Introduction

• Hindi has often been at the centre of political debates, especially in non-Hindi-speaking southern states.

• However, the language’s journey in South India reflects a parallel, organic narrative marked by cultural exchange, migration, and education.

• This essay critically analyses the historical, educational, and sociolinguistic evolution of Hindi in the southern states, separate from political imposition.

Historical Roots and Gandhian Initiative

• Mahatma Gandhi initiated the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha (1918) in Madras to spread Hindi among non-Hindi speakers as a nationalist link language during the freedom struggle.

• The Sabha’s aim was integration through language rather than imposition — promoting unity in the independence movement.

• First exams in Hindi proficiency began as early as 1922, with regional branches flourishing in Hyderabad, Kochi, Vijayawada, and Gulbarga.

Organic Acceptance and Media Influence

• Post-independence growth of Hindi was bolstered by mass media:

  • All India Radio and Doordarshan broadcasted Hindi content alongside regional programming.

  • Popular shows like Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Chitrahaar captured public imagination, bringing Hindi into South Indian homes.

  • The Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE, 1975) offered bilingual content, but general programming remained largely in Hindi.

Role of Print and Literary Culture

• Hindi magazines like Kalpna and Golconda Darpan, published from Hyderabad, were widely read, contributing to a shared literary culture.

• The Dakshinanchal Hindi Samiti played a crucial role in translating Bhakti literature, promoting linguistic syncretism between North and South.

Three-Language Formula and Educational Outreach

• The NEP 1968 and NEP 2020 recommended the three-language formula — regional language, Hindi, and English.

• Southern states, except Tamil Nadu, implemented this system to include Hindi in curricula.

• In Tamil Nadu, despite political resistance, civil society efforts like Hindi Prachara Sabhas and coaching centres flourished, especially for UPSC aspirants and businesspeople.

Recent Migration and Functional Use

• Contemporary migration from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal has increased functional usage of Hindi in South India.

• In Kerala, public signs and bus boards in Hindi have become common in districts with high migrant populations.

• Traders, like turmeric merchants in Erode, find Hindi necessary for business, showing the pragmatic value of language beyond identity.

Contrasting Political and Societal Narratives

• Political resistance from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka to Hindi imposition stems from concerns about federalism and linguistic identity.

• Despite political friction, at the ground level, there is no ban or hostility toward learning or teaching Hindi.

• Institutions and individuals promote Hindi learning driven by economic opportunity and national integration, not coercion.

Conclusion

• The journey of Hindi in southern India is nuanced and layered — it cannot be reduced to political opposition or imposition.

• From freedom movement ideals to media influence, migration, and economic need, the acceptance of Hindi has been context-driven.

• Understanding this organic journey helps move beyond binaries and fosters a pluralistic, inclusive linguistic culture.

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