Linguistic Nationalism

The multilingual culture of India has affected every aspect of life and had also been an important means for serving the nationalist movement of India, against the British. Although, some may consider the role of language to be minimal, language did prove to be an effective tool against the British during the nationalist movement. The rise of vernacular languages is an important marker in the aid of mass movements. For some leaders, it was the revisiting of historical glory, for some, the radicalization of independence struggle, and for some a matter of identity. Least of all, it definitely was a powerful political tool to fight for the independence of India. We now live in an India that recognizes regional linguistic affinities, that has states demarcated on linguistic lines and that which does not have a single national language. However, the journey till here was not a smooth one. The 1950s and the 60s saw many language debates and controversies and different perspectives. In a period where linguistic identity and conflicts have emerged as an acute problem plaguing the unity of the country, it becomes vital to look into the development of linguistic nationalism as well as linguistic conflicts of India. It is imperative to study whether the linguistic diversity of the country that had once furthered the cause of nationalist ideas, has now become a threat to the unity of nation. The paper endeavours to do the same.