The article will begin with a brief introduction that highlights the significance of Hindi language in India and its recognition through the annual celebration of Hindi Diwas.
Recognizing Hindi Diwas
Every year, on 14th September, the nation celebrates Hindi Diwas. This day was designated as National Hindi Day after Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, was officially adopted as one of the languages of the Republic of India on the same date in 1949. Several notable individuals including Kaka Kalelkar, Maithili Sharan Gupta, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, and Seth Govindadas played significant roles in making Hindi an official language of India. In addition to Hindi, English is also recognized as an official language under Article 343 of the Indian Constitution.
Hindi in India’s Constitutional Framework
Hindi not only stands as an official language but has also been included in the eighth schedule of Indian languages. Furthermore, Article 351 of the Indian Constitution lays out the directive for the development of the Hindi language, highlighting its importance in the national linguistic framework.
World Hindi Day
To promote the global presence of Hindi, World Hindi Day is celebrated on 10th January every year. The day marks the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference held in Nagpur on 10th January 1975. This conference witnessed participation from 122 delegates across 30 countries. The inaugural World Hindi Day was celebrated in 2006 by former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Following this, the World Hindi Secretariat building was inaugurated in Mauritius in 2018 to further strengthen Hindi’s global outreach.
About The Hindi Language
The term ‘Hindi’ is derived from the Persian word Hind, signifying ‘land of the Indus River’. The language was named Hindi by the Turkish invaders in the 11th century, signaling the ‘language of the land of the Indus River’. The modern-day script used for Hindi, Devanagari, also came into existence in the 11th century. As of today, Hindi is the fifth most spoken language worldwide, being used in countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, USA, UK, Germany, New Zealand, UAE, Uganda, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad, Mauritius, and South Africa.
Government Efforts to Foster The Growth of Hindi
The Government of India, acknowledging the importance of Hindi, has undertaken several initiatives to promote and develop the language. In 1960, the Central Hindi Directorate was set up under the Ministry of Education. Also, The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has established various ‘Hindi Chairs’ in numerous foreign universities/institutions. Moreover, a multimedia-based intelligent self-tutoring application for learning Hindi, LILA-Rajbhasha, is an example of integration of Hindi language learning with technology. Similarly, E-Saral Hindi Vakya Kosh and E-Maha Shabda Kosh Mobile App, both initiatives by the Department of Official Language, aim to harness information technology to encourage the growth of Hindi. To honor significant contributions towards Hindi, the government has instituted awards such as Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar and Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar.
By celebrating Hindi Diwas and World Hindi Day, along with implementing various schemes to support Hindi learning, the Indian Government continues its endeavors to maintain and enhance the significance of Hindi in India and globally.
