Debate Over the National Language
Modern History › The Nehru Era, 1947-64 · Topic 31.1
At independence eleven languages were each spoken by more than a million people, and the choice of an official language to replace English was contested. The Constituent Assembly's compromise made Hindi in Devanagari script the official language with English continuing for fifteen years, the Official Languages Act of 1963 gave English the status of associate language, and the Act of 1967 provided a bilingual solution after violent anti-Hindi protests.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · The Nehru Era, 1947-64
At a Glance
- Languages in 1947 Eleven major languages, each with over a million speakers
- Compromise Hindi in Devanagari as official language; English for fifteen years
- Official Languages Act 1963; Hindi official from 1965, English associate language
- Amendment Act 1967; bilingual solution for Centre-state communication
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: The Nehru Era, 1947-64
Where Does It Fit?
This is the first topic of the category on the Nehru era. The previous topic covered the first general elections and ended the category on independence and the new-born nation. This topic covers the debate over the national language. The next topic covers the linguistic reorganisation of states. Previous topic: First General Elections, 1951-52. The constitutional position is in Eighth Schedule: Languages Recognized by the Constitution (22 Languages).
Why Did the Language Question Arise?
At the time of independence there were eleven major languages in India, each spoken by more than a million people. In colonial India English was the official language, and with independence the question arose of having a national or official language to replace it. The period of 1947-64 has often been called the Nehruvian era because of Nehru’s influence on almost all decisions taken in India during it, and the language question was part of the larger task of building a united country. The first Parliament of that era was elected as described in First General Elections, 1951-52.
Gandhi had recommended Hindustani as the national language for national integration, and Nehru too saw the potential of Hindustani, neither too Sanskritised nor too Persianised, to become the national language. The idea of Hindi as a national language was, on the whole, not welcome in the non-Hindi-speaking south and east.
What Was the Constituent Assembly’s Compromise?
After serious resistance, the Language Committee of the Constituent Assembly produced a compromise formula. Hindi in the Devanagari script would be the official language, but the move to Hindi would be gradual. For the first fifteen years English would continue for all official purposes, and each province could choose one regional language for its official work, those languages being listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. By calling Hindi the official and not the national language, the committee hoped to placate the opposition. The Assembly itself is in Objectives Resolution Moved by Nehru, 13 December…">Making of the Constitution: Constituent Assembly and Its Work.
| Step | Provision |
|---|---|
| Constitution, 1950 | Hindi in Devanagari as the official language; English to continue for fifteen years; regional languages listed in the Eighth Schedule |
| Official Languages Act, 1963 | Hindi to become the official language from 1965; English accorded the status of associate additional official language as a concession to non-Hindi speakers |
| Late 1964 and early 1965 | Violent demonstrations over the language issue, especially in south India |
| Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 1967 | A bilingual English-Hindi solution for official communication between the Centre and states; regional languages recognised in provincial administration and public service examinations |
A note on the wording: it is often said that the Act of 1963 stated that Hindi was to become the official language from 1965. The Act’s key provision was that English could continue in addition to Hindi after 25 January 1965, and the 1967 amendment made the continuation depend on the resolution of every state legislature that had not adopted Hindi as its official language, so that English continues until the legislatures of all non-Hindi-speaking states and both Houses of Parliament agree to end it.
What Did the Compromise Achieve?
As an analytical point, the compromise worked by separating two questions that the debate had joined: the language of national identity and the language of administration. By choosing the word official and fixing a long transition, it let each side claim a gain, and by giving English the status of associate language it kept the Union’s administration working. It did not remove the resentment of non-Hindi speakers, because a fixed date for the change in 1965 made them fear that their own languages would be put at a disadvantage in jobs in the central services. The violent protests of 1964-65 were the result, and the 1967 Act treated them by making the continuation of English depend on the wishes of the non-Hindi states and not on a date. The wider question of regional identity is in Linguistic Reorganisation of States, and the party responses are in Growth of Other Political Parties.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Provisions and Acts Dates and names are standard Prelims facts
- Federal balance A GS Paper 2 theme on language policy and the states
- Nehru’s accommodation Shows the method of compromise used in the Nehru era
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the linguistic reorganisation of states from the Dhar Commission to the States Reorganisation Act. Next topic: Linguistic Reorganisation of States.
Key People and Terms
- Hindustani Gandhi’s preferred national language
- Language Committee Body of the Constituent Assembly that framed the compromise
- Eighth Schedule List of recognised regional languages
- Official Languages Act, 1963 Law on Hindi and associate English
- Associate additional official language Status given to English
- Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 1967 Bilingual solution for the Centre and states
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Eleven major languages in 1947.
- English for the first fifteen years.
- Official Languages Act 1963; Hindi official from 1965.
- Violent protests: late 1964-early 1965.
- Amendment Act: 1967.
Do Not Confuse With
- National language and official language The Constitution speaks of an official language
- Official Languages Act and its 1967 amendment Associate English versus bilingual solution
- Hindi and Hindustani Sanskritised Hindi versus Gandhi’s mixed language
Memory Hook
Fifteen years of English, a Hindi date, protests, a bilingual fix.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the language policy and its politics. These points add depth.
- Compromise Official, not national
- Reaction Resentment in non-Hindi regions
- Settlement Bilingual arrangement
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the debate over the national language in India and the steps taken to resolve it.”
How to Answer
- Context Many languages and English.
- Compromise Language Committee.
- Crisis 1963-65 protests.
- Conclude 1967 settlement.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Hindi called the official and not the national language?
Because the idea of a national language in Hindi was resisted by non-Hindi-speaking regions, the Language Committee called Hindi in Devanagari the official language and made the change gradual, hoping the wording would placate the opposition.
What was the position of English after independence?
English continued for all official purposes for the first fifteen years, and the Official Languages Act of 1963 made it an associate additional official language after 1965 as a concession to non-Hindi speakers, especially in the south.
What is the Eighth Schedule?
It is the list in the Constitution of the regional languages that provinces could choose from for their official work, and it recognised the diversity of Indian languages inside the compromise formula of the Language Committee.
Why did violent protests occur in 1964-65?
Because the Official Languages Act fixed 1965 as the date from which Hindi would become the official language, non-Hindi speakers in the south feared disadvantage, and resentment turned into violent demonstrations in late 1964 and early 1965.
What did the Amendment Act of 1967 provide?
It provided a bilingual English-Hindi solution for official communication between the Centre and states, and recognised regional languages in provincial administration and in public service examinations, which gave a concession to the multiplicity of languages.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Gandhi recommended Hindustani as the national language.
Nehru also acknowledged its potential.
2 The Constitution made English the sole official language permanently.
English was to continue for fifteen years and then as an associate language.
3 The Official Languages Act was passed in 1963.
English became an associate additional language.
4 The Eighth Schedule lists the regional languages recognised by the Constitution.
Provinces chose from them for official work.
5 The Official Languages (Amendment) Act of 1967 ended the use of English.
It provided a bilingual solution.
Related Topics
Browse the full Modern History index