Linguistic Diversity in India – Significance & Challenges – Explained Pointwise

India’s diversity in religion & language is one of the primary factors which protect the secular character of the nation, ensuring its unity & integrity. But while religion & language are the two most crucial aspects of any culture, these are also the predominant cross-cultural barriers. This is clearly visible in recent communal tensions & violence in Maharashtra.
In this context, let us understand the linguistic diversity in particular – especially in context of India.

What is Linguistic Diversity?

• Linguistic diversity refers to the variety and coexistence of multiple languages within a specific region or community.
• This diversity is shaped by factors such as geographical isolation, climate, historical migrations, and cultural evolution, leading to the development of unique languages and dialects in various areas. For instance, geographically isolated communities often evolve their own languages, while regions with interconnected populations may show a blend of languages and dialects.

Linguistic diversity of India:

• Number of Languages:
  • Census 2011 recorded 121 major languages spoken natively & 270 mother tongues.
  • Ethnologue and UNESCO list over 425 living languages in India.
  • Including dialects and mother tongues, there are over 19,500 languages and dialects spoken, though many are variants or closely related forms.
  • Schedule languages = 22 languages have been recognised as the Schedule languages & 96.71% of the population of the country have one of them as their mother tongue.
• Language families:
  1. Indo-Aryan language family = The largest of the language families represented in India.
  2. Dravidian language family = The second largest language family is the Dravidian language family, accounting for some 277 million speakers, or approximately 20.5% per 2018 estimate.
  3. Austroasiatic language family
  4. Tibeto-Burman language family

• Major Languages by Speakers (2011 Census):
  • Hindi (as a first language): ~43.6% of the population (528 million native speakers)
  • Bengali: 8.03%
  • Marathi: 6.86%
  • Telugu: 6.70%
  • Tamil: 5.70%
  • Gujarati: 4.58%
  • Urdu: 4.19%
• Linguistic Diversity Index (LDI):
  • India’s LDI is about 0.78 (Census classification); if mother tongues are counted, it rises to 0.9.
  • UNESCO’s LDI for India is 0.93, close to the world’s most diverse regions.
  • The index approaches 1 as diversity increases; for context, Papua New Guinea, the world’s most diverse nation, has an LDI around 0.98.

What is the significance of high linguistic diversity?

1. Identity and Belonging: Language is deeply intertwined with cultural identity. For individuals and communities, their mother tongue is a source of pride and a strong marker of belonging, fostering a sense of rootedness and continuity with their heritage.
2. Repository of Heritage: Each language carries a unique history, literature, folklore, music, and traditional knowledge. High linguistic diversity means a vast repository of diverse cultural expressions, values, and historical narratives are preserved and passed down through generations. 
3. Federalism and Regional Identity: The linguistic reorganization of states in India has largely strengthened its federal structure by acknowledging regional linguistic identities. This has helped prevent secessionist tendencies and fostered a sense of unity within diversity.
4. Cultural Exchange: Linguistic diversity naturally leads to cultural exchange and cross-cultural understanding, enriching the overall social fabric of the nation.
5. Social Cohesion and Inclusion: Multilingualism nurtures empathy, tolerance, and mutual respect among communities. It encourages individuals to appreciate different perspectives and is central to India’s philosophy of “unity in diversity,” creating a more inclusive and harmonious society.
6. Facilitation of Effective Education and Cognitive Development: Education in the mother tongue makes learning more accessible, increases comprehension, and improves cognitive abilities in children. It allows learners to build a strong foundation before transitioning to additional languages.

What are the challenges of high linguistic diversity?

