Introduction
One of the key areas where Mahatma Gandhi showed strong leadership was in language policy. He believed that India, as a multilingual country, needed a common national language to promote unity, communication, and cultural integration. Gandhi actively promoted Hindi-Hindustani as the national language and took several initiatives to evolve and popularize it. In this answer, we will explore Gandhi’s efforts to develop a national language and his vision behind it.
The Need for a National Language
Gandhi believed that a common language was essential for:
- Creating national unity
- Promoting communication between people from different regions
- Replacing English as the language of administration and education
He felt that English had created a gap between the educated elite and the masses, and a national language would help bridge that gap.
Hindi-Hindustani as the National Language
Gandhi supported Hindi-Hindustani — a blend of Hindi and Urdu written in both Devanagari and Persian scripts. He believed this form of the language was:
- Simple and easy to learn
- Spoken and understood by a large section of the population
- Free from religious bias, making it acceptable to both Hindus and Muslims
He did not support any one regional language over others, as that would divide rather than unite the country.
Efforts Made by Gandhi
Gandhi worked at multiple levels to promote the idea of a national language:
- Founded the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan: To promote Hindi as a language of national importance
- Used Hindustani in speeches and writings: Including it in his journals like “Harijan”
- Encouraged schools and colleges: To teach and use Hindi as the medium of instruction
- Campaigns and appeals: Urged the public to adopt Hindustani in daily life
Challenges Faced
Despite his efforts, Gandhi faced several challenges:
- Opposition from non-Hindi speaking states: Especially in South India
- Debate over script: Some preferred Devanagari, others Persian script
- Partition and politics: After 1947, the Urdu-Hindi debate became communalized
Gandhi was deeply hurt by the growing divide and communalism around language identity.
Gandhi’s Inclusive Language Vision
Gandhi’s approach to language was inclusive and democratic. He never wanted to impose Hindi forcefully. He supported the use of mother tongues for education and regional administration, while having one common national language for national affairs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Gandhi worked tirelessly to evolve a national language that would bind the diverse people of India. His promotion of Hindi-Hindustani was based on the ideals of simplicity, unity, and inclusiveness. Although not all his dreams about language policy were fulfilled, his vision continues to influence India’s language debates even today. His efforts were not just about communication, but about building a sense of national unity through shared understanding.