Why is it high time Hindi was our national language?

We need Hindi to be our official national language. English is the language of the colonizers. Every country has its language. Even after 280 years of its introduction, many people still struggle to use English correctly. Yesterday, I had a Bengali patient. He couldn't speak Malayalam or Marwadi (my language). I don't know Bengali. I asked him a few questions in English. He didn't know how to answer. However, Hindi bridged the gap, and we had a fruitful conversation. 

 

For commoners of North Indian states, Hindi is the common language. South India is slow to accept Hindi as our national language. Even so, they also love Bollywood movies and use Hindi in Arabian countries. Eventually, as per the Constitution, we will make Hindi our national language. Dr. Ambedkar allowed fifteen years for the transition from English to Hindi. The main clause of the Constitution, Article 343(1), states that Hindi is the official language. Subclause 343(2) allows the use of English for fifteen years. I hope South India will soon accept Hindi as our national language.

 

Many of us are still confused about India's official language. The problem is we don't read the Constitution closely enough. Article 343 (1) says, "Hindi shall be the official language of the union." Then, in the second clause 343 (2), which is a subclause, it says, "Notwithstanding anything in the first clause, for fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union for which it was being used immediately before such commencement." 

 

It means the Union (of India) wanted to transition from English to Hindi within the next fifteen years. However, the union would continue to allow English to be officially used for the next fifteen years. The spirit of the Constitution favors the transition from English to Hindi as soon as possible. The founders aimed to accomplish this within the next fifteen years after the Constitution was formulated, that is, by 1965. It did not happen because many regions still could not converse in Hindi fluently. Therefore, the government postponed such a transition again. 

 

Hindi is unofficially our national language today. The previous governments have done a fantastic job propagating Hindi. It is not a political agenda of any one party. When Dr. Ambedkar formulated the Constitution, the BJP did not exist. People from many states in India, including some southern states, can use Hindi today. Kerala and Tamil Nadu will soon embrace Hindi. Keralites need Hindi for seamless interaction with affordable migrant laborers from Bihar, Assam, and Bengal. 

 

Rather than disparaging Hindi, we should celebrate its role in national unity, as seen in Bollywood's far-reaching influence. Gandhiji's 'Quit India Movement' leveraged Hindi to mobilize the nation. Gandhiji did not speak Tamil or Malayalam. Yet he had many followers from these states. One of our national songs ends with "Hindi hai hum (3), Watan hai, Hindustan hamara." It identifies Indians as Hindi and Hindustani. I am putting the relevant section of the Constitution in this write-up. (Again, Hindi is not my mother tongue. I am not a member of any political party promoting Hindi for their political gain). 

 

According to the 2001 Census of India, 422,048,642 people speak Hindi. Hindi became the official language of the Union of India in 1950. The use of English for official purposes was to end 15 years after the Constitution came into effect, or on January 26, 1965, unless Parliament voted otherwise.

 

The Constitution of India states thus:

 

PART XVII OFFICIAL LANGUAGE CHAPTER I.—LANGUAGE OF THE UNION Official language of the union. Commission and Committee of Parliament on official language. 

 

343. (1) The official language of the union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the union shall be the international form of Indian numerals. 

 

(2) Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), for fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the union for which it was being used immediately before such commencement. Provided that the President may, during the said period, by order, authorize the use of the Hindi language in addition to the English language and of the Devanagari form of numerals in addition to the international form of Indian numerals for any of the official purposes of the union. 

 

(3) Notwithstanding anything in this article, Parliament may by law provide for the use, after the said period of fifteen years, of— (a) the English language or (b) the Devanagari form of numerals for such purposes as may be specified in the law.

 

The first clause is the main clause in any piece of literature and carries the main message. The official language is singular in the Constitution itself. "The Official language... shall be Hindi." Now, read the subclause. What does it say? "For fifteen years .... English... shall continue for all official purposes for which it was used immediately before...." (that is when the British ruled). Therefore, the single most significant official language of the Union of India is Hindi, written in the Devanagari script. Therefore, why must Hindi not be the national language?

 

Dr Shashi Tharoor and others argue that South Indian people can't learn Hindi. It is unfair to them. I ask, "How do the Benaglis communicate with Telugu people if they don't know Bengali?" Mr Tharoor would recommend English as an alternative. Let me ask, "Can the Bengalis learn English? Is English their mother tongue? No. But they can learn English. If they can learn English, why can't they learn Hindi?" Additionally, Dr. Tharoor states that the Colonial rule destroyed India's culture and wealth in his work entitled "An Era of Darkness." Was Hindi not a part of the Poorna Swaraj agenda of our Freedom Fighters? Would any of them recommend English, the oppressor's language, as our National Language? 

 

The first language of England is English. The first language of Russia is Russian. But in India, under Nehru, everything reverses. The first language is English. Hindi and regional languages are accorded only second-class status. We never saw a textbook on the practice of medicine in Hindi or Tamil. Sorry, we cannot learn Malayalam, Hindi, and Tamil in English. If we could, our slave leaders would be more than willing. Nothing is “common” in the commonwealth except that the White and Black Europeans and Tasmanians make fun of brown-skinned people. Only a leader who respects our languages and culture can bring our national and regional languages to the forefront and preserve our civilization.

 

In summary, Hindi is the National Language of India, as per the Constitution (Article 343). The main clause clearly states that Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, is the official language of the union. In a subclause, English is allowed to be used for fifteen years until people make a shift from regional languages to Hindi. There are 22 other official languages known as scheduled languages. Those languages can be used for official purposes in the states where people speak them as their first language alongside Hindi or English. 

 

No nation has 22 national languages. It is absurd to say we have no national language or all the 22 are our national languages. A National Language is singular, like a national bird (peacock) and a national animal (tiger). English can be our national language if all people think that we need to follow the culture and language of the colonizer, not our own. If you are fond of a Swadesi way of life, Hindi is our national language. It was never debated until recently because if you look at your Hindi textbook (1990s), it states, "Hindi is our national language. हिन्दी हमारी राष्ट्रभाषा है।"