Nation, One Election”

Reduced Expenditure: Holding elections at various levels is a costly endeavour. One Nation One Election has the potential to significantly lower the financial burden on the government, freeing up money that could be used for other important purposes, such as healthcare and education.

Efficient Governance: Regular elections frequently cause a brief pause in the implementation of policies. Election synchronisation might guarantee a stable administration for a longer period of time, allowing for consistent policy creation and implementation.

Increased Voter Turnout: With numerous elections, voter tiredness is a regular problem. A stronger and more representative democracy may result from lowering the frequency and encouraging more people to engage in the democratic process.

Streamlined Logistics: Elections are difficult to organise logistically. Multiple elections cause disruptions to daily life, but One Nation One Election might streamline the procedure and lessen disruptions for the general public.

Focus on Development: Politicians and governments devote a large amount of time to campaigning during their terms in office. Less elections would allow them to concentrate more on government, development, and solving pressing problems.

Essay on One Nation One Election 700 words

What is the indian election system.

Every five years, India has elections for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha (Assembly). All elected legislators’ terms are scheduled to end after five years. Elections are held concurrently in all constituencies on the same day or within a few days. The election in question is a general election. When a member dies or resigns, a single constituency election may be called to replace the vacancy. This kind of election is known as a “by-election”.  

History of Election

With the first general election, which was held in 1951–1952, over a four-month period, democracy made significant progress. The largest democratic experiment ever conducted took place during these elections. All people who were twenty-one years of age or older had the right to vote, and the elections were conducted under the principles of universal adult franchise. Over 173 million people cast ballots, the majority of them being low-income, uneducated, rural, and first-time voters. At the time, the main concern was how the populace would react to this chance.

Many questioned whether such an electorate could exercise its right to vote in a politically responsible and adult manner. Some claimed that benign dictatorships were the only political solution for a caste-based, multireligious, illiterate, and underdeveloped country like India since democratic elections were inappropriate for it. Some people called the upcoming elections “a leap in the dark,” while others called them “fantastic” and “an act of faith.”

One nation one election

On June 19, 2019, the Prime Minister of India called the leaders of all political parties to a meeting to discuss the concept of “one nation, one election” and other crucial issues. One Nation One Election seeks to synchronise the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies elections in India by organising the country’s electoral calendar.

Advantages of One Nation One Election

Cost-Efficiency

Saving money is one of ONOE’s main benefits. National elections, including those for state and parliamentary assemblies, demand a large financial investment. The government may lower overall election-related spending by holding all polls at once, freeing up funds for welfare programmes and development initiatives.

Office Effectiveness

Regular elections cause administrative staff, security personnel, and government resources to be diverted to election-related duties. The administration will be able to concentrate more effectively on governance and policy implementation for the remainder of the term thanks to ONOE, which will limit this resource diversion to once every five years.

Regular Governance

ONOE may result in consistent and reliable government. Currently, various states may have administrations in power for varying terms due to staggered elections. This may result in policy inconsistencies and obstruct long-term development strategies. With concurrent elections, the terms of the federal and state governments will coincide, resulting in consistent policy formulation and implementation.

‘One Nation, One Election’ challenges

It is necessary to align the terms of the State Legislative Assemblies and the Lok Sabha in order to hold elections for both bodies within a certain amount of time. For instance, the current Lok Sabha’s term will end in 2024, but different legislative assemblies’ terms will end at different times because of elections last year for some and this year for others (such as Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand). The current Lok Sabha’s term will end in 2024.

Currently, each polling place has a single voting machine that is utilised to conduct the vote. Due to the fact that the ECI must supply two sets of EVMs and VVPATs for each polling station (one for the Lok Sabha election and the other for the Legislative Assembly election), the requirements for performing simultaneous elections would increase.

The polling crew will also need to meet an additional criteria. Transporting supplies to the polling places will be challenging. Better security measures would be required for the simultaneous elections, thus the Central Police Forces will need to be increased proportionately. After elections, the ECI already has trouble keeping the EVMs safe.

Conclusion 

A great concept 

Simultaneous polls are a wonderful concept from the EC’s and election management’s perspectives. The voter, voting places, election workers, and security personnel are all the same, after all. As a result, the idea seems to be not only practical but also cost-effective.

Governance body 

There is enough flexibility in the Constitution to adapt it to the needs and circumstances of the nation as they change. This flexibility is not only a helpful tool; it also places a duty on governments to give their citizens access to the finest governance frameworks, procedures, and opportunities.

Low expenses 

We can impose a cap on political party spending to address the problem of unchecked campaign spending.

Acceptance is necessary

Everyone in the nation is affected by elections, including residents, corporations, government agencies, constitutional bodies, political parties, and leaders. One nation, one election’s purpose and effectiveness could be jeopardised in the absence of widespread agreement and acceptance.

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'Language is identity': First Nation legislator to make history at Ontario Legislature

Ndp mpp sol mamakwa to ask question in anishininiimowin on tuesday.

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Decades after being punished in a residential school for speaking his own language, Sol Mamakwa will hold the powerful to account at Ontario's legislature in the very same language past governments tried to bury.

On Tuesday, Mamakwa, the only First Nation legislator at Queen's Park, will rise in the legislative chamber — with his mother, sister, brothers, friends and elders watching from the gallery — and ask a question in Anishininiimowin, known in English as Oji-Cree.

For the first time in its history, the Ontario Legislature will allow, interpret and transcribe a language other than English and French.

It will also be a birthday gift to his mom, Kezia Mamakwa, who turns 79 that day, and a nod to his late father, Jerry Mamakwa.

"Language is nationhood, language is identity, language is where history comes from and language is me and my people," Sol Mamakwa, a 53-year-old NDP legislator, said in an interview.

