(1) In the state of Odisha Madhusudan Das is a famous writer and freedom fighter. He played an important role in the freedom movement. Along with that he developed the linguistic movement in Odisha. That is why they are also called ‘Utkal Gaurav’ (Pride of Odisha). Oriya language was not given enough importance in Odisha state. Languages ​​like Hindi and Bengali were dominant. There was a movement against it. The state of Odisha was formed on the basis of language in 1936, even before independence.

(2) Potti Sriramulu also a freedom fighter. He played an important role in the ‘Chale Jav’ movement. Sri Ramulu was inspired by the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi. He took the legacy of Satyagraha from Gandhi himself. Even Gandhi had praised him. He went on a fast to open the temples in Madras for Dalits. Later after independence, Sriramulu went on hunger strike for 58 days demanding an independent state for the Telugu speaking people. He died in that. Eventually Andhra Pradesh was established as an independent Telugu speaking state. That is why the epithets ‘Father of Andhra’ and ‘Amarjivi’ are used for Sri Ramulu.

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(3) Tara Singh, a Sikh political leader from Punjab. He insisted on a separate state for the Punjabi speaking and Gurmukhi script communities. Not only this, he also said that this independent state needs special status and internal autonomy. Nehru tried to deal with this issue in coordination with Tara Singh and the Akali Dal. Finally, in 1966, the independent state of Punjab emerged.

All the above three examples are enough to give an idea of ​​the diversity of languages ​​in India and the identity based on it. That is why language was the most important issue in the restructuring of the states. Initially, regionalization was rejected on the basis of language, but later language had to be considered primarily. The issue of multiple languages ​​was considered in the Constituent Assembly. It was from this that the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution came into being. Indian languages ​​are included in this schedule. They have the status of Rajbhasha (official language) in those states. Initially, this schedule included 14 languages. Sindhi language was included in this list in 1967. In 1992, more was added. Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali languages ​​were added. Later Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali were added in 2004. At present, a total of 22 Indian official languages ​​are included in this schedule. There is still a demand that around 38 languages ​​should be included in this schedule. More languages ​​need to be officially recognized.

The diversity of languages ​​in India is vast. In this context, the survey of folk languages, initiated by linguist Ganesh Devi, is a fundamental work. The survey highlighted the existence of around 780 languages. It is noteworthy that the survey also included languages ​​which are not mentioned in the census of India and which are spoken by less than 10 thousand people. Language is not just words and grammar but it is a river of culture.

Languages ​​are as essential to survival as material things. It is from the womb of language that culture has been born and it has further developed language. Keeping this in mind, the Constituent Assembly respected linguistic diversity and decided the Eighth Schedule accordingly. That is why the public and cultural policy should be designed keeping in mind the multilingual poetry of India.

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