Recently the debate over language policies in India has intensified, particularly in the context of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has criticized the central government for allegedly imposing Hindi at the cost of regional languages like Tamil.

Meaning of Linguistic Secularism

• Linguistic secularism refers to the equal treatment and accommodation of all languages without imposing any particular language on a group of people. 
• Linguistic secularism upholds the idea that:
  • No language should be given dominance over others, ensuring a fair and inclusive linguistic environment.
  • Citizens have the right to preserve and promote their own language, script, and culture, as recognized under Article 29(1) of the Indian Constitution.
  • The state should not impose any language on individuals or institutions but should create an environment where multiple languages can coexist harmoniously.
  • It promotes federalism and linguistic diversity, respecting India’s multilingual character while ensuring national unity.
• The Supreme Court, in the U.P. Hindi Sahittya Sammelan vs State Of U.P. (2014), highlighted that India’s language laws are flexible and accommodative, aiming to secure linguistic secularism rather than enforce linguistic uniformity.

Historical Context of Language Policy

• Constituent Assembly Debate (1949): The Munshi-Ayyangar formula led to the inclusion of Article 343 in the Constitution, which declared Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of India, but not the national language.
• H.M. Seervai’s Commentary: Constitutional expert H.M. Seervai noted that while Hindi was spoken by the largest single group, it was not spoken across all regions.
  • Other languages like Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, and Gujarati had significant influence and were more developed than Hindi in some respects.
• Justice Krishna Iyer’s Remarks: Former Supreme Court judge Justice Krishna Iyer opposed the forced imposition of Hindi, stating that linguistic militancy would divide the country, while federal pluralism would uphold democratic values.

Constitutional Provisions on Language 

• Article 351 – Promotion of Hindi: The Union government has a duty under Article 351 to promote Hindi for national integration. However, courts have clarified that this does not mean Hindi should be imposed on unwilling citizens.
• Allahabad High Court Ruling (1982): In the case of Sunil K.R. Sahastrabudhey vs Director, IIT Kanpur, the Allahabad High Court ruled that no citizen has the right to compel an institution to impart education in Hindi.
• Article 29(1) – Protection of Linguistic Rights: This article ensures that all sections of society, whether majority or minority, have the fundamental right to conserve their language, script, and culture.

Supreme Court on Medium of Instruction

• In State of Karnataka vs Associated Management of Primary & Secondary Schools, the Supreme Court held that:
  • Students have the right to choose their medium of instruction under Article 19 (Freedom of Speech and Expression).
  • The State cannot impose a particular language as the medium of instruction at the primary level.
• This judgment was influenced by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Pierce v. Society of Sisters of Holy Names (1924), which emphasized that a child is not merely a creation of the State; parents and guardians have the right to decide their education.

Language Policy in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

• The National Education Policy (NEP) aims to promote multilingual education, emphasizing mother tongue-based learning while allowing flexibility in language choice.
• Medium of Instruction in Schools:
  • NEP 2020 recommends that, wherever possible, the medium of instruction should be in the mother tongue, home language, local language, or regional language up to Grade 5, preferably till Grade 8 and beyond.
  • Even after Grade 8, the home or local language should continue to be taught as a subject wherever possible.
• Multilingual Learning Approach:
  • The policy encourages bilingualism (mother tongue + English) from the foundational stage.
  • Young children pick up languages quickly between the ages of two and eight, and multilingualism enhances cognitive abilities.

What is the Three-Language Formula?

• The Three-Language Formula is an education policy designed to promote multilingualism and national integration by encouraging students to learn multiple languages. 
• It was first introduced in 1968 and has been revised over the years, most recently in NEP 2020.
• The 1968 education policy mandated:
  
  • Hindi-speaking states: Hindi, English, and a modern Indian language (preferably from South India).
  • Non-Hindi-speaking states: Hindi, English, and a regional language.
• NEP 2020 offers more flexibility:
  • States can choose any three languages, ensuring no language is imposed.
  • The policy promotes Sanskrit, encouraging its inclusion as an option.
  • Other classical languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Pali, Persian, and Prakrit should be available as options.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the idea of linguistic secularism, stressing that no language should be imposed on any section of the people. While Hindi has a constitutional mandate for promotion, regional languages enjoy equal protection. The freedom to choose the language of education is a fundamental right, reinforcing India’s pluralistic and democratic ethos.

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