Hindi, Sanskrit and the Indian Constitution

 Hindi, Sanskrit and the Indian Constitution 

According to the Indian Constitution, Hindi in Devanagari script is designated as the "official language of the Union" (India), meaning it is the primary language used for official government purposes; however, the Constitution does not declare Hindi as the "national language" of India. 


Key points about Hindi in the Constitution:

Article 343(1):

This article explicitly states that Hindi in Devanagari script shall be the official language of the Union. 

English as additional official language:

Initially, English was allowed to be used for official purposes for a period of 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution. 

Official Languages Act, 1963:

This act further solidified the continued use of English alongside Hindi for official purposes. 

The status of Hindi in the Constitution of India is primarily outlined in Part XVII (Articles 343 to 351). Here are the key provisions:

1. Article 343: Official Language of the Union

Clause 1:


"The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals."

This establishes Hindi as the official language of the Indian Union, written in the Devanagari script.


Clause 2:


"Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), for a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union..."

English was retained as an associate official language for 15 years (until 1965). This provision was extended indefinitely by the Official Languages Act (1963), allowing English to continue alongside Hindi.


2. Article 351: Directive for Development of Hindi

"It shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language, to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India..."

This article directs the Union to actively promote Hindi's development, ensuring it assimilates elements from other Indian languages and serves as a unifying medium.


Other Relevant Articles:

Article 344: Establishes a Commission and Parliamentary Committee to review the progressive use of Hindi and restrictions on English.


Article 348(1): Specifies that proceedings in the Supreme Court and High Courts, along with authoritative legal texts, shall be in English until Parliament legislates otherwise.


Article 345: Allows states to adopt their own official languages (e.g., Tamil in Tamil Nadu, Bengali in West Bengal).


Summary:

Constitutional Status: Hindi is the official language of the Union (Article 343), with English as an associate official language.


Promotion: The Union is mandated to develop and propagate Hindi (Article 351).


Flexibility: States have autonomy to choose their own official languages, ensuring linguistic diversity (Article 345).


This framework balances Hindi's prominence with India's multilingual reality.




The status of Hindi in the Constitution of India is defined under Part XVII (Articles 343 to 351), which deals with the Official Language of the Union and the States.


Key Constitutional Provisions Regarding Hindi:

Article 343 – Official Language of the Union


Declares that Hindi in Devanagari script shall be the official language of the Union.

English was to continue for 15 years (until 1965) for official purposes, but its use was later extended indefinitely through the Official Languages Act, 1963.

Article 344 – Commission and Committee on Official Language


Provides for a Commission to review the progressive use of Hindi and recommend measures for its development.

Article 345 – Official Language of States


States are free to adopt any language (Hindi or any regional language) as their official language.

Article 346 – Language for Communication Between States and Union


Hindi or English shall be used for communication between states and the Union.

Article 347 – Special Provision for Language of a Section of People


If a significant population in a state demands, the President can direct the state to recognize a particular language.

Article 348 – Language of the Supreme Court, High Courts, and Laws


Proceedings in Supreme Court and High Courts, as well as bills, acts, and orders, shall be in English, unless Parliament provides otherwise.

Article 349 – Restriction on Parliament’s Power to Make Changes in Language Policy


Requires President's recommendation before making laws affecting language policy.

Article 350 – Right to Submit Representation in Any Language


Allows any person to submit representations to the government in any language used in India.

Article 350A – Facilities for Linguistic Minorities


States must provide primary education in the mother tongue of linguistic minorities.

Article 350B – Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities


Appoints a Special Officer to protect the rights of linguistic minorities.

Article 351 – Directive for Development of Hindi

The Union Government must promote Hindi and enrich it by drawing upon Sanskrit and other Indian languages to ensure it serves as an all-India medium of expression.

Conclusion

Hindi is the official language of the Union but not the national language of India.

English continues to be used alongside Hindi for official purposes.

The Constitution promotes the development of Hindi while protecting regional languages and linguistic diversity.



The Constitution of India recognizes Sanskrit as part of the country's linguistic and cultural heritage, but it is not an official language of the Constitution itself. However, Sanskrit has a unique status in various constitutional provisions. Below are the relevant Articles:

1. Article 351 – Development of Hindi with Sanskrit Influence

Text of Article 351:
"It shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language, to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India and to secure its enrichment by assimilating without interfering with its genius, the forms, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in other languages of India specified in the Eighth Schedule, and by drawing, wherever necessary or desirable, for its vocabulary, primarily on Sanskrit and secondarily on other languages."

🔹 Explanation:

  • The Constitution explicitly directs the development of Hindi by drawing from Sanskrit as its primary source.
  • This recognizes Sanskrit as the foundational language for Hindi and other Indian languages.

2. Article 344(1) – Role of Sanskrit in the Official Language Commission

Text of Article 344(1):
"The President shall, at the expiration of five years from the commencement of this Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of ten years from such commencement, by order, constitute a Commission which shall consist of a Chairman and such other members representing the different languages specified in the Eighth Schedule as the President may appoint, and such order shall also define the procedure to be followed by the Commission."

🔹 Explanation:

  • Sanskrit, being part of the Eighth Schedule, is represented in language-related commissions and policies.

3. Article 29 – Protection of Cultural and Linguistic Rights

Text of Article 29(1):
"Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same."

🔹 Explanation:

  • Sanskrit-speaking communities have the constitutional right to preserve and promote their language.
  • It is a cultural safeguard for Sanskrit scholars and speakers.

4. Eighth Schedule – Recognition of Sanskrit as a Scheduled Language

The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution lists 22 scheduled languages, including Sanskrit.

🔹 Implications:

  • This ensures government support for Sanskrit.
  • It qualifies for inclusion in educational policies, cultural promotions, and language commissions.

5. Article 348(2) – Use of Sanskrit in Judiciary and Laws

Although English is the official language of the Supreme Court and High Courts, Article 348(2) allows states to use any language, including Sanskrit, in official legal proceedings with the President’s approval.

Conclusion:

  • Sanskrit is not the primary language of governance but has strong constitutional backing for its preservation and development.
  • It serves as a linguistic and cultural cornerstone influencing Hindi and other Indian languages.
  • The Eighth Schedule and Article 351 highlight its importance in India's linguistic policy.



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