In a recent speech at a graduation ceremony in Chennai, Ravichandran Ashwin, the renowned former Indian cricketer, made headlines for his comments on the status of the Hindi language in India. Ashwin’s remarks have reignited the ongoing debate about the role and recognition of Hindi in India’s diverse linguistic landscape.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s remarks over Hindi
During his speech, Ashwin stated, “Hindi is not the national language of India, but an official language.” This statement, while technically accurate, has been a point of contention in India’s multilingual society. The Indian Constitution designates Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, as one of the 22 official languages of the country. However, India does not have a national language, and this distinction is often a sensitive topic, especially in states where Hindi is not the predominant language.
Ashwin’s remarks received a mixed response. On one hand, many people, particularly in Tamil Nadu and other non-Hindi-speaking states, praised him for bringing attention to India’s linguistic diversity. They appreciated his acknowledgement that Hindi is not superior to other regional languages and emphasized the importance of promoting and preserving all languages spoken in India.
'' Hindi is not a National Language, It's a official Language.''
– Ravichandran Ashwin pic.twitter.com/ixIiVErTCA
— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) January 9, 2025
On the other hand, some political leaders and supporters of Hindi as a unifying language criticized Ashwin’s comments. They argued that Hindi plays a crucial role in facilitating communication across different regions and serves as a common language for many Indians. These critics felt that Ashwin’s remarks could potentially undermine efforts to promote Hindi as a means of national integration.
The debate over the status of Hindi is not new. It has been a contentious issue since India’s independence, with various linguistic and cultural groups advocating for the recognition and preservation of their languages. The three-language formula, which promotes the teaching of Hindi, English, and a regional language in schools, was introduced as a compromise. However, it has not entirely resolved the tensions surrounding language policy in India.
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