Protecting India’s Linguistic Secularism

Through Indian secularism, there would be linguistic pluralism, as well as, religious neutrality and it has 121 languages and 270 mother tongues (2011 Census). The linguistic rights are guaranteed and no language is imposed by the Constitution under the articles 29 and 343. The expanding linguistic chauvinism, especially in its manifestation in the state of Maharashtra and previous examples in Tamil Nadu endangers the federal and democratic shape of India. To ensure that there is unity in diversity, the state should ensure that it exercises linguistic neutrality. Language should not represent a source of segregation other than a source of integration in elucidation, by the political players and the entire society.

Context

• The issue of linguistic identity, regional rights, and imposition of Hindi has once again become the topic of debate as a result of episodes of language based violence and discrimination. 
• This question is particularly touchy in such states as Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra where the regional pride in language is deep-seated. 
• The necessity to maintain linguistic secularism in India has come to the fore in defending pluralist and federal identity of India.

Key Points for RAS Mains

Indian Secularism: beyond Religion

• Indian secularism means to remain non-committed to any kinds of identities, religious and linguistic.
• The State neither favors one language to another nor does it oppress any language, and it allows diversity.
• Linguistic and communal chauvinism would be defeated with the help of this model.

Constitutional Safeguards for Linguistic Rights

Census Data of 2011:

• 121 leading languages and 270 mother tongues.
• In India, 96 percent of the Indians are mother tongues of one of the 22 Scheduled Languages.

Menaces to Linguistic Secularism

• Hindi imposition being regarded as marginalization in South & North East India.
• Tamil Nadu: pronounced opposition through what was known as the anti-Hindi storms.
• Maharashtra: Increase of violence due to language against non-Marathis.
• In this respect, such tendencies can develop into exclusionary nationalism and regional separation and negatively affect national integration.

Globalisation and Linguistic Chauvinism

• The cultural capital of India is inclusivity and liberalism.
• Any attempt to impose monolingual nationalism in the globalized world is retrogressive.
• India has to market multilingual tolerance as a strength rather than a weakness.

Political leadership role

• Politicians should not appeal to language lines in order to gather voters.
• Language should not be inserted into the political wedge.
• Have to maintain the democratic, federal and pluralist spirit of the Constitution.
• Promote linguistic diversity and education and interstate harmony policies.

About Language Diversity in India

International mother language day

• International Awareness: Since 2000 it has been held every year on 21 st February.
• The Role of Bangladesh: It is suggested by Bangladesh and marks its language movement of 1952.
• UNESCO Vision: Proponents of cultural and linguistic diversity to ensure sustainability, peace and inclusion.

The Ancient Indian Linguistic Developments

• Prehistoric Era: There are no written records of the pre-historic period. Early language reconstruction is hardly feasible.
• Indus Valley script: The script (26001900 BCE) is undeciphered. Its linguistic background is still projected.
• Development of Sanskrit and Prakrits: Sanskrit was introduced as a leading classical language and Prakrits developed as vernaculars.
• Sangam literature is a pointer to how the depth of Tamil grew independently.

Regional Language Influence and Influence of Foreign Languages

• Islamic Period Influence: Persian and Arabic gave influences to the regional languages which led to creations such as Urdu.
• Five Millennia History of Linguistic Exchange: Avestan, Austro-Asiatic, Indo-Aryan, and Tibeto-Burman families of language were absorbed in India.
• Expansion of Dravidian and Tibeto-Burman: Such languages were advanced by means of literature and local administration.
• The Revolution in Print: The invention of the printing press and paper brought about the speed of literacy and the inception of publishing in languages of a region.

Colonial and Post-Colonial Language changes

• Rise of English: English was the language of governance, education and communication with the elite under British rule.
• Fade of Persian and Sanskrit: English marginalized Persian; Sanskrit was limited to the ritualist and academic arenas.
• Development of Modern Indian Languages: Modern Indian Languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Marathi and Telugu were given status and developed.
• The Schedule/Not Schedule Languages: The state supports the languages as given in the Eighth Schedule whereas others are at the risk of becoming extinct.
• Tribal Language Endangerment: languages of Adivasis, especially the Austro Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman, are showing a demographic downturn.
• Urban English: English is overwhelming the education sector and the press and poses a threat to native languages in spite of technology.

Conclusion for RPSC

The democratic India has linguistic secularism as one of its essential elements. Being a multilingual society, India should look upon the linguistic diversity in the country as its strength rather than the source of division. The values in the constitution and national unity require that there should be no imposition of language and all must be respected equally. It is the responsibility of the state and political leadership together with the civil society to promote linguistic inclusivity and prevent all forms of linguistic nationalism to erode the essence of federalism and democracy.