"It's important because there's so many of us who are losing our languages. I think it's a step toward reconciliation and a step toward reviving our languages."

The federal government in decades past, with help from the Catholic and Protestant churches, tried to kill Indigenous languages through various means, including residential schools that ripped children away from their families and forced them to speak English.

Indigenous languages have been slowly dying over the past century.

About 25 people from Mamakwa's Kingfisher Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario will travel to Toronto to watch him make history along with 75 other guests, including Indigenous leaders.

"I think about the people who have lost their language, I think about the people who were not allowed to speak their language in residential schools and I think about my mom," Mamakwa said as he choked up. She lives with dementia and has good days and bad, he said.

His family's pride resonates through several phone conversations.

"She's so proud, " Mamakwa's sister Esther Sakakeep, said of her mother. "As I am, for my little brother. I just wish our dad would be there, but I know he will be looking down on us."

His older brother struggled to find words to describe his feelings.

"I went to residential school, and I remember, even though I didn't think of it much at the time as a teenager, they had told us we couldn't speak our language, you just couldn't and if you did, you'd be punished badly," Jonathon Mamakwa said.

"To see this, it's awesome."

Chance encounter sparked change

A chance encounter in March between Sol Mamakwa and Government House Leader Paul Calandra triggered the change.

One evening Mamakwa found himself at a reception at Queen's Park where he gave a speech partly in his own language and partly in English.

He told the crowd his parents taught him to speak Anishininiimowin first, and English second. He lamented the fact he could not speak his own language in the legislative assembly, then went on with his speech.

Mamakwa said his comments were deliberate, trying to plant an idea for change inside the mind of Calandra, who also spoke at the event.

It worked. Calandra was irritated, believing Mamakwa was peddling untruths.

The next morning, Mamakwa sipped coffee at the cafeteria in the basement of Queen's Park with his northern New Democrat friends, Guy Bourgoin, a Metis man representing Mushkegowuk-James Bay, and John Vanthof, a farmer representing Timiskaming-Cochrane.

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Calandra, a staunch Progressive Conservative who runs multiple ministries, strolled by with his staffers and, as he is wont to do, chirped at the Official Opposition members.

"I asked Sol if I should cross the floor to help them ask better questions," Calandra said with a laugh.

He also chided Mamakwa for his belief he could not speak his language in the legislative chamber. Mamakwa, getting irritated himself, said he had tried to speak several times before, but was cut off by the Speaker every time.

Owen Macri, Calandra's chief of staff and a walking encyclopedia  of legislative procedures, then told his boss Mamakwa was right.

The only official languages at Queen's Park are English and French, he told Calandra. It had been that way since Confederation in 1867, with the rules laid out in a standing order.

"For the first time in six years, I walked out of the room and said, 'I'm wrong, you're right,"' Calandra recalled telling Mamakwa.

Over breakfast, the pair decided to fix it.

"It was just wrong," Calandra said. "It just seemed like this is common sense and I can't believe that we don't actually allow it to happen."

Mamakwa is widely respected among the different parties. Both the governing PCs and the Ontario Liberals tried to persuade him to join their sides at some point since he was elected for the riding of Kiiwetinoong, including a personal invitation from Premier Doug Ford to cross the floor.

Within days of that encounter, Calandra's chief of staff had two standing orders ready to go, one specifically for Mamakwa and a second allowing all future Indigenous members of the provincial parliament to speak their language.

The new rules are now enshrined: "Every Member desiring to speak must rise in his or her place and address the Speaker, in either English, French or an Indigenous language spoken in Canada. If a Member wishes to address the House in an Indigenous language, they shall, prior to taking their seat for the first time, notify the Clerk of the House of the language in which they intend to speak so the Speaker may arrange appropriate interpretation and translation capabilities."

The change means the world to Mamakwa.

"I guess I'm friends with Paul Calandra now," he said with a big laugh.

Flurry of activity underway to prepare for translation

The change set in motion a flurry of activity to prepare for Tuesday.

The legislature's broadcast and recording service department currently provides a live simultaneous interpretation of English to French or vice versa in the chamber, in committee hearings and on television and online.

Adding a third language has presented some technical challenges, said Jeff Goodman, operations manager of the broadcast service, but there are plans to address them.

On Tuesday, one Indigenous interpreter will be in a broadcast booth inside the chamber usually occupied by the French interpreter, Goodman explained. The French interpreter will shift upstairs to an empty committee interpretation booth as part of a makeshift relay that's been set up.

When Mamakwa speaks, his words will be translated to English and sent to the earbuds inside the house, out for broadcast and up to the French interpreter on the fifth floor for further translation — all in real-time.

The legislature may eventually need to add a third interpretation booth to accommodate anyone speaking an Indigenous language, but they will also need to figure out how to perform the same act remotely if interpreters are not physically in Toronto.

Indigenous interpreters have been difficult to find, Goodman said, but the legislature has two Oji-Cree interpreters ready for Tuesday.

Mamakwa will speak for about 10 minutes in his language before the question period.

In addition to live translation, one interpreter will help transcribe Mamakwa's speech and questions so they can be represented in syllabics, an Indigenous writing system, in Hansard, the official record of proceedings at Queen's Park.

"It's a big challenge, but, it's amazing to see all of these different groups work together, and we're excited to be a part of something really important," Goodman said.

Indigenous leaders are expected to take in the historic moment, including Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in northwestern Ontario.

"I continue to be amazed by Sol's leadership," Fiddler said.

This is just an example of how effective he can be as a provincial parliamentarian to advancing our language initiatives, to restore our language and our culture and for him to do this at that level is pretty incredible."

For Mamakwa, the change is part of his goal to better the lives of First Nations people and keep his roots strong.

"This is change for the good at Queen's Park because there will be others behind me," he said. "It will be a good day."

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