Hindi National Language Debate Ignites After T-Shirt Post Goes Viral

A post on X (formerly Twitter) featuring two men wearing T-shirts that read "Hindi, National Language" has sparked a heated debate over the status of Hindi in India, particularly in the context of regional languages. The image, shared by user Harsh during a trip to Bengaluru, quickly went viral, attracting criticism, especially from Kannadiga users, who accused the duo of disrespecting local languages.

The backlash intensified after Harsh defended the post, claiming that while there is no official "national language" in India, South Indians were unnecessarily offended by Hindi, and that Hindi speakers in the North do not care about the language preferences of others. This only fueled more outrage, with many users responding with angry comments and warnings, some even humorously suggesting potential consequences for the duo’s remarks. One user warned, "Your life will be at risk in Bangalore," while others joked about physical retribution.

While the controversy raged, some users pointed out the constitutional reality: "Hindi is not the National Language of India," and there is no official "Language of India" defined in the Constitution. Several memes mocking Harsh’s post emerged, and some users edited the original image to replace the slogan with "Hindi is not our national language" in protest.

The viral incident highlights the deep sensitivities around language politics in India, with many calling for greater respect for regional languages and cultures. Despite the uproar, the post garnered over 3 million views and widespread engagement, underscoring the ongoing debate over language identity in the country.