CSS (Central Superior Services) has been the epicenter of the learned youth across the nation for decades due to its evaluation module and system. Thousands of candidates appear in CSS exams every year to compete in the world of knowledge and only the true aspirants qualify in the final race and serve the nation in various fields investing their wealth of knowledge for the prosperity of the nation.
Recently, Lahore High Court has taken a decision which notifies that the medium for CSS exams shall be Urdu language which is the national language of the country. In one perspective it seems a good decision as Urdu language is the national language and it is widely spoken and understood all over Pakistan but on the other hand it seems redundant regarding it to be the medium in CSS exams as most of the candidates face numerous problems in writing and speaking Urdu language even in their daily life. There are some imperative issues which may impede in the process of implementation of the current notification.
First, English language is considered as medium of instruction and official language in Pakistan. Every student and official are familiar with this language as their official as well as medium of instruction. People prefer sending their children to private sector schools where English language is valued and used as medium of communication. Whereas, text books are widely taught in English language except the subject ‘Urdu’. The language of science and technology is English which may take many decades to replace Urdu. On the realistic ground, our students prefer to study science subjects in English rather than Urdu.
Secondly, Pakistan is a multi-lingual state where more than fifty languages are being spoken by its citizens. Provincially, Punjab prefers Panjabi, Sindh prefers Sindhi, KPK prefers Pushto, Baluchistan prefers Baluchi, Gilgit and Baltistan prefer Balti and Shina respectively and Kashmir prefers Kashmiri language. There are hundreds of dialects and languages used by the people in the country. Possibly, all of them might prefer to give privilege to their native languages which seem impracticable to implement massively.
Thirdly, Urdu language is mostly understood everywhere in Pakistan but it is not spoken as an everyday language in most of the cities and villages. Still Urdu is taught as a subject in rural areas of Sindh, Balochistan, KPK and Gilgit and Baltistan. In most of these areas, not only students but teachers are also reluctant to speak Urdu language. They mostly use their native languages during teaching and learning process.
Fourthly, Urdu is used practically as a language in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Abbottabad and some major cities of the country where the Pakistanis prefer to send their children for studies. Most of the students who cannot use Urdu language in their daily life might face problems in speaking and writing Urdu. We have been going through a linguistic dilemma that is multi-lingual issues in the country. Majority of the citizens of Pakistan whatever province they live in do not use Urdu at their homes and daily routine but most of the citizens mostly use Urdu in their daily life. Students belonging to the rural areas of Sindh, KPK, Baluchistan and Gilgit and Baltistan face enormous difficulties when they come across Urdu language. Even a layman at Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore can easily find grammatical mistakes when the people from certain areas speak Urdu. Same is the case with the candidates who hail to certain areas and appear in CSS exam commit certain mistakes in their writing and speaking Urdu language. As for as the paper checking is concern that every examiner who checks papers considers linguistic competency and deficiency when they go through certain papers. If a student commits grammatical mistake even his knowledge is outstanding he might loss his marks due to linguistic deficiency which is a psycho-matter for every examiner. It is clear that CSS candidates belonging to less Urdu privileged areas might be at a loss as it is a natural phenomenon that every second language users commits certain mistakes or error while speaking and writing that language. From the examiners’ perspective, it can be said that there will be a sense of deprivation and imbalance while checking papers if Urdu is introduced as medium for CSS exams as majority of Pakistanis are not competent at Urdu language. The level of English language is almost at the same point throughout Pakistan as English is learned by every student at schools, colleges and universities without considering any social differences but on the other hand when a student from rural areas studying at Islamabad speaks Urdu then it is a fact that those who live in urban areas laugh at certain students due to ‘tha, thi, thay, ta, ti tay’ etc.
Fifthly, the medium of instruction throughout the country has been English language in every private and government school. Specially, language of information technology has been originally English language throughout Pakistan as a result every Pakistani student and teacher use English language when they are involved in any activity using technology which seems very complicated in Urdu.
To sum up, a language is important when the people who speak it are important and it takes centuries to implement a language in academies and institutions. Naturally, a language is not imposed but it makes pace through human mind via civilization, culture, invention, politics, religion, education, law or at present through technology. Above all, it takes a long period to be implemented naturally otherwise we need to become Hitler or Napoleon if cannot wait for long times.