constituent assembly of india debates (proceedings)- volume vii

only as a translation.
The English have quit India. Their cantonments are no longer here. Following your example and the
example of your colleagues and other respected leaders who have immortalized their names in our
history by eliminating the English rule from our land and whose names have become memorable, we
should remove the word `Dominion' from the Draft and I am sure it will be removed. It will, I think be
agitated in detail in this House and many Members would express themselves on it. But this is a matter
for future discussion. Just now the question before us is whether we have any language of our own and a
culture of our own; whether we have a language of our songs, of our poems and for the expression of
our thoughts and emotions. We should frame our Constitution in the same language in which we would
express our feelings. The Preamble of the Draft says: "We, the people of India . . . . . . . . . give to
ourselves this Constitution." Here the term "We the people of India "means not the few men who are
sitting in this House but the dumb millions of India and on whose behalf we are functioning here.
Therefore the Constitution that is being presented here must be in the language we understand. It is a
matter of regret that many of our veteran leaders have begun to say that the problem of language has
not yet been solved; that our language has not been reformed and that English has to stay. Such things
are said sometimes. I do not want here to mention the names of those leaders. But since they say that
we have no language of our own, I want to tell them that ours is a developed language, a rich language
which is capable of expressing high thoughts and sentiments. It has a rich and a good vocabulary. We
have inherited our language from our ancient sages, we have inherited it from Kautilya's Artha Shastra,
from our ancient literature which has such gems as the Mahabharat at and the Ramayana. We have
developed our language taking words from these epics. Therefore it can not be said. . . .]*
Mr. President: *[Excuse me, I do not understand what you are discussing. All the matters to which
you are referring are those on which there is already considerable agreement.]*
Shri Algu Rai Shastri: *[I am only submitting that the original draft of the Constitution which we
are to discuss here should be in Hindi and not in English. Therefore we should have liberty to table
amendments on the clauses of the Hindi version of the Draft treating it as the original one. I beg to
propose this with the idea that it would indicate that we have our own language. We do not deem our
land to be such a dominion within the British Empire as can express itself only in English.
I would like to say a few words more. Fortunately or unfortunately our brethren who live in those
coastal regions where the English landed for the first time have acquired considerable proficiency in
English. It is they who feel the greatest embarrassment when Hindi is mentioned as the national
language. It had been the great good fortune of the people of Madras that their scholars gave to India a
sublime message based on the Vedic literature and culture. Similarly it was their lot that the
English.......]*
Mr. President: *[I would like to point out to you that you are continuing to talk on a subject on
which there is no dispute. All admit that we can and will frame our constitution in our language. There is
no scope for any further discussion on this matter. Previously also the question has been discussed many
times and I am sure that at the appropriate occasion it will be adopted.]*
Shri Algu Rai Shastri: *[I am talking at present, of tabling amendments in Hindi.]*
Mr. President: *[You can table amendments in Hindi if you so desire. But how can an amendment in
Hindi fit in the clause that is in English. There will be difficulty for me but, however, if you wish to table
any amendment in Hindi you can do so.]*
Sardar Bhopinder Singh Man (East Punjab: Sikh): *[Mr. President, I want to invite your attention
to the fact that while discussing the Report of the Minorities Board this House had decided on the last