Hindi Diwas 2023: Hindi a unifying thread, will make other regional languages stronger, says HM Amit Shah
Hindi Diwas 2023: Union Minister Amit Shah said, "Hindi serves as the unifying thread among India's diverse languages, in the world's largest democracy. From the independence movement to the present day, Hindi has played a pivotal role in uniting our nation.
FollowToday marks 'Hindi Diwas,' a day of significance celebrated in India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued a video statement, emphasizing the importance of the Hindi language. He stated, "Hindi serves as the unifying thread among India's diverse languages, in the world's largest democracy. From the independence movement to the present day, Hindi has played a pivotal role in uniting our nation. On this 'Hindi Diwas,' let us pledge to strengthen all Indian languages, including our official language, Hindi."
Hindi's Origins
The roots of Hindi trace back to the Persian word 'Hind,' signifying the "land of the Indus River." In the early 11th century, Turkish invaders referred to the region's language as Hindi, meaning the "language of the Indus River." Hindi holds the status of India's official language, while English serves as the second official language.
In terms of global language prevalence, Hindi ranks as the fifth most widely spoken language. It is spoken in various countries, including Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad, Mauritius, and South Africa.
Official data reveals that over 52 crores, or 43.63% of India's population, speak Hindi, making it the most spoken language in the country. Bengali and Marathi follow with 8.03% and 6.86% of speakers, respectively. Telugu (6.7%) and Tamil (5.7%) occupy the fourth and fifth positions. Despite Hindi's widespread use, more than 56.37% of the population does not consider it their first or mother tongue, as per the 2011 Census language data.
Significance of Hindi Diwas
Hindi Diwas is celebrated annually to rejuvenate the language's importance and encourage its promotion, particularly among children. This occasion fosters passion and affection for Hindi, prompting various government bodies, educational institutions, and private organizations to host literary and cultural events nationwide. These events celebrate remarkable achievements in Hindi language and literature.
During Hindi Diwas, Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar and Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar awards are presented to ministries, departments, public sector units, nationalized banks, and individuals who contribute significantly to the expansion, awareness, and development of Hindi.
Years of dedication to strengthening Hindi have made it the most spoken language in India, understood even in regions where it was once rarely spoken. Forbes India recognizes Hindi as the world's third most spoken language, with 60 crore speakers, trailing only English (with 1,13.2 crore speakers) and Mandarin (with 1,11.7 crore speakers). The 2011 census confirms that 43.63% of India's population speaks Hindi.
Inception of the Celebration
The issue of language was a concern during the Constituent Assembly, as English was widely used for official purposes under British rule but was not accessible to the masses. To commemorate and celebrate the adoption of Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, as one of India's official languages by the Constituent Assembly on September 14, 1949, Hindi Diwas was established. India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, chose September 14 to honor Hindi Diwas.
