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          New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who is   known to be fluent in Tamil and English, stunned the Lok Sabha Thursday when he   addressed the house in Bhojpuri, receiving praise from Speaker Meira Kumar, who   comes from Bihar, for his effort.
 |  Chidambaram was replying to a calling attention motion on the need to include   Bhojpuri, the native tongue of Bihar, in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian   Constitution to accord it the official language status.
 "Hum sabke bhawna   samjhat bani (I understand the sentiments of all of you)," Chidambaram said   during his reply to stunned silence from the members.
 
 But after a moment   for it to sink in, the house erupted into surprised elation and thumping of   desks by the members.
 
 Chidambaram promised to expedite the process of   considering the reports of two committees with regard to Bhojpuri and for a   quick decision thereafter.
 
 This brought in appreciation from Meira Kumar,   who said it is a matter of great joy that Chidambaram, whom she has never heard   even speak in Hindi, addressed the house in Bhojpuri.
 
 Kumar expressed the   hope that the home minister will return to the house soon with the "happy news"   of Bhojpuri being accorded official language status.
 
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