Conflagrations in Democracy: A Peep in Causes and Cure

 

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British Prime Minister Boris Jhonson, while on a two-day tour to India, said, “India is a very different country from autocracies around the world. It’s a great democracy. It’s a stunning, shining fact that 1.35 billion people live under a democracy. That is something we should celebrate as it offers us an opportunity for closer cooperation and partnership.”  Mr Jhonson was speaking at a press conference on 22 April 2022.

With an age-old democratic system, India is now the world’s biggest democracy. With its elaborate and foolproof electoral system, it is robust and deep-rooted. However, there is a thorn in the flesh harmful to a harmonious society. Three-quarters of a century ago, the world saw that the people of a great country break the shackles of slavery to become a free nation in 1947. India was a free nation but wounded, profusely bleeding and vivisected. Staggering initially, the nation started to become strong and determined to walk on the road to success. The journey was bumpy but the people did it. There are still bumps, potholes and challenges but the pleasure is to conquer them all and achieve the goal. 

One such challenge, the cancerous rot of communalism, is yet to be treated effectively. Without going into the past, the recent incidence of communal flares would satisfactorily meet the requirement of this discussion. There had been a series of conflagrations in various parts of India, especially in the Northern part. The spark was ignited on 02nd April 2022 from Karauli, Rajasthan where on the onset of Vikram Samvat, a procession, organised with prior government permission, was pelted with stones followed by a rapid spread of arson and riot. The magnitude was such that numerous shops were gutted, vehicles torched and a curfew was imposed. This was followed by the incidence of riots, arson, stone-pelting and mayhem on festive occasions across the country. 

The unfortunate incidents including organized and planned riots broke out simultaneously in about twelve places encapsulating Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Goa, Gujrat, Uttarakhand and Delhi on the occasion of Ram Navami (10th April 2022) and Hanuman Jayanti (16th April 2022). The modus operandi of each was similar, indicating meticulous planning. Reports indicated that the sinister plan to malign India was conceived on the soil of a hostile neighbouring country. It was made operational and spread using social media platforms plus sleeper cells. 

 

The worst clashes started in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh on 10th April 2022. It was alleged that the procession (Shobha Yatra) while passing through the communally charged Talab Chowk area, was pelted upon from the roof-tops of houses and places of worship. Police personnel were hurt, and an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police received a gunshot injury while trying to stop a rioter brandishing a sword in the crowd. The other side, however, has a different story. It was counter-alleged that provocation came from the procession that led to the untoward incident. Who instigated the violence and how is a question of enquiry, but it left many innocents in a lurch. It sent a shock wave across the country. The government took stern and timely action. “No one would be spared”, thundered Shivraj Singh Chauhan the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. With the help of video footage, the rioters and hooligans were spotted and arrested. Houses started bulldozing. Ironically, the violence went on deaf ears until the demolition of houses started. Obdurate factionist political leaders, whose survival leaned on hate-mongering and communal politics came onto the central stage. With the parochial divisive agenda of playing the victim card, scathing and painting the government actions with communal hues started. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Musalmeen (AIMIM) chief Mr Assaduddin Owaisi claimed it was a “State complicit violence”, selectively targeted towards Muslims. He also alleged that the selective demolition of Muslim houses was “Illegal and against Geneva Convention”. He conveniently ignored the stark fact of stone-pelting on the procession and rioting. Owaisi in his tweet (22 April 2022), said:

“ “For...Muslims, living in India today effectively means being at the mercy” of a Hindutva govt. Things are unlikely to get better

We must not give in to hopelessness but also not become complacent. Inshallah, these dark clouds will pass”

Following suit, leaders like Shafiqur Rahaman Barq and others were seen blatantly flouting the social norms, spreading hate and fear among the communities. The atmosphere was being charged and drenched with inflammatory hate speeches that rant in the air. The political and self-proclaimed messiah of religious cause also contributed their bits. Social media was brimmed with canards of fiery concocted speeches. A rat race started to appease and polarize communities to win votes.

