National Hindi Day: Why is it Celebrated?

Hindi Diwas, or National Hindi Day, is celebrated on September 14 annually. The day focuses on raising awareness about the Hindi language and commemorates the event when Hindi was adopted as the official language of the nation. This day is celebrated in schools, colleges, and offices. Various events are conducted on this occasion to promote the language through activities like essay writing, letter writing, along with various other competitions. On the occasion of Hindi Diwas, the Prime Minister of India once said that the Hindi language has brought special honor to India globally, and its simplicity and sensitivity continue to attract people.

In this article, we have covered the history of Hindi Diwas and some interesting facts about it. This information can help you learn more about the history of Hindi and feel connected to the roots of the nation.

History Behind Hindi Day Celebration

Hindi Diwas, or National Hindi Day, is celebrated on September 14 every year to mark the day of the adoption of Hindi as the official language by the Constituent Assembly of India in 1949. The decision to adopt Hindi as the official language was legalised by the Constitution of India on January 26. 1950. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, decided to celebrate Hindi Diwas on this day.

More about the Hindi Language

According to a census in 2011, it was found that 43.6% identify Hindi as their mother tongue. The origin of the name Hindi was from Persian. The word Hindi means ‘The Land Of Indus River’ in Persian. The script of Hindi, Devnagari, came into existence in the 11th century. It is the fifth most spoken language among all the languages spoken in the world. To promote the language in the world, World Hindi Day is celebrated on January 10 annually. The language is frequently spoken in countries like South Africa, Guyana, UAE, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, the UK, Germany, New Zealand, Uganda, Suriname, Trinidad, and Mauritius. Article 351 of the Indian Constitution pertains to the ‘Directive for the development of the Hindi Language.’

Some Interesting Facts about Hindi Day

Some interesting facts about the Hindi Diwas are as follows:

1. The day is celebrated as Hindi Diwas to popularise Hindi throughout the country. Different events are conducted for the promotion of the language. On this day, the president of the country felicitates people for their contribution to Hindi Language and Literature.

2. The day is celebrated on 14 September, as on September 14, 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi as the official language of India. It also marks the birth anniversary of Rajendra Simha, who worked tirelessly towards making Hindi the official language of India. 

3. The language Hindi is written in Devanagari script.

4. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of the Republic of India.

5. It is the fifth most spoken language in the world among the total languages spoken worldwide.

6. Article 343 of the Constitution of India deals with the official language of India.

7. To spread the importance of the language across the world, World Hindi Day is celebrated on January 10 annually.

8. Hindi is the official language of India, with English being the second official language of the nation.

9. Hindi is spoken in some countries outside India, including Mauritius, Fiji, Nepal, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad, and Tobago.

10. Hindi emerged from different stages to achieve its present state, during which it was known by different names. The earliest form of Hindi was Apabhramsa.

11. In 400 AD, Kalidas wrote a romantic play in Aparbhramsa called Vikramorvashiyam.

12. Hindi language is a descendant of Sanskrit.

13. The modern Devanagari script of Hindi came into existence in the 11th century.

Some Government Initiatives to Promote Hindi Language

Some initiatives by the Government of India to promote the development of the Hindi language in the nation are listed here: 

1. The Central Hindi Directorate was established by the Ministry of Education in 1960 to promote and propagate Hindi.

2. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) established ‘Hindi Chairs’ in various foreign universities/institutions abroad to promote the Hindi language in foreign countries.

3. LILA (Learn Indian Languages Through Artificial Intelligence) - Rajbhasha is a multimedia-based intelligent self-tutoring platform for learning Hindi.

4. Initiatives by the department of official languages such as E-Saral Hindi Vakya Kosh and E-Mahashabdkosh Mobile application aim to harness information technology for growth in Hindi.

5. Rajbhasha Gaurav Puraskar and Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar recognizes people’s contribution to Hindi Language.

Conclusion

Hindi Diwas, the National Hindi Day of India, is celebrated on September 14 annually. This day develops the understanding in the minds of the people of the official language of the country. It is celebrated to enhance, promote, and propagate the significance of the language among the people. The event celebration in schools, colleges, and offices includes events like Hindi Day Poem recitations, Hindi Day Quotes, and other activities that promote Hindi as a language among the students. The celebration of the language that defines the country and a language that is widely spoken across the world brings honor to India globally. The simplicity of the Hindi language attracts people from everywhere. Wishing everyone a very Happy Hindi Day!