The origins of language conflicts in independent India: constitutional aspects

Abstract

The article is focused on the acceptance of Hindi as the official language of the Republic of India and the related problems of the status of other Indian languages, the constitutional design of the language policy at the stage of formation of the legal system of an independent state, the positions of various regional political forces on this issue and possible solutions to the issue of the official language. The article raises the question of the linguistic unity of multi-ethnic states without an absolute ethnic and linguistic majority. In this context the role of language in shaping the identity of social groups and its possible use as a mechanism of state control is important, as well as the reaction of various political groups and activists. The process of debate in the Constituent Assembly of 1949 is considered to be the starting point for the language policy of the new state, which determined the status of Indian languages for years to come. In this regard, the positions of the participants should be seen as an attempt by various regional forces to influence the language policy in the long term. The article estimates the languages that could claim the status of the official Indian language, their position in the country and society by the time of Independence, the arguments for and against their adoption. In this context the positions of Hindi in different states of India, which classified themselves as Hindi-speaking or non-Hindi-speaking, is very important.

References

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