Sub: Printing of Maithili in the Rupee Note

1.
The Finance Minister
Government of India
New Delhi

2. The Governor,
Reserve Bank of India
Mumbai

Sub: Printing of Maithili in the Rupee Note

Dear Sir,

We would like to bring to your kind attention an anomaly in the printing of Indian currency wherein out of the 22 languages having been accorded ‘official language’ status as per the eighth schedule of the Constitution of India, only 17 find a place on the Indian currency. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had earlier diligently provided for all the official languages to be printed on the Rupee note. However, it appears that after the inclusion of four new languages (Maithili, Santhali, Dogri and Bodo) in the eighth schedule on January 8, 2004, the same missed the attention of RBI. It may also be mentioned that out of the three languages included in the eighth schedule in 1992 (Manipuri, Konkani and Nepali), though two languages were given a place on the Rupee note, only Manipuri was, inexplicably, left out.

2. The Rupee note is the symbols of our sovereignty and pride. It goes without saying that all the languages which find a mention as ‘official language’ in our Constitution, should be treated with equal respect and be given similar treatment including a place on our Rupee note. We therefore, request you to take appropriate steps to include Maithili as well as the remaining four languages i.e. Manipuri, Santhali, Dogri and Bodo, on the Rupee note. Such a step will not only help in National Integration, it will also inculcate a great sense of pride and belongingness in various corners of our great country.

3. The ancient language of Maithili has its own script known as ‘Tirhuttam’ or ‘Kaithi’. As we can see on Rupee note, many of the languages such as Konkani, Marathi, Nepali, Urdu, Kashmiri etc. mentioned on it don’t have their own script. With due respect to these languages, we would like to submit that Maithili may be mentioned on Rupee note in its own script as more number of indigenous scripts on Rupee note will reflect the cultural excellence and plurality of our nation.
4. The method and mechanism of such an effort may not be considered difficult as a small change in font and size will create enough space for these languages as well as, many more languages in future, on the Rupee note. Let the Indian Currency be a real and potent symbol of our sovereign country and instil a sense of pride in every corner of this great nation without any discrimination.

Yours sincerely

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नोट - यह पत्र एक बैंककर्मी ने तैयार किया है। अगर आप भारतीय संविधान और भारतीय भाषाओं को सम्‍मान देते हैं, तो इस पत्र को अपना मान कर अपने मेल आइडी से संबंधित लोगों तक पहुंचाने में मेरी मदद करें।