Chapter # 2 – Nationalism in the Subcontinent
2.2.4 Discuss Hindi Urdu Controversy with Reference to Two Nation Theory
Hindi-Urdu Controversy
The Hindi-Urdu controversy was a debate in British India regarding the choice of language to be adopted as the official or national language. It centered around whether Hindi or Urdu, both closely related languages with different scripts and vocabulary, should be promoted as the primary language. This controversy highlighted tensions between linguistic and cultural identities and played a significant role in shaping the linguistic policies of post-colonial India and Pakistan.
Two Nations Theory
The idea that Hindus and Muslims in British India were two separate communities with distinct identities and interests, leading to the creation of Pakistan as a separate homeland for Muslims.
Hindi Urdu controversy with reference to Two Nation Theory
The Hindi-Urdu controversy was a disagreement over the language to be used as the national language of India. Hindi and Urdu share a common linguistic base, but Hindi is written in Devanagari script, while Urdu is written in the Persian-Arabic script and has a significant number of loanwords from Persian and Arabic.
The Two Nation Theory, proposed by Allama Iqbal and later endorsed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, argued that Hindus and Muslims in India were distinct nations with separate identities, cultures, and interests. This theory ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan as a separate homeland for Muslims.
In the context of the Hindi-Urdu controversy, the Two Nation Theory played a significant role. Muslims in India feared that Hindi, being primarily associated with Hindus, would marginalize their linguistic and cultural identity. They advocated for Urdu, which they viewed as a symbol of Muslim heritage and identity.
The controversy over language reflected deeper tensions between Hindus and Muslims, contributing to the partition of India in 1947. Pakistan was created as a separate state for Muslims, where Urdu was designated as the national language. In India, Hindi was chosen as the official language but with provisions for the continued use and promotion of Urdu and other regional languages to accommodate linguistic diversity.
Overall, the Hindi-Urdu controversy highlights the complex interplay between language, identity, and politics in the context of the Two Nation Theory and the partition of India.