Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Hindi Language - National Language?

By the constitution, India does not have a 'National Language'. Hindi is adopted as 'Official Language' of the Union. Here is the excerpt from the constitution text which clearly indicates this fact. Is all the fuss created in the name of language in India really meaningful?

source: http://www.constitution.org/cons/india/p17343.html

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PART XVII

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

CHAPTER I.- LANGUAGE OF THE UNION

343. Official language of the Union.

(1) The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals.

(2)Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), for a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union for which it was being used immediately before such commencement: Provided that the President may, during the said period, by order_306 authorise the use of the Hindi language in addition to the English language and of the Devanagari form of numerals in addition to the international form of Indian numerals for any of the official purposes of the Union.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in this article, Parliament may by law provide for the use, after the said period of fifteen years, of-

(a) the English language, or

(b) the Devanagari form of numerals, for such purposes as may be specified in the law.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

This is kinda astonishing.
But how come you landed on this information?

Gandalf said...

I really don't remember what initiated the digging of information but some article or blog mentioned it and I looked it up.