Aj Ki Shaam, Bhashao ke Raja Ke Naam!

Hi? आज के दिन नमस्ते बोलिये!

Cover Image Caption

September 14 is reserved for the celebration of the Hindi language when the Indians cherish the importance and ecstasy the language carries. India is a country whose borders are demarcated by various languages. Hindi is selected to be considered as the official language of the country because; the majority (78%) consists of Hindi speaking people.

The origin of Hindi comes from the Vedic Sanskirt. The Constituent Assembly of India announced Hindi as the Rashtriya Bhasha on 14th of September, and now, after English, Hindi has become the official language. The significance of Hindi isn’t just limited to the national border, as it is the fourth most spoken language, after English, Spanish, Mandarin, in the world.

In the ancient days, traces of the language could be found when the Mughals and Persians tried to add their own essence in Hindi. Apart from India, Hindi is spoken in Fiji, Trinidad, Mauritius and Nepal- constituting the international borders.

The gravity of commemorating this day to Hindi isn't only tied to the language, but the man who worked vigorously to enrich it. Among many Hindi novelists and activists, this day is chosen to pay homage to Beohar Rajendra Simha. On his 50th birthday on the 14th of September, 1949, the decision of making Hindi the official language was announced, but came into effect in 1950, under Article 343 of the Indian Constitution.

Leaders like Gandhiji had used Hindi in their speeches to make his words understandable and address the masses more conveniently. Atal Bihari Vajpayee presented Hindi internationally in 1977 when he gave his speech in the UN General Assembly as the External Affairs Minister.

The term Hindi has a very eccentric feature hidden within itself. It actually has been derived from the Persian language; the all-rounder of Delhi Sultanate, Amir Khusro took Hindi letters as beads and had beautifully ornamented them in his compositions.

Another outlandish fact adding to it is, a French writer first composed in the Hindi language, “Grasim ki Taisi” (Now, ‘Aisi ki taisi’ is completely different. Don’t get confused.)

To expand the value of this language, a Hindi week has been constructed to award the geniuses who have made significant changes in the progress of the Hindi language as writers, novelists, journalists, etc. from 14th-21st of September, with a motive to encourage the usage of Hindi. Years later, the award, Bhasha Samman, broke its restriction to Hindi and was extended to the celebration of exquisite examples in other languages too.

So the next time, if you see any foreigner, who has arrived here to travel India, greeting you by a टूटा-फूटा 'Na-ma-s-Te!', correct them then and there, just like anybody would if you pronounce anything wrong in English.

Late Beohar Rajendra Simha; Image Source: Geni