Hindi Diwas 2023: A Celebration of Linguistic Heritage

On 14th September, Indians across the nation celebrate National 'Hindi Diwas,' commemorating a pivotal moment in India's history. This day holds significance as it marks the adoption of the Hindi language as one of the official languages of the Republic of India in 1949.

The Constitution of India, written in the Devanagari script, formally recognized Hindi as the country's official language on this date.

Uniting the Nation through Language

In the words of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, "Hindi is the name for unifying the diversity of languages of India, the world's largest democracy." Hindi has played a vital role in uniting the country, from the days of the independence movement to the present.

Hindi's Regional Presence

Hindi is predominantly spoken in several Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Punjab. Beyond India's borders, it is also spoken in countries like Mauritius, Nepal, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago.

Preserving Hindi and Promoting Culture

One of the primary reasons for celebrating Hindi Diwas is to counter the growing influence of the English language in the country. Mahatma Gandhi referred to Hindi as the "language of the people."

The day sees numerous literary and cultural events taking place across India. It also serves as a platform for recognizing and rewarding efforts to promote Hindi, with awards like Rajbasha Kirti Puraskar and Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar being conferred upon ministries, departments, public sector units, and Public Sector Banks for their contributions.

Remembering Simha

Hindi Diwas holds an additional layer of significance as it coincides with the birthday of the Indian writer Simha, who made tireless efforts to establish Hindi as one of the official languages.

India's Linguistic Diversity

While Hindi holds a special place, it's important to note that the Indian constitution recognizes 22 major languages under "the 8th Schedule." These include Sanskrit, Assamese, Bangla, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Kannada, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Santali, Sindhi, and Urdu. Initially, only 14 languages were included in the 8th Schedule, with Bodo, Dogri, Konkani, Maithili, Manipuri, Nepali, Santali, and Sindhi being added later.

Here are some additional details about Hindi Diwas:

• Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India, with over 425 million speakers.

• Hindi is written in the Devanagari script, which is also used for other languages such as Sanskrit and Marathi.

• Hindi is the official language of 14 states in India, and is also used in many other states.

• Hindi is used in government, education, and the media.

• Hindi is a beautiful and expressive language with a rich history and culture.

Hindi Diwas is not just a celebration of a language but also a reflection of India's linguistic and cultural diversity, underlining the importance of preserving linguistic heritage in a country known for its rich tapestry of languages and cultures.