1. Linguistic Minorities and Marginalization: Linguistic minorities often face the threat of cultural erosion, economic disparities, and political under-representation. They may struggle to maintain their identity in the face of assimilation pressures from dominant linguistic groups.
2. Regionalism and Parochialism: While linguistic states have strengthened federalism, an overemphasis on linguistic identity can sometimes lead to regionalism and parochial feelings, potentially undermining national unity and fostering demands for separate states. It gives rise to the phenomena of ‘Son-of-the-soil’ in States like Maharashtra or Karnataka e.g. Movements in Assam have targeted Bengali-speaking migrants, arguing for the protection of Assamese language, culture, and jobs.
3. Social Stigma and Discrimination: Languages associated with lower social status (e.g., some tribal languages) can lead to social stigma and discrimination against their speakers, further marginalizing these communities.
4. Communication Barriers: The absence of a common language can complicate governance, making it difficult to disseminate information, implement policies, and provide services uniformly across linguistic groups. Translating official documents and proceedings into multiple languages is resource-intensive and time-consuming.
5. Language Endangerment: Many regional and tribal languages are at risk of extinction due to the dominance of major languages like Hindi and English, and a lack of institutional support. When a language is lost, it represents a loss of unique cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and a piece of human history. 

What are initiatives taken by the government to preserve the linguistic diversity in India?

1. Constitutional Safeguards:
   1. Eighth Schedule: Recognizes 22 official languages, providing them with official acknowledgment, financial support for development, and use in education and government examinations.
   2. Article 29: Safeguards the language, script, and culture of any section of citizens
   3. Article 30: Grants linguistic minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
   4. Article 350A: Directs states and local authorities to provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage of education for linguistic minority groups.
   5. Article 350B: Provides for the appointment of a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities to protect minority language interests.
2. National language & Official language: No language has been recognised as national language of India to give respect to all the languages that are spoken in different regions of the country & not to impose any one language over others. However, for communication purposes, Hindi has been recognised as the official language. The States are free to choose their own official language.
3. Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL): Implemented by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, the SPPEL aims to document, preserve, and revitalize endangered languages—specifically those spoken by fewer than 10,000 people.
4. Bhasha Sangam: The Bhasha Sangam initiative provides multilingual exposure to students in schools, familiarizing them with all 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The program promotes appreciation and respect for linguistic variety among children and youth, fostering inter-lingual understanding and pride in India’s pluralism.
5. National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Emphasizes multilingual education and recommends that the medium of instruction be in the mother tongue/local language up to at least Class 5, and preferably till Class 8 and beyond. It supports the “Three-Language Formula” with greater flexibility, allowing students and states to choose languages, as long as at least two of the three are native to India.
6. Classical Language Status: Granting classical language status to languages like Sanskrit, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, and Prakrit provides special recognition, funding, and opportunities for research and scholarships.
7. Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Provides financial support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) for projects aimed at preserving and promoting tribal languages and dialects, including developing dictionaries and primers.
8. Bharatvani: The Bharatvani project is a multilingual digital platform providing e-content and digital resources in numerous Indian languages. This ensures easy and lasting access to linguistic materials for learners, teachers, and communities.

What can be the way forward?

1. Comprehensive Language Policy: Develop a national language policy that clearly outlines the rights and protections for all languages, moving beyond the current focus on scheduled languages to include and support non-scheduled and tribal languages.
2. Strengthening Linguistic Minority Protections: Enhance the resources and enforcement powers of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities to ensure effective implementation of constitutional safeguards.
3. Asymmetric Federalism in Language Policy: Formally recognize that a uniform language policy may not work across all states. Allow states greater autonomy in implementing language policies that suit their unique linguistic demographics, while ensuring national cohesion. 
4. Inter-Linguistic Cultural Exchange: Promote cultural festivals, literary translations, and exchange programs between different linguistic regions to foster mutual appreciation and understanding of diverse Indian languages and cultures. 
5. Create Multilingual Materials: Produce quality textbooks and digital resources in all major and endangered languages, ensuring that children can access educational content in their native tongues.
6. Combat Discrimination: Address the social and economic barriers faced by speakers of minority languages through affirmative action and anti-discrimination campaigns.

Conclusion:
Every language needs to be respected & protected to preserve the linguistic secularism of India. India’s strength lies in unity in diversity – which is based on the twin pillars of tolerance & liberality.