Role of Devnagari and Persian Script in Hindi-Urdu Controversy: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

Controversy regarding the language of the so-called ``Hindustani`` area has been an important issue throughout British period which engulfed the Indian freedom movement. Hindi or ``Hindui`` was the original form adopted and mentioned as such by the earliest of writers of Hindi. Later, word Urdu came into use to denote the same language called Hindi or Hindui, but with a Persian tilt. The common people continued to regard both forms as one language. Due to Moghal rule, Hindi and later Urdu written in Persian script became the official language of governance. When Britishers came to India they found a very interesting phenomena with regard to language and scripts pravelent in northern Hindi belt. Although the spoken language of the people was one, but it was written in a script, imposed from outside. They tried to confirm the real position by doing various language and script surveys and came to the conclusion that it would be better for communication and understanding if beside Persian script, ``Nagari`` script is introduced in Government offices and courts etc. This angered the Muslim community who used to be in an advantageous position with Persian script. Although, language question was never a controversial issue among the common people of this area but due to the two different scripts, it got associated with communal feelings. The emergence of Sanskritized Hindi and Persianized Urdu was the direct outcome of this communal divide. Britishers tried to not only placate this but took full advantage of the issue for dividing people on communal lines. To create communal unity within freedom struggle, Gandhi Ji tried to bring ``Hindustani`` into focus which represent the mix of both spoken Hindi and Urdu. He advocated one common language for both the communities which can be written either in Nagari or Persian script. It attracted lot of criticism from both sides. In such a charged atmosphere the question of National language or a National script became more and more controversial. Progressive cultural movement, being the most important literary movement in all Indian Languages, where both Hindi and Urdu writers worked together, tried to understand and solve the language and script problem. On the basis of its analysis and conclusions it mendated that Hindi written in Devnagari script should be the national language of the country and Urdu written in Persian should be regarded as close associate of it. Later, when Indian constitution was framed and implemented, in article 343 regarding the Official language of the Union it was written that ``the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devnagari script.``