Hindi Diwas: The language of our self-respect and pride

Ramesh Sarraf Dhamora

Hindi is the language of our self-respect and pride. It has earned us a distinct identity on the global stage. Hindi Diwas is celebrated in India every year on September 14. Hindi is one of the major languages spoken across the world. Beyond being an ancient, rich, and simple language, Hindi is also our ‘National Language’ (Rashtrabhasha). It earns us respect worldwide; it is a language that embodies our honor, self-respect, and pride. It is worth noting that Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world.

Hindi is an official language of the Government of India, and India has the largest number of Hindi speakers. Its history is rooted in ancient Sanskrit and Prakrit languages; Hindi originated right here in India. As a language, Hindi is not merely an identity for India; it is also a true reflection of our life values, culture, and traditions. Besides being simple, natural, and accessible, Hindi is arguably the most scientific language in the world, with a vast number of people across the globe who understand, speak, and cherish it. Bharatendu Harishchandra is known as the father of modern Hindi; he made significant contributions to several languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, and Marwari.

Hindi is an Indo-Aryan language that evolved from Sanskrit and is written in the Devanagari script. The Devanagari script is also used for writing Sanskrit, Marathi, Nepali, and several other Indian languages. The term ‘Devanagari’ translates to “Script of the Gods” or “Script of the City.” It is formed by combining two Sanskrit words: ‘Deva’ (God/Deity) and ‘Nagari’ (an adjective derived from ‘Nagar’ or city). Devanagari is a Brahmi-based script used to write many Indian languages, such as Hindi, Marathi, and Sanskrit. That is why the Hindi language is considered a direct descendant of Sanskrit. Hindi provides a very easy and simple medium for communication. It is a language of love, unity, and harmony. Hindi plays a vital role in binding a diverse India together. Yet, it is ironic that a language understood across the entire country—from Kashmir to Kanyakumari—still faces such neglect and disregard today. People from all walks of life can easily speak and understand Hindi; hence, it is known as the language of the common people—the *Janbhasha*. Following India’s independence, on September 14, 1949, the Constituent Assembly unanimously decided that *Khari Boli* Hindi would be the official language of India. Since 1953, following this significant decision, September 14 has been celebrated annually across the country as ‘Hindi Diwas,’ highlighting the language’s importance. Regarding its evolution, it is fair to say that Hindi has undergone tremendous development over the past century. The history of the Hindi language spans approximately one thousand years. Despite the diversity of religion, tradition, and language in India, its people believe in unity. While various languages are spoken in India, Hindi is the most widely spoken, written, and read language; consequently, it stands as India’s principal language. Most Hindi words are derived from Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian—a legacy primarily of the Aryans and the Persians. This heritage makes Hindi a robust and rich language. While English has only about 10,000 root words, Hindi boasts more than 250,000. Hindi is not only one of the world’s ancient, rich, and great languages but also our official language.

Since ancient times, Hindi scholars, saints, poets, intellectuals, writers, and enthusiasts have enriched the language through their texts and literary works. However, it is also our duty to express our thoughts, emotions, and opinions in Hindi across various genres and contribute to its enrichment. A language is considered truly rich when its literature is also rich. The international growth of Hindi has accelerated rapidly over the last two decades of the twentieth century. Arrangements for the study and teaching of Hindi—ranging from undergraduate to research levels—have been established in approximately 150 universities and hundreds of centers worldwide. Dozens of Hindi newspapers and magazines are regularly published abroad. The Hindi language, along with the Indian cultural heritage embedded within it, is robust and flourishing; its pace of development is rapid.

Hindi has established its utility, relevance, and prominence across the realms of language, grammar, literature, art, and music. This standing is a testament to the contributions of Hindi speakers and the Hindi-speaking community. Yet, a segment of this very community is also responsible for the language’s plight. The perception that English speakers are more knowledgeable and intellectual instills a sense of inferiority among Hindi speakers. Everyone aspires to learn and speak English to achieve success in life. Hindi speakers must overcome this inferiority complex, as original thoughts naturally arise in one’s mother tongue. The medium of instruction should also be the mother tongue; education teaches one to think, and original thought is best expressed in the language one lives in. We must realize that Hindi is in no way inferior to any other language in the world.

Hindi serves as the official language of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi. Since attaining the status of an official language, Hindi has played a pioneering role in facilitating communication and administrative operations across these states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, frequently delivers his addresses in Hindi during his visits abroad. This has led to the growing importance of the Hindi language on foreign soil as well.

After English and Mandarin Chinese, Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world. A vast majority of the populations in Nepal and Pakistan can speak, write, and read Hindi. Millions of people in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Tibet, Myanmar, and Afghanistan also speak and understand Hindi. Governments in countries like Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, and Trinidad are actually run by Hindi speakers. The total number of Hindi speakers worldwide exceeds one billion.

However, due to the simultaneous growth of technological and economic prosperity in the country, Hindi has somewhat lost its significance. Today, the use of English words within the Hindi language is increasing rapidly. Even many major newspapers have started using a blend of English and Hindi—a trend that does not bode well for the language. Social media has further exacerbated this situation; here, software is often used to convert English into Hindi, frequently disregarding correct vowel markers and proper spelling. Currently, Hindi newspapers and magazines are shutting down at an alarming rate.

On the occasion of Hindi Diwas, we must pledge to wholeheartedly and selflessly contribute to the promotion of the Hindi language, striving positively to help India regain its status as a ‘Vishwa Guru’ (global leader/teacher) through the strength of the language. Nowadays, tasks can also be performed in Hindi on computers; numerous software applications are available that facilitate working in the language with ease.

(The author is an independent journalist accredited with the Government of Rajasthan.)