Sat Sep 14 05:47:11 UTC 2024: ## Hindi Diwas: A Look Back at India’s Official Language Debate and the Munshi-Ayyangar Formula

**New Delhi, September 14:** As India celebrates Hindi Diwas today, marking the adoption of Hindi as the official language of the Union government, a look back at the complex history behind this decision reveals a fascinating story of compromise and linguistic politics.

The Constituent Assembly, after three days of intense debate, chose Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language, while recognizing English as an associate language for 15 years. This decision, however, was not without controversy. The debate revolved around the script, numerals, and the status of English, with proposals for Hindustani and Sanskrit as official languages also surfacing.

A key factor in resolving this debate was the **Munshi-Ayyangar formula**, named after Drafting Committee members K M Munshi and N Gopalaswamy Ayyangar. This formula led to the inclusion of Article 343 in the Constitution, stating that Hindi would be the official language, Devanagari script the chosen script, and international form of Indian numerals would be used for official purposes. The formula also preserved English as an official language for 15 years.

The end of this 15-year period, however, sparked widespread protests across non-Hindi speaking regions, particularly Tamil Nadu, fueled by fears of Hindi imposition. This resistance resulted in the passage of the Official Languages Act, ensuring the continued use of English alongside Hindi.

Today, Hindi remains the most widely spoken language in India, with 43.6% of the population declaring it as their mother tongue. Hindi Diwas, celebrated on September 14th, commemorates the adoption of Hindi as the official language, highlighting its significance in India’s linguistic landscape.

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