The Gujral Committee Report - Language in India

communication and administration. Although the size of the Population, the territorial limits and the stage of literary development differ from language to language, there is a stricking similarity among them in respect of their growth. This is primarily due mass
the uniform neglect in the past of the regional languages by the alien masters. The creation new ooportunities of progress in the post-Independence era has stirred the writers of different languages to new activity. It has made them conscious, on the one to
of the enormous possibilities of development and on the other of the limitations of hand,
resources. Even the languages which have been adopted for official use within their own regions face a new set of problems once they step outside their area. The problem of languages has, therefore, rightly acquired national dimensions. their
As we proceed to deal with the problems of Urdu in the various spheres, this general survey of the common destiny of our languages is necessary to understand the genesis of its troubles and the confines within which solutions are to be sought. 2.6
The credentials of Urdu as a national language understood by large sections of the 2.7
all over the country are accepted without the need for a proof. In this context, it must not be regarded merely as a widely spoken or commonly understood language but also as one which has considerable cultural significance and local colour. In population
a rich heritage of India drawn from the last five hundred years of its history. It must not, therefore, be allowed to run even the remotest risk of being gradually reduced to a position of insignificance. represents
In undertaking the present study of its problems, the Committee has been guided by 2.8
accepted national attitudes towards the language, problem. It has delved deep into the history of the language, literature and journalism to highlight the important role the language has played and continues to play In our national life, In as much as it serves the
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The Gujral Committee Report
wide areas in the country including some substantial concentrations and sizeable proportions of our population, its needs are basically the needs of the entire community of languages in the country. The attitude of the governing hierarchy and socio- Polytical forces towards one language is relevant and significant for other languages as well and any remedies that we strive to find for the ills afflicting one should be broadly applicable
on Urdu