Over the preceding months, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, renowned for his calm demeanor and patient listening, has found himself expressing discontent on multiple occasions due to the prevalent use of English instead of Hindi.
While traditionally acknowledged as 'Mr. Cool' for his composed disposition, recent instances have seen Nitish Kumar visibly losing his temper, particularly during the INDIA bloc meeting on Tuesday. A leader from the DMK in Tamil Nadu sought a translation of the Bihar Chief Minister's speech, triggering his ire.
The most recent flare-up occurred on December 19 in New Delhi when DMK's TR Baalu asked for translation assistance. Nitish Kumar, asserting the importance of Hindi as the national language, expressed frustration, suggesting that others should learn Hindi, the language of Hindustan. This incident unfolded in the presence of DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
During the INDIA bloc meeting, TR Baalu, seemingly speechless, gestured to Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Kumar Jha, requesting translation help. However, when Jha sought Nitish Kumar's permission to proceed, the Chief Minister, noticeably agitated, reiterated the significance of Hindi, instructing Jha to refrain from translating.
Interestingly, Manoj Kumar Jha had previously translated speeches for both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav at earlier INDIA bloc meetings.
In another incident from September, Nitish Kumar expressed dissatisfaction during the inauguration of a digital library in Banka upon discovering that the signboard was in English rather than Hindi. He directed officials to change the signboard, emphasizing the importance of preserving Hindi as a part of their tradition.
Earlier in February, at an event in Patna, Nitish Kumar voiced his displeasure when a farmer, Amit Kumar, from Lakhisarai district spoke in English. Despite being asked to share experiences at the agricultural roadmap launch, Nitish Kumar rebuked the farmer, questioning his choice of language and expressing surprise at the preference for English over Hindi in their state and nation.
In March, within the Bihar Legislative Council, Nitish Kumar was captured on a viral video expressing anger over the use of English on the display board. Confronting Legislative Council Chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur, also a member of his party, JD(U), Nitish Kumar questioned the use of words like "honorable" and "speaking time" in English, expressing concerns about the potential marginalization of Hindi in their legislative proceedings.
