Politics of Language and Linguistic Reorganisation before and after Independence in India

Abstract

This article examines Politics of Language and Linguistic Reorganisation before and after the Indian Independence. Before 1947, the Indian Nationalist started to gather momentum for liberation from the British . The nationalist struggle against colonial rule precluded any narrow sentiments for linguistic agitation prior to independence. Moreover, the partition of Pakistan from the Indian Union, and subsequent independence of India, the desire for linguistic reorganization of Indian States grew across the country. The eight schedule of 1951 constitution  recognised on 14 national language, the Constituent Assembly were silent on linguistic re-organisation of States. Hence, immediately after independence such sentiments began to gather momentum among sections of the electorates that compelled a review of the 1951 constitution to accommodate the linguistic reorganisation. The paper concluded that with the creation of Andhra, immediately after the First general Elections of 1951-52, the basis for the linguistic re-organisation of Indian States was eventually laid.