Author: Dhanya Hegde, Student at MKPM RV Institute of legal studies
ABSTRACT
India is a multifaceted country marked by immense diversity, encompassing a wide range of cultural practices, traditions, religions, and languages. It is estimated that over 1600 languages and dialects are spoken by Indians. Every language embodies the distinct cultural heritage, history, and traditions of its speakers. According to a census conducted in 2011, it was recorded that there are 121 major languages in India with 1599 other languages. India’s Constitution recognizes 22 scheduled languages, with Hindi and English serving as official languages, showcasing the country’s rich linguistic diversity, which is a defining aspect of its identity.
INTRODUCTION
India is home to numerous languages which are spoken by the diverse population in the country. The linguistic plurality defines the cultural identity, regional politics and governance structure in India making it a significant factor in national integration and administration. The coexistence of multiple languages has allowed to enrich literature, folklore, oral traditions and the history of the land. This diversity also challenges policy making, implementation and administrative efficiency in a federal system
The constitution recognises Hindi and English as official languages at national level. The states have autonomy to adopt any language as a state language for governance and administration. This creates a barrier to national communication, administration, employment opportunities and uniform governance.at the same time the minor languages face existential crisis due to globalisation and modernization.
REASON FOR LANGUAGE DIVERSITY IN INDIA
Historical migration and foreign invasion: Throughout history, India has been a melting pot of diverse cultures, with numerous communities migrating to or invading the region from various parts of the world. The Indian subcontinent was invaded by Aryans, Dravidians, Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Huns, Arabs, Turks and Mughals who were attracted by the rich and fertile land of India. They enriched India’s linguistic diversity and played a significant role in shaping the country’s literature and folklore.
Geographical diversity: India is the seventh largest coutin the world with a vast geographical landscape. India’s vast geography stretches from the Himalayas in the north to the coastal regions in the south. India has huge mountains, coastal plains, desert, rivers, islands, etc., This is a barrier and has led to isolation of different communities. As a result of it, there was development of regional languages.
Ethnicity: Many ethnic groups reside in India with their own languages and cultural history. The presence of diverse religious communities including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, islam, Christianity and other tribal groups has cultivated a rich multilingual landscape.
Education and media: Indian education policy supports multilingualism, encouraging children to learn multiple languages, including their mother tongue, regional language, hindi and english thereby fostering linguistic diversity.
ORIGINS OF VARIOUS LANGUAGES
Being a diverse country, having people speaking different languages in every part of India, each language has its own language history. India is ranked 14 on the world’s most linguistic diversity. The languages spoken by the people in India originated from four major scripts.
India’s languages are broadly categorized into three families. The Dravidian family, native to the Indian subcontinent, includes languages like Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu, predominantly spoken in South India. North Indian languages like Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and Sindhi originate from the Indo-Aryan language family.Meanwhile, in Northeast India, the Meitei language (Manipuri), spoken in Manipur, is part of the Sino-Tibetan family and holds significant cultural importance as the former court language of the Manipur Kingdom.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
India grapples with balancing regional linguistic identities while promoting a unifying national language. While the Constitution allows states to adopt regional languages under Article 345, many regional-language speakers feel disadvantaged in National governance, Competitive exams and Higher education
due to the dominance of Hindi and English. This creates a linguistic divide, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity and representation of regional languages in national-level affairs.
Article 29 of the Indian Constitution safeguards the cultural and educational rights of minorities. It guarantees citizens the right to preserve their distinct language, script, or culture and prohibits discrimination in state-maintained or aided educational institutions based on religion, race, caste, or language.
Article 343 of the Indian Constitution designates Hindi in Devanagari script as the Union’s official language and specifies the use of the international form of Indian numerals. The Constitution also permits the use of English for official purposes for 15 years after its commencement and allows Parliament to extend this period through legislation.
Article 344 of the Indian Constitution deals with the formation of a commission and committee of Parliament to oversee the use of official languages. Specifically, it mandates the President to establish a commission that includes representatives from languages listed in the Eighth Schedule, which advises on the progressive use of Hindi and other language-related matters .
Article 348 of the Indian Constitution specifies that English is the language for proceedings in the Supreme Court and High Courts, unless Parliament decides otherwise. This provision allows for the use of Hindi or a state’s official language in High Court proceedings, pending the President’s approval.
Article 351 specifies that Hindi should be developed as a medium of expression for all elements of India’s composite culture and enriched by assimilating elements from other Indian languages, particularly those listed in the Eighth Schedule, without interfering with its genius.
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists 22 languages that have been recognized as official languages and are eligible for development and promotion by the Indian government. These languages are: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Marathi, Maithili, Manipuri, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
The Official Languages Act, 1963, designates Hindi and English as the official languages of the Union, allowing English to continue being used for specific purposes like parliamentary proceedings and communications between the Union and non-Hindi speaking states.
LINGUISTIC RECOGNITION OF STATES
The States Reorganization Act of 1956 restructured India’s states and territories based on linguistic boundaries, coming into effect on November 1, 1956. The aim was to promote unity and integrity by grouping people speaking the same language together, thereby reducing conflicts and violence.
After independence, social and political organizations advocated for the creation of linguistic states, with language experts arguing that this would enhance representation and governance for various language communities.The creation of Andhra Pradesh in 1953, separating it from Madras State to accommodate Telugu speakers, marked a significant step towards linguistic reorganization and set a precedent for future initiatives. Precedents to these other states were formed according to the languages spoken in that part. Punjab was formed for the Punjabi separating community, West Bengal was formed for Bengali speakers, Karnataka was formed for the Kannada speaking community. In recent times Telangana was separated from Andhra Pradesh on the basis of language.
CONCLUSION
India’s linguistic diversity showcases its vibrant cultural landscape, offering a unique blend of opportunities and challenges. This diversity sparks creativity, facilitates cultural exchange, and strengthens regional identities. On the other hand, it can create communication barriers and complexities in governance, education, and national integration. Nevertheless, this diversity is an integral part of India’s heritage, shaping its unique identity and contributing to its vibrant cultural landscape.
India’s linguistic diversity is both a treasure and a challenge, enriching its cultural heritage while requiring careful management for effective communication, education, and governance. By promoting multilingual education, language standardization, inclusive communication, and addressing job market concerns, India can harness the benefits of its diversity. This balanced approach can help preserve regional languages, foster national unity, and create a more inclusive and prosperous society.
FAQs
What are the languages listed as official languages in the eighth schedule of the constitution?
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists 22 official languages:
Assamese,
Bengali,
Bodo,
Dogri,
Gujarati,
Hindi,
Kannada,
Kashmiri,
Konkani,
Malayalam,
Manipuri,
Marathi,
Nepali,
Oriya,
Punjabi,
Sanskrit,
Santhali,
Sindhi,
Tamil,
Telugu,
Urdu.
