The introduction of Hindi medium MBBS textbooks in Madhya Pradesh has not seen much success despite the initial hype. The state’s medical colleges primarily use English as the medium of instruction and rely on English textbooks. Only a small number of students, around eight to ten out of 250, have opted for the Hindi textbooks, with the majority of sales coming from GMC Bhopal. The lack of demand can be attributed to the absence of Hindi as a language option for higher education, as students pursuing MBBS degrees need to use English for research publications and specialized knowledge. Officials believe that this scenario may change as more states introduce regional language textbooks.
Medical students in Madhya Pradesh have shown little interest in the Hindi MBBS textbooks despite heavy advertisement. Despite promotion, few students have picked these textbooks. Most state medical colleges teach in English and use English texts.
The Hindi MBBS textbooks were launched in Madhya Pradesh last October, with plans to introduce Hindi and Marathi textbooks in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra in the coming year. However, the proposal to use Hindi and regional languages in technical and non-technical higher education institutions has faced opposition from some states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The low demand for the Hindi textbooks may be due to several factors. The limited range of subjects covered in the textbooks reduces their appeal, as postgraduate, certificate, and diploma courses still require English. Furthermore, the use of English as the language for postgraduate and other exams creates a preference for English proficiency among students. Some students also attribute the low demand to social pressure, as being the only one using Hindi textbooks in an English-dominated environment may be seen as an anomaly.
Although the quality of the Hindi textbooks is considered good, some students find the learning experience to be inconsistent due to the usage of both Hindi and English translations. Some students believe that instead of translating primary literature, the government should have provided Hindi reference materials for better comprehension. Additionally, doctors and academics argue that the importance of English in global medical education cannot be ignored, and maintaining a few subjects in regional languages may not be beneficial in acquiring global knowledge.
Despite the challenges, officials in Madhya Pradesh believe that the main objective of the textbooks is to improve comprehension, and over time, the academic structure for medical courses in local languages will develop further.