Council House, Uttar Pradesh
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The whole pantomime, staged by anti-nationals and quislings, was for maligning India’s image in general and Prime Minister Modi in particular. Ostensibly it was done to chip off the meticulously created monolith through the hard work of the people to present a towering image on the international forum. TV reports and a plethora of videos testify to organized hooliganism, arson and stone-pelting. It did not appear spontaneous even considering ‘provocation’ a cause of ignition, as devil’s advocate. It left no doubt about the malicious intention of those who used petrol bombs and brickbats that were pre-piled up for ready availability on the rooftops, besides intimidatingly crowd gathering of hooligans and rioters.

After a lull, the incidence of violence and arson, conflagrations and riots are becoming an order of the day. Society appears to be sitting on a heap of gunpowder. For the last seventy and five years, the people are feeling the brunt of serious riots even after the vivisection of the country and the creation of the “Islamic Republic of Pakistan” based on the “Two Nation Theory”. Jinnah used to put it that Hindus and Muslims were poles apart that could not live together. This stubborn attitude resulted in the religious divide and is continuing to do so. Addressing the Lahore session of the Muslim League on 22nd March 1940, Jinnah said:

“[[23]] It is extremely difficult to appreciate why our Hindu friends fail to understand the real nature of Islam and Hinduism. They are not religions in the strict sense of the word, but are, in fact, different and distinct social orders; and it is a dream that the Hindus and Muslims can ever evolve a common nationality; and this misconception of one Indian nation has gone far beyond the limits and is the cause of more of our troubles and will lead India to destruction if we fail to revise our notions in time. The Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious philosophies, social customs, and literature[s]. They neither intermarry nor interdine together, and indeed they belong to two different civilisations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their aspects [=perspectives?] on life, and of life, are different. It is quite clear that Hindus and Mussalmans derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different epics, their heroes are different, and different episode[s]. Very often the hero of one is a foe of the other, and likewise their victories and defeats overlap. To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority, must lead to growing discontent, and final. destruction of any fabric that may be so built up for the government of such a state.” 

They wanted and had it. Pakistan is a reality. The religious division, however, failed to cement the two wings of Pakistan which, within about a quarter-century, were torn apart. Bangladesh emerged as a new country on the world map consequence of the civil war in 1971. The politics caused the vivisection, large-scale genocide and exodus way back in 1947. Paradoxically, most of those who instrumentalized the formation of Pakistan did not migrate there. 

It is being repeated in the same token. Politicians, who accepted division during the freedom movement, superficially tried to bandage the wounds of carnage. India opted for a secular system, though the word “Secular” was introduced in the Preamble of the Constitution by way of the 42nd Constitution Amendment in 1976. However, there had been no serious effort to bridge the gap between the two communities instead, the Indian polity adopted a policy of appeasement to garner minority support, ignoring the majority sentiments. 

Mosque in 'Bara Imambara'.
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The psyche that the two communities were poles apart is rearing its ferocious head once again. It suits the parochial agenda for votes. Communal frenzies were used to terrify the minority Muslim community and hate-mongering against the majority Hindu population. This is the gravest fallout of the electoral politics in India that acts as a fertilizer, augmenting the harmful weeds and choking the healthy growth. No wonder why a section of politicians is seen involved in encouraging, pampering and appeasing a section of society. This has helped the hardening of their approach and therefore, the minorities become aggressively defensive to protect their ‘right’. 

The political parties, self-proclaimed champions of human rights, leftists and liberals were mum on the unfortunate happenings at the time riots erupted. However, they sprang to action and started howling the moment houses started bulldozing. It all started when in Jahangirpuri of Delhi, slated to be cleared of heavy encroachment, authorities started demolishing illegal constructions and encroachments. Ironically, they were seen crying hoarse in favour of those who were found guilty of illegal construction and encroachments. Confabulations started on the legality of the action. The questions were being asked about the rule of law and the law of the land. The justification was sought for the validity of the government’s action. Victim cards were played, portraying the guilties as poor and oppressed. The ‘progressives’ rushed to the Supreme Court to stop the demolition drive and the Hon'ble Court did not disappoint them. Within no time the stay was granted and the work had to be stopped.

