Nationalistic Influences on Language: Protecting India’s Linguistic Heritage in a Global Context

India’s linguistic landscape is a vibrant tapestry woven with threads of ancient wisdom, colonial history, and modern aspirations. With over 19,500 languages and dialects, India stands as one of the most linguistically diverse nations in the world. Yet, nearly 600 Indian languages are on the verge of extinction, and with them, entire cultural cosmologies, oral histories, and indigenous knowledge systems disappear.

The Indian government’s mission—Protect, Preserve, and Promote—is not just a policy directive but a civilizational imperative. But how do nationalism and political ideologies shape language? How does India’s struggle compare to similar movements worldwide?

Language as a Pillar of National Identity: India’s Historical Context

1. The Post-Colonial Language Dilemma

After independence, India faced a critical question: Should a single language unify the nation, or should linguistic diversity be celebrated? The Constituent Assembly debates revealed deep divisions. While Hindi was chosen as the official language (with English as a temporary associate), leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru recognized the dangers of linguistic imposition.

The Official Languages Act (1963) was a compromise, but tensions flared in Tamil Nadu, where protests against Hindi imposition turned violent in 1965. The "Anti-Hindi Agitation" was not just about language—it was a fight for cultural autonomy.

2. Sanskrit: The Sacred vs. The Practical

Sanskrit, often called the "language of the gods," holds a unique place in India’s linguistic hierarchy. While it is promoted as a cultural and spiritual anchor, its revival faces challenges. Unlike Hebrew, which was successfully revived in Israel as a modern spoken language, Sanskrit remains largely liturgical.

3. The Rise of Linguistic States

The States Reorganization Act (1956) redrew India’s map along linguistic lines, creating states like Andhra Pradesh (Telugu), Karnataka (Kannada), and Gujarat (Gujarati). This was a democratic recognition of linguistic identity but also a political tool—language became a marker of regional power.

Global Comparisons: How Other Nations Handle Language and Nationalism

1. France: Linguistic Centralization

France’s "One Nation, One Language" policy under the French Revolution sought to eliminate regional languages like Breton, Occitan, and Basque in favor of standardized French. Even today, France resists recognizing minority languages, fearing separatist movements. Contrast this with India, where the Eighth Schedule acknowledges 22 languages, yet hundreds remain unrecognized.

2. China: Mandarin as a Unifying Force

China aggressively promotes Mandarin (Putonghua) to unify its ethnically diverse population. Minority languages like Tibetan, Uyghur, and Cantonese face suppression, framed as a threat to national unity. India’s approach is less coercive, but the dominance of Hindi in media and education marginalizes smaller languages similarly.

3. South Africa: The Rainbow Nation’s Language Compromise

Post-apartheid South Africa adopted 11 official languages, including Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans. Yet, English dominates in government and business, mirroring India’s elite preference for English over regional languages.

4. Indigenous Language Revivals: New Zealand & Canada

• New Zealand’s Māori Language Revival: The Te Reo Māori movement has successfully integrated the language into schools and public life.

• Canada’s Bilingualism & Indigenous Rights: While Canada promotes French and English, it also funds Inuit and First Nations language programs, a model India could learn from.

  
  

Preservation vs. Politicization

1. The Paradox of Hindi Nationalism

The BJP’s push for Hindi as a "national language" (despite no such constitutional status) is seen as cultural hegemony by non-Hindi states. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal resist, fearing erosion of their linguistic identity.

2. The Neglect of Tribal Languages

While Sanskrit and classical languages receive state patronage, tribal languages like Gondi, Santhali, and Tulu struggle for survival. The Bharatavani Project aims to digitize Indian languages, but grassroots education in mother tongues remains weak.

3. The Three-Language Formula: A Flawed Solution?

India’s education policy mandates Hindi, English, and a regional language, but in practice, many schools prioritize English, leaving regional languages sidelined. Should India adopt a more flexible multilingual approach, like Switzerland’s cantonal system?

A Question for the Reader

"If a language dies, does a world die with it?"

India’s linguistic diversity is its greatest strength—but also its most fragile heritage. As we protect some languages, are we unconsciously letting others fade?

• Is linguistic nationalism a unifying force, or does it erase minority voices?

• Can India learn from global language revival movements, or must it forge its own path?

  
  

The answer lies not just in policy but in every family that chooses to speak its mother tongue at home, every school that teaches in local languages, and every citizen who sees language not as a divider but as a bridge.

Will future generations inherit a linguistically rich India, or just the echoes of forgotten words?

The choice is ours.