Understanding the Language Debate in India

The question asks us to identify the correct statements regarding the language debate in India, particularly concerning the national language issue during the freedom struggle and the making of the Constitution.

Analysing the Statements on Language Policy

Let's examine each statement carefully based on historical context:

Statement A: By the 1930s, the Congress has accepted that Hindustani ought to be the national language.

During the 1930s, the Indian National Congress, under the strong influence of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, widely supported Hindustani as a potential national language. Hindustani was seen as a composite language, blending elements of Hindi and Urdu, which was understood by a large section of the population across North India and had potential for wider acceptance. This statement is generally considered accurate reflecting the prevailing view within the Congress by the 1930s.

Statement B: Durgabai wanted Hindi to be declared as national language.

Durgabai Deshmukh was a prominent member of the Constituent Assembly from South India. While she supported the idea of a link language and advocated for Hindi to serve this purpose, her position was also sensitive to the concerns of non-Hindi speaking regions. The debate wasn't simply about declaring Hindi, but about its form, script, and role alongside regional languages. Historical accounts suggest that while she was a proponent of Hindi as an official language or link language, stating she "wanted Hindi to be declared as national language" (implying potentially the sole or primary national language) might be an oversimplification or not entirely accurate regarding her nuanced stance which also acknowledged the importance of regional languages. Other members from non-Hindi areas, including some who supported Hindi as a link language, were wary of declaring it *the* sole national language. Compared to statement A and C, B is less definitively correct in its strong phrasing.

Statement C: Mahatma Gandhi retained his faith in the composite character Hindustani.

This statement is correct. Mahatma Gandhi was a lifelong advocate for Hindustani, which he envisioned as a blend of Hindi and Urdu, written in both Devanagari and Persian scripts. He believed this composite nature made it accessible to more people and could bridge the divide between Hindi and Urdu speakers. He consistently promoted Hindustani as the ideal national language until his death.

Statement D: Each province was to be allowed to choose one of the regional languages for official work within the region.

This statement is correct. The principle that provinces should use their own regional languages for official and administrative work within their borders was a key part of the language policy that evolved during the freedom movement and was incorporated into the Constitution. This approach respected the linguistic diversity of India and ensured that the administration was accessible to the local population.

Statement E: R.V. Dhulekar was against Hindi be used as the language in Constitution making.

This statement is incorrect. R.V. Dhulekar was a strong and vocal advocate for Hindi being used prominently, even exclusively by some accounts, in the Constituent Assembly and for it to be declared the national language. His speeches in the Assembly, delivered forcefully in Hindi, are well-documented and highlight his strong pro-Hindi stance, completely contrary to being against its use in Constitution making.

Identifying the Correct Statements

Based on the analysis, statements A, C, and D are correct, while statements B and E are incorrect.

The correct statements are A, C, and D.

Therefore, the combination of correct statements is A, C, and D.

Revision Table: India's Language Policy Debate

Additional Information: Language in the Constitution

The debate over language was one of the most contentious issues in the Constituent Assembly. While Hindi in Devanagari script was eventually adopted as the official language of the Union, it was decided that English would continue for a period, and regional languages would be used at the state level. Article 343 of the Constitution deals with the Official Language of the Union. The Constitution also listed several regional languages in the Eighth Schedule, recognizing their importance. The idea of a single "national language" became less prominent, with the focus shifting to "official language" for the Union and states, respecting India's linguistic diversity.