Three years ago, Germany succeeded in convincing the Indian government to include German as a third language in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum for classes 6 to 8. However, the country clearly doesn't believe in practising what it preaches.

Despite it advocating German for Indian schools, Hindi and Sanskrit are nowhere to be found in curriculums of schools in Germany. It is Mandarin (a group of varieties of Chinese) that rules the roost in the foreign language category. There are 120 schools and 40 universities in Germany that teach Chinese. Spanish is also becoming increasingly popular in the country, along with English and French.

Renowned German scholar Marko Demantowsky, who teaches at the University of Applied Sciences of Northwestern, Switzerland, admits, “I do not know a single school in Germany teaching Hindi.”

Indian intellectuals had condemned their government’s decision to discontinue a three-year-old scheme that introduced German as a third language option to Sanskrit, stating that the move flouted the Constitution. However, German intellectuals have never voiced their support for Hindi, Sanskrit or any other Indian language, despite the fact that India is now being recognised as a powerful nation with a booming economy.

“I do not know a single German intellectual complaining about this regrettable situation,” says Demantowsky. The professor learned Sanskrit, Hindi, studied Indian culture and history 25 years ago and calls himself a ‘lover of India’, who has visited the country five times.

German ambassador Michael Steiner refused to comment, saying that the matter was subjudice. However, a week ago, an English daily had quoted him saying, “We need two things to promote a language, one is the interest of students and parents, and two, the means to provide teachers and curriculum. Since India is growing fast, German youth would soon be interested in Hindi.”

The possibility of a growth of interest in Indian languages seems a distant possibility in Germany. Languages like Hindi and Sanskrit have been downright ignored by German schools and politicians, while the interest in Mandarin is growing exponentially, with several private centres even offering courses. An affinity to the culture is helping too. Chinese food, music, films, martial arts and culture are popular.

German intellectuals are clueless about the reason behind the neglect of Indian languages. Professor Ulf Abraham from the University of Bramberg, Germany, said in an emailed reply, “I have no idea what the reasons might be, though I am aware that Mandarin is being offered at some schools.”

Scholars admit that this it is necessary to speak about Hindi or Sanskrit) in Germany before speaking about German in India. German politicians obviously neglected this point when they debated about German being a part of the school curriculum. “It is a regrettable situation in the much-praised Indo-German relations. Indian diplomats in Germany are responsible for this situation to some extent,” said a German student who is currently doing research in India.

Prof Demantowsky said,“After all, Hindi is one of most widely used languages in the world. It is one of the official languages of India which is a BRICS state, a political superpower with a shiny perspective.”

Another professor believes there is room for improvement. “Indian languages must also be popularized in German schools alongside Mandarin as India is also rising fast,” said Professor Abraham.German academicians also agreed that India should get the attention it deserves. “We should really care for more Hindi courses at German high schools. India deserves more attention in German society, this interest should go beyond cheap orientalism,” said Prof. Demantowsky.

An email sent to the Indian embassy in Germany didn’t elicit any response till the time of going to press.