Promoting Hindi as a Common language, Constitutional Provisions, and Challenges

Context

During the campaign to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the Prime Minister addressed six rallies in the north and central provinces and the Saurashtra region in Hindi Language.

Constitutional Provisions Related to Hindi Language

Article 343: According to this Article, the official language of the Union of India is to be Hindi Language in Devnagari script, and numerals should follow the international form of Indian numerals. The Article also states that English will continue to be used as an official language for 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution.

• Article 346: This article is about the official language for communication between the States and between a State and the Union. 
  • The Article states that the “authorised” language will be used for official communication. However, if two or more states agree that their communications shall be in Hindi, then Hindi may be used.
• Article 347: This Article gives power to the President to recognise a language as an official language of a given State. But this can be done if the President is satisfied that a substantial proportion of that State desires that the language be recognised. Such recognition can be for a part of the State or the whole state.
• Article 351: This Article gives power to the Union Government to issue a directive for the development of the Hindi language.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Challenges in Promoting Hindi Language as a Common Language

• Vulnerability of local languages: Each language has vocabulary, gender rules and locutions that do not come instinctively to everyone. When the government uses Hindi as a common language, it will not be easy to understand the government’s policies, decisions and position to non-Hindi speakers.
• Challenges to the bureaucracy: The government’s decision to make Hindi language an official language might hamper the efficiency of the Indian Bureaucracy. 
  • For instance, there might be a situation where a bureaucrat from Kerala state in Delhi has to read and write file notations in Hindi and has to submit them to a superior officer belonging to Odisha state.
• Failure of the Three lanquage formula: In the five decades since the promulgation of the’ “three-language formula’, implementation has largely failed across the country. 
  • This is for two reasons; (a) Anti-Hindi agitations in various states, such as Tamil Nadu; (b) There is no demand for learning a Southern or North-Eastern Language in states that demand Hindi as an official language.
• Against Constitutional ideas: The Constitution envisages India as a Union of States working within a federal framework. Further, in India, most of the States have been formed on a linguistic basis. So, promoting Hindi will go against these ideas and aspirations and violate constitutional provisions.
• Eighth Schedule to the Constitution: The Eight Schedule consists of the 22 languages. Of these languages, 14 were initially included in the Constitution. 
• Article 350A: This article facilitates instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage.
• Article 350B: This Article provides for the establishment of a Special Officer for linguistic minorities and safeguards their identity.
• Creates discrimination in the long run: The government’s move to make Hindi as a common language might provide Hindi speakers with the economic, academic and administrative edge

Conclusion

Any efforts to promote Hindi Language must be balanced with respect for linguistic diversity and constitutional principles, ensuring inclusivity and equitable representation for all language speakers in India.

DOWNLOAD PDF