Suresh

We cannot assess how the transition could pose a challenge and be mitigated, despite the state government’s determination to impart medical education in Hindi. And those students taking admission from the All India or Central pool quota will not be interested in the Hindi-medium MBBS course,” an official said.

The initiative had been announced by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on ‘Hindi Diwas’ last year, promising to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of starting Hindi-medium medical education from the 2024–25 session.

The health department was instructed to prepare textbooks and study material. The CM said the shift would especially help rural students from Hindi-medium schools who face difficulty in medical courses despite being competent, owing to the use of English.

But many in the academic community remain sceptical. “Medical terms are universally accepted in English, while Hindi terms sound alien. Good text and reference books are all in English. The students seem concerned about PG Medicine programme, where the lessons are given in English,” said educationist Jawahar Suresetti.

Doctors familiar with the ground reality also point to practical challenges. Dr Harish Podiyami, a 25-year-old medical officer from Sukma whose mother tongue is Gondi, said students do struggle initially but eventually adapt.

“Students speaking languages other than English might face some problems only in the initial 4–5 months after taking admission in an MBBS course. Later, these students at their ease get accustomed to the English language,” he said. Students, too, have observed that Hindi translations of medical terms can be harder to grasp than the English originals.

Despite government push, results have been disappointing.