The government’s action may seem arbitrary and ruthless but it needs to be seen from the proper perspective as well. Communal violence is a blot on a civilized society that adversely affects the social fabric and economic activities. The threads of the working class and the traders are intertwined. They work together and live together. The daily wages are the lifeline of the working class while on the other hand, the traders need a regular supply of products. In such a condition, common people do not like to be involved in rioting. Despite this, the riots are an ugly reality. In a written reply to a question, the government told the parliament that 3400 riots took place in the country from 2016 to 2020 (Click here for details). Besides causing loss of life and property, the riots leave a trail of destruction and damage in terms of harmony, social relations and mutual trust. The causes of conflagrations need serious cogitation.

Imposing dome of Council House, UP
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The democratic setup in India is leaned heavily on the arithmetics of votes. The public vote count determines the fate of a party or a candidate. During the 2019 general elections, out of ninety-one crore twenty lakh eligible voters, 67% cast their votes. The huge voter turnout lures the political parties to attract voters in their favour. Religion, community, caste and creed are used to garner support. Polarized minority votes have attracted politicians for a long. It has been the decisive factor to win an election. A fragmented society thus becomes a philosopher’s stone, a dire necessity for parochial political gains. Suspicion, mistrust and terror are the building blocks of communal frenzy. An unseen but effective system has sprung up to operate, rule and mastermind the communal frenzy. It is terrifying and damaging to society.

Instead of canvassing about the developmental work and assurance about the future, the thrust on divisive politics appears more convenient to political parties, hence division and conflagrations. A ‘philosopher-king’ is a utopia and absolute is impossible. Good and bad, evil and virtue are the two aspects of the same coin. A good balance is a need for time to have a healthy and sustainable society with minimal outlaws.

Lotus flower
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Aging: Dilemma of Elderly People and Problems of Adjustments

 

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“Crabbed age and youth cannot live together;

Youth is full of pleasure, age is full of care;

Youth is like summer morn, age like winter weather;

Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare;

Youth is full of sport, age breath is short;

Youth is nimble, age is lame;

Youth is hot and bold, age is weak and cold…”

-William Shakespeare

Years ago, when Shakespeare wrote the above lines, he might not have a realization that senectitude can also be bliss. It depends on the attitude of a person and his way of tackling the inevitable stage of life, which has to be accepted. Ironically, more often than not, people of middle-age constantly poke and ridicule the aged.  

Of many funny things, one which is cyclically seen, especially on the social media platforms, is suggestions about how to feel juvenile, young or agile after 60. It targets the gullible ageing population. Needless to say that such thought processes show a phobia of increasing age and also a weak mentality. The social media posts often highlight the latent fear and desperation that people start getting into their psyche. Phrases like 'How to feel like 16 after 60', 'Age is a matter of numbers', ‘Life starts after fifty’ or likes are seen frequenting in bold-face. This tendency ought to be slough off. Sooner the better. 

The psychological symptoms start appearing the day one becomes a sexagenarian. It is the officially announced cut off date for being bracketed as ‘Senior Citizen’. The negative factor of uselessness stealthily creeps in, especially in those who retire after more than three decades of service. Increasing age-related problems are mainly, if not completely, due to aversion resulting from rearing feelings of insecurity and helplessness. Endless do and don'ts inhibit aged people to live a tension-free life. They always remain on alert about their food, its quantity and their way of living. The duels of reality and fiction leave them in the lurch. While their mind is engrossed in the ways to behave and feel like a teenager, dotage and senile conditions combined with decrepitude lead them to behave differently. It leads to exasperation. This is not done, it is ridiculous. Senior Citizens ought to be serious in their attitude. 

