Since 1953, the people of India commemorate Hindi Diwas on the 14th of September every year. This day is celebrated in order to honor and show respect to our national language Hindi. Hindi is one of the world’s main languages but it is fighting to save its dignity in its own land India where people who speak English are given more importance.
When Hindi Diwas is Celebrated?
Hindi was adopted as the national language in India by the Indian constitution on 14th September 1949. Afterward, the then Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru declared that the 14th of September would be celebrated as National Hindi Day or Hindi Diwas every year in India.
A day devoted to Hindi was first honored in 1953, at the initiative of the Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti of Wardha. The objective of commemorating the day was to emphasize the value of the language. The World Hindi Diwas was honored for the first time in 2006 by the former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and gave the message to make the Hindi language popular on the World’s stage.
How is Hindi Diwas Celebrated?
On the occasion of the Hindu Diwas, various private or public institutions and schools organized cultural and scholarly activities and competitions that include quizzes, discussions, and writing competitions. The seven days from September 14 to September 21 are celebrated as the Rajbhasha Week.
Lots of events, like writing skills, debate, and poetry recitation, are performed throughout this time to support the Hindi language. On this day, the people who have given valuable contributions to the promotion of the Hindi language are also honored and awarded.
Why is Hindi Diwas Celebrated?
In India where there are many languages spoken, Hindi and English are the most spoken languages and are considered the official language of India. However, Indians have a considerably stronger preference for English. People who speak English are treated with great respect and people who do not speak English and communicate in Hindi are not given much importance. It is an embarrassment for us to degrade our mother tongue and the individuals who speak it. That is why, in order to save the dignity of the Hindi language and promote it, the people of India commemorate Hindi Diwas on the 14th of September. The occasion of Hindi Diwas is important for all of us because it reminds us that Hindi is our primary language and we should respect it.
Significance of Hindi Diwas
Hindi Diwas keep an important and special place in the heart of every Indian because Hindi was accepted as the national language of India. Hindi was also designated as the official language for the Central and State government officials on the 14th of September 1949.
There was an issue raised regarding the national language in India where a diversity of languages is found. But, it is also the fact that more than 70% of the people in India speak and recognize Hindi. Additionally, the Hindi language is not only spoken in India but also in other countries like Nepal, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Fiji, and Mauritius.
Moreover, Rajendra Simha’s birthday is also commemorated on 14th September, who made crucial efforts in making Hindi the national language of India.
Interesting Facts about Hindi and Hindi Diwas
- The poet Amir Khusro was the first writer who composed and released the first Hindi poem.
- The term “Hindi” is actually derived from the Persian language and the first writer who wrote the book on the history of the Hindi language was not an Indian but was a French writer (Grasim the Taisi).
- In 1977, Atal Bihari Vajpayee proudly showed respect for the Hindi language and presented a speech in the Hindi language to the United Nation.
- Hindi was deemed a primary language under Article 343 of the Parliament on January 26, 1950.
- Hindi made a debut on the internet by publishing the first Hindi journal in 2000 since then the Hindi language started leaving its influence on the World Wide Web and became so popular now.