Explain how the Constituent Assembly sought to resolve the language issue.
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Solution and Explanation
The selection of a national language was a highly debated topic within the Constituent Assembly. India's considerable linguistic variety presented difficulties in determining a single language for official use, education, and communication. The primary concerns revolved around the choice between Hindi and English, and the standing of regional languages.
Constituent Assembly's Actions to Address the Language Dispute:
- Designation of Hindi as Official Language: Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, was designated as the official language of the Union, as stipulated in Article 343 of the Constitution.
- Continued Use of English: English was permitted to remain as an associate official language for a 15-year period following the Constitution's inception (concluding in 1965). Its use was sanctioned in legislative proceedings, the judicial system, and intergovernmental communication.
- Acknowledgement of Regional Languages: The Constitution formally acknowledged the significance of regional languages. The Eighth Schedule initially listed 14 regional languages (a number that has since increased), granting them constitutional recognition.
- Implementation of the Three-Language Formula: A pragmatic solution involved adopting a three-language formula for education. This formula included the regional language, Hindi, and English, aiming to foster linguistic harmony without enforcing linguistic uniformity.
- Prevention of Hindi Imposition: The Assembly deliberately avoided compelling Hindi usage in non-Hindi-speaking regions. This approach was instrumental in preserving national unity and mitigating inter-linguistic tensions.
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