If Article 370 can be abolished in Kashmir in a day, and the 500-year-old Babri dispute can be resolved to build a temple in a few months, then why can’t Hindi be given the status of a national language with just one decision? This is a matter of political will. The author expresses hope in this government. For seventy years, governments have been misleading the country on the question of Hindi. This republic has a national flag, national emblem, national animal, and national bird, but no national language.
Hindi is not just a language; it’s a matter of our self-respect and identity. It’s a question of our existence, which binds the entire country together. Every year on September 14th, we celebrate Hindi Diwas. But why the need to celebrate Hindi Diwas? Days are for things that come once a year. But Hindi is a continuous flow. It’s on our lips day and night, morning and evening. If not on the lips, it’s in the consciousness, in dreams, in shadows. Hindi, which is the awareness of our identity, our mother tongue, which flows like blood in the veins of our thoughts, which is a means of our livelihood, which is the second largest language in the world, why this pretense of celebrating its day? In this country, we only got Hindi, to be crushed by the hammer of government formalities! Hindi is the soul of this country, then why does it have to struggle with government files?
### The Story of a Dead Language Becoming the Official Language Overnight
Now, I will tell you the story of a dead language’s resolve to become the official language overnight. Countries function on such resolves. On the eastern end of the southeastern Mediterranean Sea lies Israel. To its north is Lebanon, to the east are Syria and Jordan, and to the southwest is Egypt. This country, with an area of 20,000 sq km, always remains in the headlines worldwide. Israel was established on May 14, 1948. Before that, there was no existence of a country called Israel. The Ottoman Empire ruled over the Jews. During World War I, in 1917, the Ottoman Empire collapsed. The demand for a separate country arose, and Britain began to rule Palestine. The British, through the Balfour Declaration (British Foreign Minister Balfour), supported the demand for a separate country for the Jews.
The British Raj asked the UN to find a solution to the Jewish-Palestinian conflict. In November 1947, the UN decided to divide Palestine into three parts: the first part for the Jews, the second for the Arabs, and the third for Jerusalem. On May 14, 1948, the British Raj ended, and Israel declared itself an independent country. On May 12, 1948, the leaders who signed the declaration of independence of Israel were David Ben-Gurion, Moshe Sharett, Perez Bernstein, Hem-Moshe Shapira, Mordechai Bentov, and Ahron Zisling.
### Israel Gave Hebrew the Status of an Official Language
David Ben-Gurion was the founder and first Prime Minister of Israel. He was a staunch Jewish nationalist. Jewish culture was very old. Their language, Hebrew, was about 3,000 years old, but like Sanskrit, it had become a dead language. It was not even spoken in everyday conversation, let alone being in use. The story of the revival of the Hebrew language is extraordinary. It is unique in history. As soon as he became Prime Minister, Gurion asked his colleagues, how much time would it take if Hebrew had to be made the official language? The officers said, it will take time because Hebrew is not in use. Gurion said, from tomorrow morning, Hebrew will be the official language of this country. The next morning, Hebrew was given the status of an official language. Arabic was given the status of a special language.
Today, Hebrew is the official language used in the government, commerce, courts, schools, and universities of Israel. It is the most widely used language in daily life in Israel. More than 9 million people speak Hebrew, most of whom have it as their mother tongue. The story of Hebrew becoming the official language of Israel is a story of strong nationalism and firm will.
### What is the Munshi-Ayyangar Formula?
We also became independent around the same time. The country was making a new constitution. In the Constituent Assembly, 63 votes were cast in favor of making Hindi the official language instead of Hindustani, and 38 were against it. In another voting, 63 votes against 38 votes, Nagari was considered the national script, and English was given the status of a second language. When the controversy escalated, a decision was taken to postpone the language proposal in the provincial legislatures on the proposal of Sardar Patel. To resolve this dispute, a formula was presented on September 2, 1949, with the consent of Constituent Assembly members NG Ayyangar and KM Munshi. This is known as the Munshi-Ayyangar formula.
Under this formula, Hindi was considered the official language of the Union and Nagari its script. It was also suggested to adopt the international system for numbers. It was stated that the language of the Supreme Court, High Courts, bills, acts, ordinances, etc., would be English. The government should promote and develop Hindi in such a way that it can become an expression of India’s mixed culture. However, people were divided in support and opposition of this too.
On September 12, presenting this formula, NG Ayyangar said that it is an attempt to compromise between different opinions, which is not easy to bring together. Hindi’s development is not sufficient yet. It will take time. The goal cannot be achieved immediately, so the use of English has to be mandatory. States should be given the freedom to experiment with their language. Communication between the center and the states should be in both Hindi and English.
