The Regulation of Languages in Indian Railway Reservations

Indian Railways, a central government organization, operates under a set of rules and regulations that dictate the languages used in its operations. One common question is why southern languages are not included in the reservation charts for railway stations in regions predominantly speaking southern languages. This article delves into the rationale behind this regulation, the languages observed by the railways, and the historical context that led to the current policy.

The Central Government's Language Policy

Indian Railways follows the language policy set by the central government, which mandates the use of three official languages: English, Hindi, and regional languages. This policy is consistent across all stations, as evidenced by the name boards of railway stations that are written in these three languages.

Why Southern Languages Are Not Included

The exclusion of southern languages from the reservation charts is due to the central government's emphasis on inclusivity and the necessity to cover a wider geographical and linguistic base. Southern languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada are regional languages that are spoken in different regions of India. However, the trains in southern India do have signboards in these languages, differentiating them from northern languages that share a common Devanagari script similar to Sanskrit and Hindi, such as Punjabi, Bengali, and Marathi.

Historical Context and Technological Constraints

For a long time, the reservation charts were exclusively printed in English. However, by around 1989-90, a select few stations began printing these charts in Hindi as well. The primary challenge during this period was the availability of fonts that supported printing on line printers, which were more rugged and high-speed compared to modern desktop printers. Once this technological hurdle was overcome, the usage of Hindi in reservation charts proliferated.

The Paradigm Shift

In recent years, the printed reservation chart has been largely done away with, replaced by digital displays and online platforms. As per the provisions of the Official Languages Act of 1963, Section 33, the reservation charts were to be brought out in bilingual only – and not in a regional language.

Conclusion

The regulation of languages in Indian Railways is a multifaceted issue influenced by official government policy, technological constraints, and the need for widespread comprehension. While regional languages are prevalent in signboards, the primary language used in printed or digital reservation charts remains English and Hindi to ensure the widest possible reach and understanding.