How did Shrimati G. Durgabai describe the question of a national language for India as it had stood until recently?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → An almost agreed proposition
Option (1) A matter left to the provincial legislatures — Incorrect. Durgabai did not speak of the provinces deciding it. She spoke of the whole nation and how its view had changed.
Option (2) A highly controversial issue — Incorrect. This is what the question had <strong>suddenly become</strong> by the time she spoke. Until recently it had been close to settled.
Option (3) An almost agreed proposition — Correct. Durgabai said the national language was <strong>an almost agreed proposition until recently</strong>. Only during the debate did it turn into a bitter dispute.
Option (4) A question settled by the Congress Working Committee — Incorrect. She gave no role to the Congress Working Committee here. She spoke of a broad agreement that had now broken down.
NCERT (2026-27): “5.2 The fear of domination “Mr President, the question of national language for India which was an almost agreed proposition until recently has suddenly become a highly controversial issue. Whether rightly or wrongly, the people of non-Hindi-speaking areas have been made to feel that this fight, or this attitude on behalf of the Hindi-speaking areas, is a fight for effectively preventing the natural influence of other powerful languages of India on the composite culture of this nation.” |