HINDI AS THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE AND THE PATH OF LINGUAL FEDERALISM

HINDI AS THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE AND THE PATH OF LINGUAL FEDERALISM

Multi-Cultural and multi-lingual Indian Nation State has managed the prickly issue of National Language quite effectively. While Hindi, spoken by a little less than half of the country’s population, is the official language of India for all Union Government (Central Govt) purposes; all Non-Hindi speaking states have been rightly accorded the right to use the respective languages spoken in their regions for official purposes; with English often being used an associate language, sometimes as a link between Hindi speaking and Non Hindi Speaking India.  

The issue of Language is one of the most sensitive and potentially divisive one in a society. This is particularly true in the Indian Case, where the diversity is so much pronounced that within this single nation there are at least 15 languages spoken by a population of over 10 million people each. The Indian Govt over the years has managed this uniquely extreme diversity with care, caution striking the right balance between the demands of the Nationalist North and Federalist WSE (West, South & East, in other words the Non Hindi speaking areas of the Country).

India presents the case of a unique experiment in Lingual Diversity. This model was not envisaged or implemented straightway at the inception of Modern Independent India in 1947. Rather it has evolved over the decades, necessitated by the wants and wishes of the people, to live as one nation, with mutual adjustment and accommodation, and without compromising on their basic rights and conveniences.

THE INITIAL PLAN

Most of our founding fathers starting from Gandhi, Nehru to Sardar Patel and others had something else in mind. They had envisaged that Hindi and only Hindi would be the national and official language of India. The initial plan was that for a period of 15 years or so all Non Hindi speaking states would be prepared for use of Hindi as their official language. Till that time they would be allowed to use their local languages and English. 1965 was set as the tentative date of deadline.

ANTI HINDI RIOTS IN THE SOUTH AND THE CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT POLICY

The plan of the Govt to introduce Hindi in Non-Hindi speaking states met with stiffest opposition from South Indian states particularly Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. There were widespread and violent protests and many youths in Tamil Nadu were all set to immolate themselves should the govt go ahead with it’s decision. All symbols and marks of Hindi were eliminated in Tamil Nadu and practically the language was banned for teaching in schools and for official purposes. The extension of use of Hindi at the cost of vernacular languages and English was given the negative connotation of ‘Hindi Imperialism’. These protests were also supported by Non-South Indian Non Hindi Speaking states like West Bengal among others.

These protests and agitations in South had their repercussions in The North. There were anti-English riots and protests in Hindi Speaking North India. Lohiyists and other Pro Hindi groups put pressure on state governments to discourage English education and even the use of English in Public Life.

ADJUSTMENT, ACCOMODATION AND THE GOLDEN MEAN

Sensing that the issue was spiralling out of control and threatening the emotional integration of the country, the Govt acted with swiftness. It withdrew it’s plan of ‘Hindi Imposition’ and the Union Govt declared that The State governments in the Non Hindi speaking states had the complete option to continue to use their own local language and English for official purposes and in no way was it mandatory for them to use Hindi for as long as they wish. And Hindi will only be the language of The Union Govt and be used for all central govt purposes, as well as it would also be the language used by the state governments in all the Hindi speaking states.

The balance of power is in an equilibrium. India’s official policy postulates a fine balance between federalism and unitarism, regionalism and nationalism. If it is the variety of languages here that prove the country’s richness, it is the efficient building of the language policy and co-existence of not only different cultures and languages but also diverse ideologies and belief systems that reaffirms our faith in Indian Pluralism. Indeed India is a mini humanity, which fulfills the intent of the old Sanskrit saying ‘VASUDHAIV KUTUMBAKAM’ (Whole World is my Family).

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