Hindi's Tug of War and Nation Formation

Hindi, as an official language, has played a crucial role in nation formation and vice versa. Throughout different events, Hindi, as a language, has been the center either as means of disseminating information or as a controversial topic of discussion. The color coded timeline provided will elaborate on the different events from our history.

Hindi-Urdu Controversy

Fig 1. An advertisement in the January 29, 1950 edition of the Indian Express.

Fig 2. Article 351 under Part XVII, Official Language, The Constitution of India.

Pre-Independence Language Development

Fig 3. (1857) Sepoy Mutiny

Fig 4. (1920) Non-cooperation Movement

Anti-Hindi Agitation

Fig 5. (1938) Protest against Hindi as a compulsory subject

Fig 6. Protesters strengthening with more support

States Reorganization Commission

Fig 7. Report of the State Reorganization Commission, 1955

The Three language Model

Fig 8. Report of the University Education Commission, 1948-49

Fig 9. Official Languages Act, 1963

Nehru, JVP Commission, Hindi, and Linguistic Issues

Fig 10. Title Page of the Report of the States Reorganization Commission