Editorial: Celebrate India’s linguistic diversity

The Supreme Court’s observation that language has no religion and that all languages should be celebrated equally is a welcome affirmation of India’s linguistic pluralism

India is known all over the world for its centuries-old syncretic culture, linguistic diversity and pluralistic ethos. They define the essence of the idea of India. However, the growing tendency in some quarters to link language with religion is doing a great disservice to the country’s rich linguistic heritage. At a time when merchants of hate are using every possible tool to drive a wedge within society, the Supreme Court’s observation that language has no religion and that all languages should be celebrated equally is a welcome affirmation of India’s linguistic pluralism. A language is only a means of communication and does not represent a religion. The belief that Urdu is a language of Muslims and Hindi is a language of Hindus is a “pitiable digression from reality”, the apex court has ruled. The apex court was dealing with an appeal filed against the use of Urdu on the signboard of a new building of the Municipal Council in Maharashtra’s Akola district. The signage was written in Marathi and Urdu. The appellant, a former Municipal Council member, objected to the usage of Urdu. The SC has rightly ruled that Urdu was very much an Indian language, born and nurtured in the country, reached greater refinement and became a language of choice for poets. The prejudice against Urdu stems from the misconception that Urdu is alien to India. This opinion is grossly incorrect as Urdu, like Marathi and Hindi, is an Indo-Aryan language.

Urdu is among the 22 languages officially recognised by the Indian Constitution. It was given the respect it deserved after India’s independence by its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. It has been adopted by many States and Union Territories — including the two Telugu States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh — as their second official language in the exercise of powers conferred by Article 345 of the Constitution. The SC ruling not only reaffirms the constitutional right to linguistic diversity but also underscores Urdu’s integral role in the nation’s syncretic cultural and intellectual heritage. The rise of right-wing politics in the country fuelled a tendency to view languages through the narrow prism of identity politics. It is this viewpoint that considers Urdu to be an Islamic import, peddles a Hindu sense of siege and dubs other communities as tormentors. The 2011 Census data on language highlights Urdu’s deep-rooted connection with various regions and communities across the country. Contrary to the misconception that Urdu is predominantly spoken in the north, it showed the presence of significant Urdu-speaking populations in States like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. As the court rightly pointed out, language is not religion but represents culture and belongs to the people. Instead of viewing it as a dividing line, all languages, including Urdu, should be celebrated as a meeting ground, a rich tapestry of ideas, cultures and people.

---