‘Learn Hindi or…’ Sticker on BJP Leader Renu Chaudhary’s Red Car Sparks Language Row in Delhi
‘Learn Hindi or…’ Sticker on BJP Leader Renu Chaudhary’s Red Car Sparks Language Row in Delhi
Renu Chaudhary, councillor of Patparganj Ward 197 in Delhi, recently came under criticism after a video surfaced showing her confronting an African football coach for not speaking Hindi. The incident occurred in a public park where the coach has been teaching local children for nearly 15 years.
In the video, Chaudhary tells the coach, “You still haven’t learned Hindi. Why haven’t you? If you don’t learn it within a month, you won’t be allowed to use this park.” While bystanders initially laughed, interpreting it as a joke, Chaudhary insisted, “This isn’t something to joke about. I spoke to you eight months ago. If you are earning your living here, it is important to know the language of the country.”
Chaudhary later clarified that her concern was primarily to ease communication with local authorities, as many Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) staff do not speak English. She explained that the coach had been asked to pay revenue for using the park for commercial football coaching, but language barriers made it difficult. “What happened was that I had asked him eight months ago to pay revenue, as this is an MCD park and he was using it commercially. He said he doesn’t know Hindi, and MCD officials also found it hard to communicate with him,” she said.
The councillor also stated that she had offered to arrange a Hindi tutor for the coach and even cover the cost, but the offer was ignored. “I don’t believe what I said was wrong. Most people in our country speak Hindi, so it’s reasonable for foreigners to learn it,” she added.
The coach, who wished to remain anonymous, described his experience with the situation. He moved to India 12 years ago seeking opportunities and began teaching football to children in local parks. “I am scared. If this continues, I may have to leave soon,” he said, recalling that the confrontation occurred while he was playing football with Indian friends on December 13. He emphasized that since 2022, he has focused on underprivileged children, providing jerseys and sending them to competitions. “Many have gone on to become army officers and policemen,” he added.
Chaudhary defended her stance, explaining that coaching sessions were being held without proper permission or fixed timings, which caused challenges for MCD staff in maintaining park cleanliness. “Although locals say classes have been conducted here for over a decade, as a councillor, I want all activities to follow proper rules for security and cleanliness,” she said.
The incident has reignited a broader debate on language expectations in India. Sarthak Garg, a resident of Mayur Vihar Phase 1, observed, “People in India often don’t consider their own efforts to learn local languages when moving to other states. Many Hindi-speaking migrants live in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, or Karnataka for decades without learning Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, or other regional languages. Before expecting foreigners to learn Hindi, Indians should reflect on their own linguistic efforts.” Social media reactions mirrored this sentiment, with one user writing, “This is awkward! The Hindi pressure seems to be spreading across Delhi after Bengaluru and Mumbai.”
