Discuss the Hindi-Urdu controversy. Did it assume communal overtones?

The Hindi-Urdu controversy, rooted in linguistic and cultural differences, emerged during the colonial period in British India. The controversy centered around the status of Hindi and Urdu, two closely related languages with linguistic and script variations, and it became entangled with communal tensions, contributing to the broader Hindu-Muslim divide in the subcontinent.

1. Linguistic and Script Differences:
Hindi and Urdu share a linguistic base, known as Hindustani, but differ in script and vocabulary. Hindi traditionally used the Devanagari script and drew vocabulary heavily from Sanskrit, while Urdu used the Persian-Arabic script (Nastaliq) and incorporated vocabulary from Persian and Arabic. Despite these differences, speakers of Hindi and Urdu could often understand each other.

2. Colonial Language Policies:
The British colonial administration played a role in exacerbating the linguistic controversy. In 1837, the British adopted English as the official language for administrative and legal purposes. This prompted a push for the promotion of vernacular languages, including Hindi and Urdu, in education and administration. However, the colonial administration was inconsistent in its approach, leading to confusion and discontent.

3. Role of Linguistic Associations:
Linguistic associations played a significant role in shaping the discourse around Hindi and Urdu. The Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, founded in 1921, advocated for the promotion of Hindi and the use of the Devanagari script. On the other hand, the Anjuman-e-Tarqqi-e-Urdu, established in 1903, aimed at preserving and promoting Urdu, especially in areas where it was the mother tongue.

4. Communal Overtones:
The controversy over Hindi and Urdu took on communal overtones due to the broader Hindu-Muslim tensions in British India. The British policy of divide and rule, combined with the demand for separate electorates based on religion, heightened communal identities. The debate over the script and vocabulary of Hindi and Urdu became entangled with religious identity, with Hindus favoring Hindi and Devanagari script, and Muslims supporting Urdu and the Persian-Arabic script.

5. Communalization of Education:
The language controversy also extended to the realm of education. Efforts to introduce Hindi or Urdu as the medium of instruction in schools sometimes led to communal tensions. Muslims, fearing the dominance of Hindi and Hindu culture, were often reluctant to adopt Hindi as the medium of instruction, contributing to the perception of the controversy as a Hindu-Muslim issue.

6. Political Dimensions:
As the political landscape evolved, the Hindi-Urdu controversy became intertwined with nationalist movements. During the early 20th century, leaders like Mahatma Gandhi advocated for Hindi as a unifying language for the Indian masses. However, this was met with resistance from some Muslim leaders, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who saw Urdu as an essential marker of Muslim identity.

7. The Role of Partition:
The partition of British India in 1947 further deepened the linguistic and communal divide. The creation of Pakistan as a separate state for Muslims intensified the association of Urdu with Muslim identity. India, in the aftermath of partition, adopted Hindi in the Devanagari script as its official language, while Pakistan chose Urdu as its national language.

8. Post-Independence Developments:
After independence, both Hindi and Urdu continued to develop as separate languages, each with its own standardization and vocabulary. India recognized Hindi as its official language but retained a policy of linguistic diversity, allowing states to use their languages for official purposes. Pakistan maintained Urdu as its national language but also promoted regional languages.

In conclusion, the Hindi-Urdu controversy was a complex linguistic and cultural issue that became entangled with communal tensions during the colonial period in British India. The association of languages with religious identity, coupled with inconsistent colonial policies, contributed to the controversy taking on communal overtones. The consequences of this linguistic and communal divide persisted through the partition of India and continue to shape linguistic and cultural dynamics in the Indian subcontinent.