The age-shaming and passing ludicrous remarks on the aged people dishearten them. Ostracizing parents from homes, inhumane behaviour with them and constant demeaning by adult children frequently come to light. The brawl is often dragged to courts that pass judgements/orders on such cases. 

Ageing is a global phenomenon. It is natural. One who is born has to pass through it. It is an intermediary stage between life and death. In India, with the improved lifestyle, increased and advanced health care system, effective disease and pandemic control the ‘Population ageing’ has become significant, contributing to the progressive increase in the elderly population. As per NSO data, while in 1962 the elderly were 5.6% of the total population, they are now 10.1% in 2021. The number is estimated to reach 194 million in 2031. 

The phase has to be accepted with grace, not with panic and exasperation. Keeping in mind the uncertainty of life, an old person must endeavour to keep fit and agile. Pessimism should be a big no and kept at bay. A positive approach with a healthy and happy lifestyle should be adopted. Good or bad, the aged people have had their time. They led lives as per their desires during their heydays. It is time they should gracefully give way to the younger generation. By the same token, decent behaviour, affection and care by the younger generation of the family buttresses the confidence of sexagenarians and above. 

Among various do and don'ts, mentioned earlier, the frequent bogeyman is that of death by heart attacks due to ‘High Cholesterol’ and ‘Fats’, contained in certain food items. Without going into details about the disease and chemicals the foodstuffs contain, suffice would it be to say that feeding habits are area-based. It depends upon the geographical and climatic conditions of the country. In a fast-shrinking world where the globe is becoming a large community, cultural blending and experimenting with food is common. In the past, we have seen numerous blendings that catalyzed the evolution of varieties in food items. The blending, however, was according to the need and gradual. It gave ample time to assimilate and become part of culture and climate. Unlike the present scenario, it was not bombarded. People are now being lured and forced to adopt new food by constantly harping them through aggressive marketing gimmicks. They are forced to change their belief in the favour of so-called ‘Fast-food’; insidiously cultivating a feeling of being left out if they do not adopt new habits including food. Projected as a symbol of modernization and change, it is linked with the economy of employment generation. People are trying to beeline and ape without giving it a thought.

Blindfold aping leads to body malfunctioning and serious ailments including serious health issues or even death. Elderly people are no exception. Adoption of alien food without reasoning is unhealthy. Pizza, Pasta, Burgers et cetera are the staple food of Italy and other West European countries. They, however, consume it with lots of green vegetables without much saute. Majorly they use raw virgin oil for dressing their food. What to eat and what not is purely a personal choice. People are free to choose the type of their diet. However, the choice according to age and physical condition is the best. It applies to senior citizens, especially those who are in a vulnerable position due to their weak health. 

Impacting the mind and compelling people to take up new foodstuffs is a marketing gimmick. They try to adjust their junk to suit Indian taste buds by making it spicy and hot. Their thrust is on taste, not nutritional or calorific value. First, they create liking, provoke to consume, then start giving hype and terrorize about their side effects. It is obvious why despite so much hype against health risks, multinational fast-food outlets are on a rampant hike. The brands manufacturing and selling aerated drinks and other such products are also popular. It is a vicious cycle resulting from the nexus of the system and multinational/pharma companies.

Food impacts physiological and psychological conditions of the body and is related to geriatrics. Contextually, Indian food is balanced and proper. Freshly cooked food is free from contamination and infection. In India, people do not frequently use canned, frozen or preserved food items but habitually consume freshly prepared food. Light, easily digestible and healthy food is good at the advanced stage of life. Even occasional intake may harm them. Affected by media hype and family conditions, senior and aged members may not get food properly. Elderlies need independence and financial security. 

