UP medical colleges told to begin teaching MBBS subjects in Hindi

Lucknow: In a recent development, Uttar Pradesh medical colleges have been asked to begin teaching MBBS subjects in Hindi. As a part of the transition, the Uttar Pradesh govt has decided to introduce Hindi Textbooks in MBBS classes at all government medical institutions across the state soon. 

The decision to introduce Hindi as a medium of instruction in government medical institutions in Uttar Pradesh is aimed at improving clarity and accessibility for students, especially those with a background in Hindi. 

According to a recent report by HT, this move is in response to a government letter issued on October 31, which directed colleges and universities under the medical education department to begin teaching in Hindi. 

The reasoning behind this transition is to make medical education more comprehensible for students, particularly those who are not well-versed in English.

Teaching in Hindi is expected to benefit students who may struggle with medical terminology and concepts presented in English. By offering instruction in Hindi, the goal is to ensure that the content is accessible to a wider range of students, including those who did their earlier education in Hindi.

Also read- After MP, Now UP To Teach MBBS In Hindi

Speaking to HT, Prof NS Verma, head of the physiology department at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) said “Hindi books are available for almost all MBBS subjects. Some are under review also. Many countries such as Russia, China, Japan teach students in their own language."

“Almost 60% of our content is being explained in Hindi. This helps the students to understand what exactly we teach,” said Prof Navneet Kumar, head of the anatomy department at the KGMU.

Prof Anoop Verma, head of the forensic medicine and toxicology department stated, “Some of the books in Hindi that are being used to teach intermediate students have good stuff. We use them to explain technical terms in simple language, in Hindi, to our students.”

It's evident from the statements of various professors that Hindi has already been used to explain complex topics and concepts in the classroom, and a significant portion of the teaching content is conducted in Hindi. This practice is seen as beneficial in helping students understand the material better.

Prof Suryakant from the pulmonary medicine department at KGMU's perspective highlights the ongoing debate and considerations surrounding the introduction of Hindi as the medium of instruction in medical schools in Uttar Pradesh. While the decision to teach in Hindi is aimed at improving accessibility for students with a Hindi background, he emphasizes the importance of teaching students English before they begin their first-year MBBS curriculum.

His experience of writing his thesis in Hindi in 1991, which was accepted only after a state assembly resolution was passed in its favour, underscores the historical challenges of using Hindi in academic and scientific contexts, particularly in the field of medicine. 

Medical dialogues team had reported last year October 2022 that Uttar Pradesh will begin teaching medical and engineering courses in Hindi, informed by Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath.

Yogi tweeted, "Some books of medical and engineering courses have been translated into Hindi. The students will be able to study those subjects in Hindi from the coming year."

The announcement was made days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched India's first Hindi version of MBBS textbook in Bhopal on Sunday (October 16).

However, the proposal for commencing MBBS education in the Hindi language received backlash last year from the medical fraternity as several doctors are of the opinion that the decision might result in worsening the quality of medical education in India. The fraternity expressed the possibility that MBBS in Hindi might harm the national interest in the long run.

Also read- MBBS In Hindi May Harm National Interest In Long Run: FAIMA