While calling an attention motion on the need to include Bhojpuri in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to accord it the official language status, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, recently stunned the house by speaking in Bhojpuri. And while everyone applauded his move, speaker Meira Kumar said that it is a matter of great joy that Chidambaram, whom she has never heard speak even in Hindi, addressed the house in Bhojpuri.
People who belong to the area and are working for the language couldn’t have been happier. Says Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishen, “It has taken us many years to make Bhojpuri popular and bring Bhojpuri entertainment to the mainstream. It’s one of the most popular languages that is not only spoken in UP and Bihar but also in countries like Mauritius, Holland and Fiji. I just hope that the Home Minister takes an immediate step to give it an official language status as well,” he says.
Bhojpuri actor Sambhavna Seth, however feels that just speaking a line in Bhojpuri won’t really make a difference. “The real work has been done by the artistes of that Bhojpuri-speaking belt. The language has already become very popular. The movies are doing well and more people want to get associated with them. It has been a good experience to be a part of the fraternity,” says Sambhavna.