Ancient India had had a scientifically designed system of ‘Ashram’ for the regulated and disciplined human life. The four compartmentalized stages - ‘Brahmcharya’, ‘Grihastha’, ‘Vanprastha’ and ‘Sanyaas’ - were for the proper and graceful performance of duties in life. In Ramayana, king Dushrath thought and decided to transfer his kingdom to his eldest son Ram and retreat to the forest when he saw his greying sideburns in a mirror. Ageing is not a curse, as Shakespeare had said in his poem nor it is comparable with any stage of life. Every stage is unique and short-lived and needs to be enjoyed. It is the bliss of life; live the present to the fullest. 

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Bhagat Singh: A Great Martyr, an Intrepid Warrior

 

Bhagat Singh: free download image

"Let us declare that the state of war does exist and shall exist so long as Indian toiling masses and the natural resources are being exploited by a handful of parasites. They may be purely British capitalists or mixed British and Indian or even purely Indian. They may be carrying on their insidious exploitation through mixed or even on purely Indian bureaucratic apparatus."

                (Quoted from "No Hanging, please shoot us", a collection of writings by Bhagat Singh)

 

Bhagat Singh, the eternal martyr, wrote in his last petition in which he demanded death by firing squad rather than hanging to gallows. His commitment, zeal and overall determination of the great soul oozing out from every word that he wrote. Bhagat Singh, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev happily accepted the gallows rather than compromising with his principles. He and his comrades did not want a mere change of guards but an overall change - a change where everyone should get ones due without toiling for it. It may sound utopian, but his views reflect his sentiments about the sufferings of mankind and his motherland. He longed for an oppression free and classless society.

 

The classless society is the linchpin of Marxism. Marx propounded that Communism was the highest stage of Socialism, a theory that seems rosy but difficult to effectuate. Is it not easy to have a classless society devoid of oppression and exploitation? The answer lies in the thought process. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to attain a classless society. Even in the so-called Communist countries, a class - the ruling class - has emerged. The concept of a classless society seems more close to the "Ram Rajya" in the sense that people have equitable rights over resources and a level playing field for their development without any further consideration. Long before, the Greek philosopher Plato had mooted the concept of Philosopher King for a reasonable society. It shows thinkers have since long been thinking and struggling for an equal and just society.

 

Let us come back to Bhagat Singh. He was a revolutionary. He wanted a radical change, not cosmetic. He, who attached great values to human lives, was very disturbed to see Jallianwala bagh carnage and avenged the brutal killing of Lala Lajpat Rai by killing Saunders. His commitment to a radical change in the life of Indian people was intrinsic. Bhagat Singh strongly believed that the war against oppression would continue until the goal was achieved. He did not hesitate using violent means as well to make his point loud and clear. He, with Batukeshwar Dutt, hurled a voice bomb in Central Assembly Hall, New Delhi, to make their point heard by the deaf autocratic imperialist English government. Instead of escaping, they remained there, raised the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad!" (Long Live the Revolution) and threw red pamphlets explaining and justifying their actions. "IT TAKES A LOUD VOICE TO MAKE THE DEAF HEAR with these immortal words uttered on a similar occasion by Valient, a French anarchist martyr, do we strongly justify this action of ours." This was the opening paragraph of the red pamphlet.  

The British considered him a potential threat to the imperialist regime of the time. He was framed, or rather he let Britishers do it, trialled and ultimately surreptitiously executed. In the wake of mounting public anger, the execution of the three Bravehearts was preponed. Ignoring protocols, customs and prevailing rules they were sent to gallows during the evening. On the fateful day of March 23, 1931, when he, along with Sukhdev and Rajguru was hanged, people outside the precipitous walls of the jail were becoming restless and agitated. A man of principle was dead. However, his ideas are eternal.

 

Could he be saved? It is a question people often ask. There are divergent views regarding it. Even the role of Gandhiji is also under clouds. However, it is not in the ambit of this write-up.

 

Did we achieve what the intrepid warriors longed for? It is a point of cogitation for the nation. They did not merely want freedom from the yoke of foreign rule. Their sacrifice was for the larger benefit of the country. Albeit the strife was for self-rule, but the strong undercurrent was for an equitable society and upliftment. They hecatomb to the altar of motherland so that we, their children, could breathe in free air. It should not be that we ceremoniously remember them and forget. To follow their principles is also desired.