### Hindi Still Not the National Language After 78 Years
The debate on this issue ended on September 14, 1949, at 6 pm. That is why Hindi Diwas is celebrated on September 14. However, there were five amendments to the Munshi-Ayyangar formula. It was also decided that after 15 years, the Parliament could make a new law regarding the use of English and Nagari numerals. With the consent of the President, the translation of the official language of the state could also be done in the higher courts. Along with this, Hindi was accepted as the official language of the country in the Constituent Assembly.
But even after 78 years, we have not been able to make Hindi the national language. It has been limited to a government discipline by making it the official language. We are only satisfied by celebrating Hindi Diwas. This pain of Hindi descended into the hearts of the poets. It became the thorn of their hearts. Bharatendu Harishchandra, the original man of modern Hindi literature, linked all the chains of progress with the progress of Hindi. He wrote – ‘Nij bhasha unnati ahe, sab unnati ko mool. Bin nij bhasha gyan ke mitat na hiy ko shool’ (The advancement of one’s own language is the root of all advancement. Without knowledge of one’s own language, the thorn in the heart does not disappear).
### Longing for Hindi
The longing that arose in the mind of Rashtrakavi Maithilisharan Gupt for Hindi came out in the form of a rebellion against the inertia and uselessness of the system – ‘Jisko na nij bhasha tatha nij desh ka abhimaan hai. Wah nar nahin nar pashu nira aur mritak saman hai’ (One who does not have pride in his own language and his own country. That man is not a man, but an animal, and is like a corpse). Kabir Das also recognized the power of the folk language. That is why he wrote about five hundred years ago – ‘Sanskrit kabira koop jal, bhasha bahta neer’ (Sanskrit is the water of a well, language is flowing water). Rahim also mentioned in his couplet the sweetness of speech, which is the lifeblood of Hindi – ‘Aisi bani boliye, man ka aapa khoy. Auron ko sheetal karai, aapahu sheetal hoy’ (Speak such words that you lose your ego. Make others cool, and become cool yourself).
Tulsidas, who immortalized the Ramayana by composing it in the folk language, also inscribed his mark of nectar on this same recognition of language — ‘Saral baran bhasha saral, saral arthmay mani. Tulsi sarale santjan, tahi pari pahichani’ (Simple words, simple language, considering it to be of simple meaning. Tulsi, the simple saints, have recognized it). Tulsidas says that those who are simple in language and simple-hearted saints, have recognized it. The recognition that Tulsidas mentioned has become eternal by merging with the existence of Hindi.
Keshavdas also poured the essence of his writing in such a virtuous language – ‘Bhasha boli na janhin, jinke kul ke das. Bhasha kavi bho mandmati, tehi kul Keshavdas’ (Those whose family members are servants do not know how to speak the language. Keshavdas, the language poet, is of dull intellect in that family). Bhawani Prasad Mishra, a great figure in Hindi poetry, wrote – ‘Jis tarah hum bolte hain, us tarah tu likh aur iske baad phir, humse bada tu dikh’ (Write the way we speak, and after that, show yourself greater than us).
These words from Bhawani Dada’s pen are the Himalayas of Hindi’s greatness. All linguistic mountains prove to be dwarfed before this Himalayas. In reality, language is a means of expression, but this expression is complete when the speaker says what the listener understands. Language is a bridge between the speaker and the listener. If there is any flaw in this bridge, then the expression will be crashed, that is, the first and compulsory condition of language is its communicability.
Goswami Tulsidas has written that, ‘Sur nar muni ki yahi sab riti, swarth laag karahin sab preeti’ (This is the way of gods, humans, and sages, all do love for their self-interest). Language is not untouched by this either. If it is a means of your self-interest, a means of your development and recognition, then everyone will adopt it easily. The day Hindi becomes the means of our employment, our self-respect, our upliftment, its power will become supernatural.
### Hindi is the Language of Communication for a Large Part of the Country
Today, Hindi is the language of communication for a large part of the country. Despite geographical diversity, the world of Hindi is very vast. You will find Hindi speakers from Kashmir to the mountainous regions of the northeast and the coastal areas of Kanyakumari. This situation is even though foreign invaders ruled this country for hundreds of years. In history, there have been many waves of linguistic cultures from Arabic-Persian, Turkish, Pashto to Urdu and English. But Hindi did not oppose any language, nor did it clash with anyone, nor did it revolt. It kept absorbing everyone within itself. Actually, the strength of Hindi is the same as that of Hindustan. Hindi is not just a language, but the eternal expression of the ancient tradition of this country. Sangachchhadhwam sanvadadhwam, san vo manansi janatam (Be united, speak in one voice, let your minds be in harmony) – Hindi continued to move forward on the land of history, chanting this mantra.
