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Language Diversity or Linguistic Composition in India UPSC CSE

Language Diversity in India

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Summary of Language Diversity

India is a land of incredible linguistic diversity, with hundreds of languages spoken by millions of people. Hindi is the most common language, but many regional languages like Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu are also widely spoken. The constitution recognizes 22 official languages (Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri,Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Kannada, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu), and some states have their own official languages as well. The government is taking steps to preserve these languages through education initiatives and digital tools like National Translation Mission and the new National Education Policy, 2020. However, globalization and social changes threaten many minority languages, and efforts are needed to ensure their survival.

Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri,Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Kannada, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu

  • No National Language: The Indian Constitution does not provide any one language as India’s national language.
  • Official Language: Article 343: Provides that the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.
    • The Official Language Act, 1963: Provided for continued use of English for official purposes and designated Hindi & English as official languages.

Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India, covering a large part of northern and central India and about 43.6% of the country's population. Bengali comes in distant second position with only 8.03% of the country's population, closely followed by Marathi (6.86%), Telugu (6.70%) and Tamil (5.70%).

Background of Language Diversity

India is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with over 1,600 languages and dialects spoken by its citizens. Each language reflects the unique history, traditions and customs of the people who speak it, making India a melting pot of linguistic and cultural diversity. However, the language question has been contentious. Some in the Constituent Assembly of India supported use of Hindi as an official language as it was spoken by the majority of Indians and could become a unifying factor for national solidarity. It could enable easy coordination between governments, and in communication with citizens. However, others feared that it would create a hegemony and disadvantage other languages in government jobs. T.A. Ramalingam Chettiar said that in the South, it is probably a “question of life and death”. SV Krishnamurthy Rao said “Hindi is an inferior language to many local languages”.In Pakistan, the linguistic plurality was entirely dismissed and Urdu was selected as official language despite calls for Bengali to be included.

Introduction of Language Diversity

India is a linguistic powerhouse, with a mind-boggling number of languages spoken by millions. There are over 10 million speakers of 14 languages, and an additional 32 languages boast at least 1 million speakers each. Interestingly, most of these languages are spoken mainly in specific regions, with most states having their own official language.

Hindi reigns supreme in India, with almost half (43.6%) of the population speaking it, mainly in the north and central regions. Bengali, though far behind at 8.03%, holds the second spot, followed closely by Marathi, Telugu, and Tamil, each spoken by around 5-7% of the population.

Data on Languages in India

Language Families in India: Languages spoken in India can be divided into different families such as:

  1. Tibeto-Burman language family: Mostly spoken in the North Eastern States. For e.g.: Assamese, Manipuri, Bodo, etc.
  2. Dravidian language family: This is mostly spoken in the southern part of India by 20 per cent of India’s populatio e.g. Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu
  3. Indo-Aryan language family: Mostly spoken in Northern India constituting 75% of population e.g. Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu, Bengali, Kashmiri, Marathi, Bhatri, Bhilli, Halbi, Ho, Kui etc.
  4. Austro-Asiatic language family: Most of the tribal languages spoken in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha are part of this family e.g., Khasi, Santhali, Meitei, Kolami, Kui, Konda, Koya, Gondi, Oraon/Kurukh, and Parji. etc.

Factors behind high language diversity in India

  1. Historical migrations and invasions: From the ancient times, many communities have been migrated to India or invaded India from various parts of the world. The Dravidians, Indo-Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Huns, Arabs, Turks, and Mughals, among others, have all contributed to the linguistic diversity of India.
  2. Geographical diversity: India's vast geographical landscape, from the Himalayas in the north to the coastal plains in the south, has led to the development of distinct linguistic regions. Geographical barriers like mountains, rivers have led to isolation of different communities which allowed them to develop different regional languages.
  3. Ethnic diversity: In India many ethnic groups with their own languages and culture co-exist. This coexistence of different religious groups such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism has fostered a multilingual environment.
  4. Education and media: In India, education policies support multilingualism, with children often learning multiple languages, including their mother tongue, a regional language, Hindi, and English. It supports the growth of various languages.

Constitutional Provisions For Languages in India

Linguistic Reorganisation of States in India

Advantages of language diversity in India

Challenges posed by language diversity in India

Challenges faced by Multi-national companies in India due to language diversity

Initiatives to Promote Languages in India

Conclusion of Language Diversity

India has a rich history of languages however they are threatened due to prevailing globalisation. While diverse languages enrich the culture, access to education, and even cultural know-how, over half are at risk of extinction. Globalization, nuclear family structures, and migration prioritize English, reducing usage of minority languages. Limited content on the internet in these languages further marginalizes them. Lack of scripts and government assimilation policies add to the danger. Preserving these languages requires promoting education in mother tongues, supporting digital presence, and recognizing their cultural significance. Only then can India truly celebrate its linguistic diversity and ensure their survival for future generations.

Prelims PYQS of Language Diversity or Linguistic Composition in India

Consider the following languages (2014)
1. Gujarati
2. Kannada
3. Telugu
Which of the above has/have been declared as 'Classical Language / Languages' by the Government?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(c) 2 and 3 only
Which one of the following was given classical language status recently? (2015)
(a) Odia
(b) Konkani
(c) Bhojpuri
(d) Assamese

Correct Answer :(a) Odia
With reference to India, the terms ‘Halbi, Ho and Kui’ pertain to (2021)
(a) dance forms of Northwest India
(b) musical instruments
(c) prehistoric cave paintings
(d) tribal languages

Correct Answer :(d) tribal languages
Consider the following statements: (2021)
1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.
2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(b) 2 only

Main PYQS of Language Diversity or Linguistic Composition in India

Analyze the reasons for linguistic conflicts in the years after independence. To what extent did the State's reorganization on the basis of language resolve these conflicts? (2022)
Has the formation of linguistic States strengthened the cause of Indian Unity? (2016)

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