Hindi Diwas (Hindi Day) is annually observed across India on 14 September to mark the importance of the Hindi language.
- The first Hindi day was celebrated on 14th September 1953.
- It is celebrated in schools, colleges as well as offices in India.
The day aims to raise awareness about the Hindi language and also commemorate the event when it was adopted as one of the official languages of India.
Note: World Hindi Day is annually observed on 10th January across the globe.
Background:
i.India’s first Prime Minister (PM), Jawaharlal Nehru decided to celebrate September 14 as ‘Hindi Diwas’. Hindi was adopted as the official language of the Union of India on the 14th of September 1949. Subsequently, Hindi in the Devanagari script was declared as one of the official languages of India along with the English language.
ii.The states of India identify their own official languages through the process of legislation.
iii.Indian parliament passed the Official Languages Act in 1963. It allowed the usage of English along with Hindi, even after 1965.
Why 14 September?
i.On 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi as the official language of India.
- 14th September also marks the birth anniversary of Beohar Rajendra Simha, who worked tirelessly towards making Hindi the official language of India.
Significance:
i.On the occasion of Hindi Diwas, the President of India felicitates people for their contribution to the Hindi language and literature.
- Hindi is also the Eighth Schedule Language.
ii.Kaka Kalelkar, Maithili Sharan Gupta, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Seth Govindadas and others made important contributions to make Hindi the official language.
iii.Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has established ‘Hindi Chairs’ in various foreign universities/institutions abroad.
iv.A self-teaching application LILA-Rajbhasha (Learn Indian Languages through Artificial Intelligence) was created to promote self learning.
- Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar and Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar are awarded for contribution in the Hindi Language.
Constitutional provision for Languages in India:
i.The 8th schedule consists of a list of 22 officially recognized Indian languages.
ii.Article 343 and 344 of the Constitution embody the major provisions dealing with the official languages of the Union of India.
