Dr. Sudhakar Hosalli
Constitutional Expert
A reflection on Hindi Diwas and the foundational ideals of the Constitution
Seventy-six years ago, on September 14, 1949, after an intense and prolonged debate in the Constituent Assembly, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, successfully incorporated Part XVII, including Article 301 (then proposed), into the draft Constitution. This crucial article formally adopted Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Indian Union.
Ever since, September 14 has been commemorated as Hindi Diwas, recognizing the day when Hindi was accorded this constitutional status.
The Language Question: Then and Now
Language-related tensions were present even during the making of the Constitution and continue to be contentious to this day—particularly in southern Indian states. While linguistic pride is a natural phenomenon, it has at times morphed into excessive regionalism, leading to politically motivated movements and conflicts over language.
In Karnataka, for instance, the debate over language has periodically resurfaced with sharp intensity. Despite the Constitution designating Hindi as the link language, and even as a language for interstate communication and international diplomacy, the perception that Hindi is being imposed on regional languages—especially Kannada—continues to spark controversy.
Multiple Perspectives from the Constituent Assembly
Contrary to popular belief, the adoption of Hindi as the official language was not unanimous nor unopposed. There were many voices of dissent, concern, and caution.
For instance, Mohan Bhagwat, the current RSS Sarsanghchalak, recently clarified that Hindi is not the only national language, but rather that all Indian languages are national languages. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have emphasized the importance of primary education in one’s mother tongue.
From the very beginning, the idea was never to impose Hindi but to promote it as a common language for national communication, while respecting the rich linguistic diversity of India.
On September 14, 1949, just before concluding the session where Hindi was adopted as the official language, the Chairperson of the Assembly made a significant remark:
“I wish to express my admiration before we adjourn. With this decision, we have added a vital chapter to our Constitution—one that could influence the future of India’s reconstruction. Though Sanskrit enriched all our languages, for the first time, we are giving ourselves a Constitution and designating an administrative language for the Union. I believe Hindi has more to gain than lose if it absorbs the best elements from all other Indian languages.”
Key Debates and Notable Opinions
S.V. Krishnamurthy Rao, an eminent member from the South, stated:
“Hindi is still primarily a regional language. Of 320 million people, only about 10 million speak it natively. However, for administrative convenience, we are ready to adopt it as a common language—while continuing to treat all Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, etc., as national languages. Yet Hindi must grow significantly to truly reflect national aspirations—it has not yet reached that level.”
Govind Das addressed the linguistic dilemma faced by many:
“I was torn between speaking in English—a foreign language—or in the language we are about to designate as official. I decided to speak in Hindi. My friends from South India will understand me, as I speak in a language that is simple and clear.”
However, S. Nagappa, another member, interjected sarcastically, claiming that members were attempting to make Hindi a ‘Victory Day’ for themselves, leading the Chairperson to clarify:
“There is no procedural fault. It is their duty to decide whether they want to speak in a language you may not understand.”
Muslim members such as Mohammad Rehman offered alternative suggestions:
“Instead of Hindi, we should adopt Hindustani as the national language, written in both Devanagari and Urdu scripts. Wherever the word ‘Hindi’ appears, it should be replaced by ‘Hindustani’—a language that can evolve by drawing from Hindi, Urdu, and all Indian languages.”
This indicates that resistance was not limited to Hindi alone, but also stemmed from efforts to avoid Urdu dominance in a newly independent India. Several Muslim members, including Hazrat Mohani and Naziruddin Ahmad, expressed similar concerns.
On a more literary note, Alagh Rai Shastri showcased the poetic richness of Hindi, citing devotional verses from Tulasidas, demonstrating that Hindi literature was deeply rooted in Indian cultural and spiritual traditions.
Ambedkar and the Final Resolution
Despite the range of views, the final decision was based on majority support. Of the 299 members of the Constituent Assembly, a clear majority voted in favour of Hindi as the official link language. Dr. Ambedkar, respecting this mandate, formally included Article 301 into the Constitution.
In his book Thoughts on Pakistan, Ambedkar also reflected on the importance of language, and even supported the idea of establishing a dedicated institution for the development of Hindi.
Moving Beyond False Narratives
It is crucial to recognize that the constitutional adoption of Hindi was never intended to threaten or suppress regional languages like Kannada. The idea was to unify, not to homogenize. Sadly, certain groups continue to propagate the myth of Hindi imposition, ignoring the historical consensus and constitutional vision led by none other than Ambedkar himself.
For a culturally diverse country like India, having a link language for national and international communication is essential. But so is the preservation and promotion of regional languages, which form the soul of India’s civilizational ethos.
In Karnataka, Kannada is and will always be the language of the heart and the soil. Yet, embracing Hindi as a link language—as envisioned by the Constitution—should not be a point of contention. As citizens of a diverse yet united nation, it is time to transcend divisive rhetoric and embrace the constitutional spirit of linguistic harmony and mutual respect.
Reference:
Government of India
Ministry of Law, Justice and Corporate Affairs-
The Constitution of India
Part XVII
Constituent Assembly Debates of India
Volume 8, Pages 583 to 823