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Hindi Diwas: Celebrating India's Official Language
What’s the News?
- India observed National Hindi Diwas on September 14, a day dedicated to celebrating the Hindi language and its significance as a unifying force in the country.
- The day commemorates the historic decision by the Constituent Assembly of India to adopt Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, as the official language of the Union on this date in 1949.
The Constitutional and Cultural Significance
The celebration of Hindi Diwas is rooted in both constitutional provisions and the language's cultural role in binding a multilingual nation.
- Constitutional Adoption: On September 14, 1949, Hindi was adopted as the official language, a decision later enshrined in Part XVII of the Constitution of India in Article 343. This decision was part of a compromise known as the Munshi-Ayyangar formula, which also allowed English to continue as an associate official language for a period of 15 years.
- National Pride: Hindi is the third most spoken language globally, with over 615 million speakers. The celebration fosters a sense of linguistic pride and encourages citizens to use Hindi in their daily lives, as well as in official and technical domains. It is a reminder that while India celebrates its linguistic diversity, Hindi serves as a bridge between different states and communities.
- Global Recognition: Hindi is gaining recognition on the world stage, with events like the World Hindi Conference and the establishment of the World Hindi Secretariat in Mauritius aimed at promoting it globally.
Additional Info
- Key Constitutional Articles:
- Article 343: Declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union. It also states that English shall continue to be used for all official purposes.
- Article 351: Gives the Union the responsibility to promote the spread of the Hindi language and to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for India's composite culture.
- Official vs. National Language:
- The Constitution of India does not designate a "National Language." It recognizes Hindi and English as the official languages of the Union.
- The Constitution's Eighth Schedule lists 22 official languages, including Hindi.
- Difference between Hindi Diwas and World Hindi Day:
- National Hindi Diwas is celebrated on September 14 to mark the adoption of Hindi as the official language of India.
- World Hindi Day is celebrated on January 10 to commemorate the anniversary of the First World Hindi Conference held in 1975 in Nagpur. The aim is to promote Hindi on a global stage.