Name the leader who made a strong plea for making 'Hindi' a national language.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → R.V. Dhulekar
R.V. Dhulekar, a Congressman from the United Provinces, wanted Hindi to be declared not an Official Language, but a National Language.
NCERT (2026-27): “5.1 A plea for Hindi … In one of the earliest sessions of the Constituent Assembly, R. V. Dhulekar, a Congressman from the United Provinces, made an aggressive plea that Hindi be used as the language of constitution-making. When told that not everyone in the Assembly knew the language, Dhulekar retorted: ‘People who are present in this House to fashion a constitution for India and do not know Hindustani are not worthy to be members of this Assembly. They better leave.’ As the House broke up in commotion over these remarks, Dhulekar proceeded with his speech in Hindi. On this occasion peace in the House was restored through Jawaharlal Nehru’s intervention, but the language issue continued to disrupt proceedings and agitate members over the subsequent three years.… 5.1 A plea for Hindi … Dhulekar was not one who liked such an attitude of reconciliation. He wanted Hindi to be declared not an Official Language, but a National Language. He attacked those who protested that Hindi was being forced on the nation, and mocked at those who said, in the name of Mahatma Gandhi, that Hindustani rather than Hindi ought to be the national language.…” |