Hindi Diwas & Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Hindi as Official Language

Every year since 1953, the country observes 14 September as Hindi Diwas. On 14 September 1946, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi in Devnagari script as the official language (Raj Bhasha) of the Indian government, based on the K, M Munshi-N.G Iyenger formula. 

However, the first Hindi Diwas was observed on 14 September 1953 by the government of India. Since then, every year, 14 September has been observed as  Hindi Diwas.

In 2024, the country is celebrating the 75th year (diamond jubilee) of the adoption of Hindi as India's official language. 

On this occasion, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs organised the 4th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan and launched Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag to promote the Hindi language.

Status of Hindi In India 

According to the 2011 census, Hindi is the most spoken language among the 22 languages of the Eighth Schedule. The five most spoken languages and their percentage are as follows -

• Hindi - 43.63
• Bengali - 8.03
• Marathi - 6.86
• Telugu - 6.70
• Tamil - 5.70

Hindi Diwas and World Hindi Diwas 

• Hindi Diwas is different from the World  Hindi Diwas. 
• World Hindi Diwas is observed on 10 January every year to promote the Hindi language in the world. 
• The first World Hindi Diwas was observed on 10 January 2006. 
• The day was chosen as the first World Hindi Conference was held in Nagpur in 1975 to promote Hindi as a global language. 

Constitutional Status of Hindi 

• Article 343 (1) makes English and Hindi in Devanagari script with the international numerals as the official language of the Government of India. Initially, English was made an official language for 15 years, after which the parliament would decide its status.
• In 1963, Parliament passed the Official Language Act, which was later amended in 1967.
• It makes English, along with Hindi, the official language of the government of India.

Efforts to Promote the Hindi Language 

• President Rajendra Prasad set up an Official Language Commission in the 1955 Constitution as per article 344 (1)) of the Constitution. 
• Bal Gangadhar Kher headed the commission, which gave numerous recommendations to the government of India to promote the Hindi language.
• In 1975, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs set up the Department of Official Language, headed by the Home Minister, to promote the use of the Hindi language for official purposes.  

4th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan 

• The Department of Official Language under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs organised the 4th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan in New Delhi on 14 and 15 September 2024 on the occasion of Hindi Diwas 2024. 
• The 4th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan, started by the Department of Official Language in 2021, promotes the progressive use of Hindi for official purposes of the Union.
• The first Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan was held in Varanasi in 2021, the second in Surat, Gujarat, in 2022, and the third in Pune, Maharashtra, in 2023.

Amit Shah Launches Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag

• During the 4th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan in New Delhi, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag.
• The Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, Union Ministers of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai and Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and other dignitaries were present.
• The  Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag has been set up by the Department of Official Language. The Anubhag aims to promote the development of Hindi and other Indian languages and to establish better coordination between these languages.
• The Union Home Minister also launched the Diamond Jubilee Special Issue of ‘Rajbhasha Bharti’ magazine, a commemorative postage stamp and coin to commemorate the completion of 75 years of Hindi becoming the official language.
• The Home Minister also presented the Rajbhasha Gaurav and Rajbhasha Kirti Awards.