The Congress acceptance of Hindustani as the national language

The Indian National Congress, the largest political party in India during the freedom struggle, played a crucial role in shaping the language policy of the country. The acceptance of Hindustani as the national language by the Congress occurred in the 1930s.

Background:
- The question of a national language was a contentious issue during the freedom struggle. India was a linguistically diverse country with multiple languages spoken across different regions.
- Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, and Urdu, written in the Perso-Arabic script, were the two major dialects of Hindustani, a colloquial language spoken by a vast majority of people in North India.
- The Congress aimed to find a language that would unite the diverse linguistic communities of India and serve as a symbol of national integration.

1920s:
- In the 1920s, the Congress did not explicitly accept Hindustani as the national language. However, there were discussions and debates regarding the language issue within the party during this period.
- Mahatma Gandhi, one of the prominent leaders of the Congress, advocated for Hindustani as the national language. He believed that a simplified form of Hindustani, combining elements of both Hindi and Urdu, could be understood by a larger population.

1930s:
- By the 1930s, the Congress had officially accepted Hindustani, in its simplified form, as the national language. This decision was influenced by the efforts of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Maulana Azad.
- The Congress recognized that Hindustani had the potential to bridge regional and linguistic divides, as it incorporated elements from both Hindi and Urdu.
- The acceptance of Hindustani as the national language by the Congress was a significant step towards linguistic harmony and national integration.

1940s:
- The 1940s marked a crucial period in India's struggle for independence with the Quit India Movement and the partition of the country on religious lines.
- Though the language issue remained relevant, the Congress did not significantly alter its stance on Hindustani as the national language during this period.

1950s:
- The 1950s saw the adoption of the Indian Constitution, which recognized Hindi as the official language of the Indian government. However, it also allowed for the continued use of English for official purposes until a transition period was completed.
- The adoption of Hindi as the official language was a compromise between those advocating for Hindustani and those favoring Hindi alone. The use of Urdu script for Hindi was also permitted.
- This development further solidified the Congress's acceptance of Hindustani as the national language.

In conclusion, the Congress accepted Hindustani as the national language in the 1930s. This acceptance was based on the belief that Hindustani, in its simplified form, could serve as a unifying language for the linguistically diverse population of India.