News Highlight
Recently, a controversy has reignited over an attempt to impose Hindi language on non-Hindi-speaking people.
Key Takeaway
- The allegation of ‘cultural chauvinism’ emanates from the apprehension that the transition from English and Hindi as the Official Language of the Union to it being the national language.
Statistics
- 2011 Linguistic census
- There are 121 mother tongues in India.
- 43.6% of the population declared Hindi as its mother tongue.
The Constitutional Status of Hindi
- Schedule 8
- Schedule 8 of the Indian Constitution has 22 Official Languages, including Hindi.
- Article 351
- It states that the Union has to encourage the spread of the Hindi language to make it the lingua franca in India without interfering with its genius, style and expressions.
- Article 348 (2)
- It provides that the Governor of the State may, with the previous consent of the President, authorise the use of the Hindi language or any other language used for any official purpose of the State in the proceedings of the High Court having its principal seat in that State provided that decrees, judgments or orders passed by such High Courts shall be in English.
Official Languages Act, 1963
- Section 7
- The Official Language Act, 1963 provides under Section 7 that the use of Hindi or the official language of a State in addition to the English language may be authorised, with the consent of the President of India, by the Governor of the State for judgments, decrees etc. made by the High Court for that State.
Imposing Hindi as the national language and associated issues
- Federalism
- Such policies threaten the diversity and federalism of India. Moreover, the states’ fear of the central government’s ideology of monopolising faith, education, and language will adversely affect the Indian political system based on pluralism and accommodation.
- Learning ability
- It can affect the learning ability of non-native speakers, thereby affecting their self-confidence.
- Reduce diversity
- It can also endanger other languages and dialects and reduce diversity. National integration cannot come at the cost of people’s linguistic identities.
- Unconstitutional
- It is against the spirit of the Constitution, which made Hindi an official language so that it would only serve as a linking language and was not be imposed on non-Hindi speaking states.
- Social consequences
- Language is an essential tool for participation in the state’s polity. Not being able to speak a state’s dominant language (or language) can seriously impact an individual’s employment, educational and recreational opportunities. This leads to discrimination and injustice.
- Against the Eighth schedule
- Imposing Hindi as the national language is against the Eighth schedule, which comprises a list of official languages, and the government is obliged to ensure their development.
Content Source: The Hindu