Can’t we live amicably with harmony?

 

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More often, we become bewildered and restless. An overpowering thought of being caught in a labyrinth looms large. What is the aim of life, why are we here, are but a few questions constantly hover in mind. Furthermore, questions of life quality, liberty and harmony churn the brain. The whims and fantasy of others that insidiously enters in life, though sometimes a compulsion, is disdainful and bugs.

Mother Nature does everything with a purpose. Each organism and material has its role in running the vast system of the natural world. From microorganisms to planktons, from planktons to small and then large animals and plants. They are interdependent and help each other to survive. However, eat or be eaten are fundamentals of a less evolved and less advanced group of animals. What about highly evolved humans with the power of reasoning, thinking and speech? What are they doing?

I do not intend to generalize things. There are a select few who do worthwhile. Maybe they are ordained to do, but a majority of people live for the sake of living. They take birth, grow, earn their livelihood, become old and then perish listlessly. They hecatomb at the altar of others’ insanity and insensitivity; adjust, compromise, and do whatever is possible to pull strings.

 

The plant world, though animate, is devoid of senses, sensory organs, and the brain. They lead a sedentary life having no feelings but contributing silently to the growth and development of others by providing food, fodder and shelter. The desensitized nature of plants is a boon in disguise for them. They do not cry and feel hurt. While leading their life routinely, they provide food and shelter to the needy. I wonder what they might have thought and said had they had the power of expression! 

The whole animal world has an inherent quality of living in freedom and does not want to be caged. Any bondage - emotional or physical - is detrimental that crushes the spirit. The animals being devoid of speech, are unable to express their agony when put to heinous conditions. They cry, growl, bellow and groan, but their resentment is unheard. Humans, on the other hand, with cohesive speech and language, can express their feelings well. It is why the highest degree of importance has been attached to Human Rights. 

We should respect the privacy, feelings and sentiments of others as well. It is incumbent on us all, but sometimes the contrary is seen in society. The physical, mental and emotional torture is rampant despite various legislations and ethics of the modern world. Wriggling and loathing, unable to meet their end, they keep living - crying, howling and yelling at each other. Should this be the quality of life? 

The struggle is fundamental to all animate and inanimate worlds. Non-living things like rock have numerous atoms which are in constant motion. The desire for permanency and settlement is intrinsic to all. A nascent gas is highly reactive. The living world, by the same token, strives for survival and betterment. Humans have more desire for it. Societies and relationships were evolved to overcome difficulties and help in easing them out. Relationships provide a cosy, congenial atmosphere for optimal growth and problem-solving. They become difficult if not handled properly. 

We have very little time at our disposal. Life is very short. Can’t we live amicably with harmony? We tend to copy, paste and forward so-called ‘positive thoughts’ but ignore them in practice. We shall have to cogitate. The ostensible gaudy show of goodness is absurd. Therefore, without pretending to be a good person, the endeavour should be for being a human - with all goodness and wickedness; maintaining, of course, a fine equilibrium.

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Hindi, Hindustan and India: Should or Should not Hindi be the National Language

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The country is celebrating ‘Hindi Divas/Pakhwara’ (Hindi Day/Fortnight). More than seven decades earlier, on the 14th day of September 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi as a State language. The country thenceforth perennially observes 'Hindi Divas' on this day. An estimated 60 crores of people across the globe speak Hindi. It translates to approximately 6 per cent of the world's population.  

India, with approximately 42-43 crore Hindi speaking people, is a bouquet of varied languages with a fairly large non-Hindi population. There are 22 languages in the 8th schedule of the Constitution. States like U.P, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand, M.P and Chhattisgarh are Hindi speaking while states/UTs like Kashmir, Laddakh, Punjab, Gujrat, Maharastra, Sikkim, Bengal, Odisha and the northeast along with the five southern states - Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka - are not Hindi speaking. They have languages like Dogri, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, Oria, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannad. 

