HINDI DIWAS IS NOT JUST A DATE BUT A SYMBOL OF NATIONAL PRIDE

HINDI DIWAS IS NOT JUST A DATE BUT A SYMBOL OF NATIONAL PRIDE

14-SEP-ENG 9

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-----------------------------Today is 14 September, a date which is not just a day in the calendar but a celebration of the linguistic and cultural identity of crores of Indians. This day reminds us of the historic moment when in 1949, the Constituent Assembly, after intense deliberations, granted the status of the official language of India to Hindi written in Devanagari script. This decision was not just an administrative move but a firm resolve of independent India to establish its own identity, the voice of its soul. Celebrating Hindi Diwas is not just the fulfillment of a tradition but also an opportunity to evaluate whether we have been able to give our language the respect and place it deserves.

The biggest strength of Hindi is its flexibility and its inclusive nature. It is not just a language bound by complex rules of grammar and literature but is the heartbeat of the streets, mohallas, towns and cities of India. It is the bridge that bridges the gap of communication from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. When a Punjabi soldier talks to a civilian from Tamil Nadu, Hindi is often their connecting language. It is the thread that connects the youth of the Northeast with the sentiments of Central India through Bollywood songs. Hindi has enriched itself over the centuries by assimilating words from various local dialects and foreign languages, and this is why it remains the most natural and lively medium of communication for crores of people even today.

But today when we are celebrating Hindi Day, we also have to consider the challenges that stand before it. In this era of globalization, the increasing influence of English is an irrefutable truth. English dominates in many fields of knowledge, science, technology and employment, due to which the notion has taken root in the minds of our young generation that Hindi is not a language of progress. This is where we need to change our thinking. Today, the world's big technology companies Google, Amazon and Facebook are understanding the importance of Hindi and are making their products friendly for Hindi speakers. The creation of content in Hindi on social media has increased unprecedentedly. This is proof that Hindi has the full potential to make its place on the global stage, we just have to give it opportunity and respect.

The real purpose of Hindi Day is not just to celebrate Hindi fortnight in government offices or organize competitions. Its real goal is to make Hindi an integral part of our daily life, our thinking and our behavior. Unless we encourage writing original books of knowledge and science in Hindi, unless the common man gets justice in his language in the courts, and unless we instill a sense of pride in our children about speaking Hindi, the significance of this day will remain incomplete.

This day calls upon us to return to our linguistic roots and strengthen our identity. Come, on this Hindi Day, let us all take a pledge that we will make Hindi not just a language of communication, but a language of respect, self-respect and opportunities. We will give it priority in our homes, our workplaces and in our thoughts. Because when a language prospers, an entire culture and an entire nation prospers with it. Hindi is not just a language, it is the voice of India, and it is the duty of all of us to raise this voice.