New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, marked the 75th anniversary of Hindi as India’s official language during the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Official Language and the 4th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan. Held in New Delhi, the event celebrated Hindi’s journey, with Shah releasing a Diamond Jubilee Special Issue of the ‘Rajbhasha Bharati’ magazine, as well as a commemorative postage stamp and commemorative coin to honor the milestone.
Amit Shah also presented the Rajbhasha Gaurav and Rajbhasha Kirti Awards to recognize contributions to the promotion of Hindi. Additionally, he launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhaag (Indian Languages Section), a new initiative aimed at fostering greater collaboration between Hindi and India’s diverse regional languages.
Celebrating Hindi’s Journey
In his address, Shah reflected on the 75-year journey of Hindi as the official language, noting its pivotal role in uniting India’s diverse linguistic landscape. He emphasized that Hindi is not only a language of communication but also a medium to preserve India’s cultural and literary heritage. “Today is the day to make Hindi a language of communication, people, technology, and even an international language,” said Shri Shah.
The Home Minister highlighted that the newly launched Indian Languages Section would act as a center for protecting and promoting India’s regional languages. It aims to strengthen the relationship between Hindi and other local languages, ensuring their mutual growth.
Strengthening Local Languages
Shah stressed that there is no competition between Hindi and local languages, describing them as complementary to one another. He explained that the Indian Languages Section would translate Hindi articles, speeches, and letters into regional languages and vice versa, thus promoting dialogue and understanding among India’s linguistic diversity. “Hindi and local languages complement each other, and this bonhomie will be strengthened through this initiative,” he added.
Mother Tongue as a Foundation
The Home Minister called on parents to speak to their children in their mother tongue, emphasizing that this is crucial for preserving India’s languages and cultural identity. He linked this to the New Education Policy, which emphasizes primary education in the mother tongue. Shah underscored the role of language in shaping a child’s reasoning and understanding, making it essential for fostering national unity.
The Role of Hindi in India’s Freedom Movement
Shah noted the critical role Hindi played in India’s freedom struggle, highlighting that many leaders from non-Hindi speaking regions, including Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, supported Hindi as a unifying language. He also touched on the importance of promoting Hindi in education, technical fields, and the judiciary, citing efforts to translate Supreme Court judgments and provide medical and engineering education in Hindi and other regional languages.
Hindi on the Global Stage
Shah lauded the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in elevating the status of Hindi on the international stage, particularly through his addresses in Hindi at global forums such as the United Nations General Assembly. He noted that Hindi has now become the second language of more than 10 countries and is steadily gaining recognition as an international language.