It is difficult to have a common language in a multilingual country with numerous customs, and vibrant cultures. India has a Federal system of governance. States have their culture and language that corresponds to their history and culture. People not only love their language but have a reverence and affinity for it. It is the country where language and water change according to the ambience and surroundings (Kos Kos Par Pani Badale Chaar Kos par Baani). Move to put on a language blanket faces severe opposition. The country has witnessed the pro-Hindi movement in the early sixties and equally emphatic rebuttal from the south. Tamil, supposedly the oldest language, has been declared classical language vide an official notification of October 12, 2004.  

Languages are vibrant and lively. Their history is approximately 70,000 years old. In the process of human evolution from primitive to skilled and advanced form, languages evolved as a means of communication. However, written languages evolved much later. It all started as a figurative expression that evolved into symbols known as letters. Letters combined in different permutations and combinations made words and words to sentences. It took long to accustom them; some clans or groups did not know about written language. It is believed that Aryans did not know about writings because of it they used to pass on their knowledge by hearing known as “Shruti”. 

In ancient India, the prominent language used to be Sanskrit, which even today, is considered the celestial language. Later, with time other languages were also evolved and used, but Sanskrit remained the language of the elite class. Pali is one such language that was common during the time of Buddha and later. Ashoka used this language to spread Buddha's messages in this language. Hindi took very long to evolve. It was evolving in mid 19th century, during the time of famous writer Bhartendu Harishchandra. It is evidently seen in the works of Babu Devaki Nandan Khatri, writer of epic 

“Chandrakanta” and “Chandrakanta Santati”. The Language, semantics and word choice of his works were unrefined. It was the incipient stage of Hindi as a literary language. 

Languages take birth, grow, evolve and ultimately fade out in oblivion. Many languages have given up the ghosts. Several of which have yet not been deciphered. The language of the Indus Valley people is an example. Hindi is a language that originated basically from Sanskrit. Both use the “Brahmi” script and most words are common to both. With the mixing of frequently used, less refined words, it started becoming polluted. The process gained momentum with the arrival of invading clans and later reached a crescendo after the British came in. The process is still continuing and a new but perverted Hindi in the form of “Hinglish” has started invading. Absorbing Arabi, Persian, Urdu and English words Hindi assimilated them well. It is the beauty of a language that made it the language of the masses. 

We often see people pooh-poohing English over the Hindi language. The over enthusiasts often omit the fact that language is a means of communication. No language is superior to the other. Comparing languages on the basis of personal choice, interest and convenience is a blunder. A language is sweet, easy and convenient to anyone native of it. Different cultural, ethnic and regional factors and backgrounds mould a language and its pronunciation. The way they ridicule other languages especially English to establish the superiority of Hindi reflects a hidden fear. The baseless unseen and unknown fear is detrimental.

English, with the largest base, stands as the first language of communication worldwide. In India, because of different languages, it becomes difficult to communicate in areas of the south, north-east and interiors of the west. People, sometimes, take help of English for common communication. The fast-growing communication system and expansion of the internet has made it easy and convenient to communicate in regional language and Hindi is also making inroads. The fast mode of transportation, good all-weather roads and decent accommodation has enhanced the hospitality industry and tourism. This augmented the spread of Hindi in areas difficult for language mixing.

To have wider acceptability and recognition as a National Language - “Rastra Bhasha” - a large base is required for the language. With about 58 per cent non-Hindi speaking people in the country, the acceptability of the language is a far cry though Hindi has been recognized as “Raj Bhasha” - the State Language. The lack of interest in the Hindi belt is apparently seen where people use to write in grammatically and semantically poor Hindi. Hindi needs to be refined and pure. It can be done by the people themselves. Those who make emotional appeals and raise slogans in favour of Hindi have to take responsibility else it remains a mere slogan and a “Divas” without meaning.