The work of spreading Hindi widely and reaching it to the people has been done more by newspapers. From Bharatendu Harishchandra, the originator of modern Hindi, to today, the expansion of Hindi with new words has been given by newspapers. Pandit Babu Rao Vishnu Pararkar gave many new Hindi words through newspapers. After Pararkarji, the editor who increased the Hindi vocabulary was Prabhash Joshi. He created a new language by picking up words from dialects. He removed the inertia of language and connected it to the public. The language came out of the dictionary. He gave pride to the Hindi society.
Before the Mughal period, the work of courts and offices was mostly done in Hindi, but during Akbar’s time, Raja Todarmal changed the office work from Hindi to Persian. Due to this, the work of the courts and offices began to be done in Persian. This also led to the promotion of many Arabic-Persian words among the general public and in Hindi. Hundreds of technical terms related to law and court began to be used. Whether Hindi has really become the official language or not is a matter of debate, but there is no doubt that Hindi has now practically become the contact language or the common language of this country.
### We Have to Make Hindi Our Language of Pride
A big truth is also that the task of making Hindi the national language was taken up not by Hindi-speaking leaders, but by non-Hindi-speaking leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, C Rajagopalachari, and Subhash Chandra Bose. Despite not being from Hindi-speaking provinces, they were aware of the power of Hindi. Mahatma Gandhi used to give his speeches in Hindi or Hindustani across the country. Subhash Chandra Bose, when he established the Azad Hind Fauj, connected the soldiers of different states through Hindi. Gandhiji, before independence, established Hindi Pracharini Sabhas in non-Hindi-speaking states, especially in South India.
Sanskrit was a timeless language in its time. All the languages of the world were inspired and influenced by Sanskrit. The period of Middle Indian Aryan language is between 500 BCE to 1000 CE. It also includes Pali, Prakrit, Apabhramsa. All the teachings of Lord Buddha are in Pali, while all the teachings of Lord Mahavir are in Prakrit. But Hindi has become a bridge between all of them. Sanskrit is also mixed in Hindi and Pali also. Prakrit, Apabhramsa and even Urdu and English. You will not find such a liberal language anywhere in the world, which welcomes every guest by embracing them. Which has no difference with anyone. No hatred. Which becomes everyone’s and makes everyone its own. Can such Hindi be bound by the limits of any particular day?
We have to make Hindi our language of pride. It has to be made the language of the nation. Hindi’s pride must be made national pride. The day Hindi, adorned on the throne of the national language, becomes our pride, we will truly become independent. Tulsidas has said, ‘Paradhin sapnehu sukh naahin’ (There is no happiness even in dreams for the dependent). The truth is that those dependent on the body cannot have happiness even in dreams, and those dependent on language cannot have it even in births. When will we get freedom from this dependence?
### The Need for Political Will
Modern Hindi is a very inclusive language. It was born from Sanskrit, but many major languages have given it words. Many small languages have filled its vocabulary. The images of many dialects are enriching the sentences of Hindi. Its grammar is from Sanskrit, but its sentences have opened up themselves. Journalism, cinema, and now social media have introduced it to the ways of the new generation. Be it chat, search, or post, people are using Hindi in new ways. This inclusive form is making Hindi new, strong, and connecting among people and establishing it deeply.
It’s a simple thing. This will not happen without political will. No one has taken up the task of giving respect to this mother so far since independence. The market belongs to Hindi. People belong to Hindi. Entertainment belongs to Hindi. The majority belongs to Hindi. Communication belongs to Hindi. The world is interested in Hindi because it is interested in India. But we are not able to decide our national language. How humiliating and painful it is that we are not able to decide on our own language. How worrying it is that a country with a long tradition of culture is afraid of putting a language mark. How sad it is that Hindi is still becoming a midwife used for consumerism and government formalities.
If you want to know yourself, you have to recognize the language first. You have to accept it. You have to give it respect and place. A country that is confused about its language can never achieve self-respect and self-esteem. Nor can it achieve global respect. It is true that India is a country of diversities. But one leader has to be decided in the row of diversities. No matter how long the chain is, one link has to become a hook so that we can make a circle. We can come together.
Hindi hain hum, vatan hai.
Jay Jay
