New Delhi, September 14 (Daily Kiran) : On National Hindi Day, journalist and author Ajit Bharti shared his insights on the development and significance of the Hindi language during a recent conversation. He highlighted the differences between classic and modern Hindi, stating, “The natural evolution of any language depends on what you receive and what is being exchanged with other languages. There must be a level of acceptance for Hindi to develop and be embraced by others.”
Bharti noted that today’s generation has access to multiple languages through television, OTT platforms, and everyday conversations. He pointed out that in the past, Hindi speakers were predominantly monolingual, with less influence from English. He mentioned that the blend of Urdu into Hindi is largely due to the contributions of filmmakers and writers, particularly around the 1970s when English began to assert its influence.
Discussing the rise of Roman Hindi, Bharti attributed its popularity to the advent of SMS in the early 2000s when mobile phones lacked Hindi keyboards. “People began using Roman Hindi to send messages, leading to its widespread adoption,” he explained. The introduction of Hindi typing keyboards post-2010 further contributed to its growth.
Bharti expressed that incorporating English, Urdu, local dialects, and internet slang into Hindi is acceptable as long as the core grammatical structure remains unchanged. “As long as the verbs and case markers of Hindi do not change, I do not view this mixture negatively. It is a pathway for the language’s growth and enriches Hindi,” he stated.
On the topic of “pure Hindi,” he remarked that while pure Hindi is ideal for written communication, it is often impractical in spoken language. He encouraged writers to continue creating literature in pure Hindi, while also accepting works that incorporate mixed language.
In the current digital age, Bharti noted an increase in the use of Devanagari script, even among those who previously struggled with it, thanks to AI assistance. He advocated for the teaching of Hindi up to the 10th grade in CBSE schools but opposed imposing Hindi in non-Hindi speaking regions.
He acknowledged the use of profanity in literature and films, stating, “While I do not support it, there is a place for it in society. Authentic dialogue in literature must reflect the language spoken on the streets.”
Regarding the use of Hindi on social media, Bharti emphasized that the expansion of a language occurs through its democratization. “New words will be adopted only when we avoid overly complex language. The determination of what constitutes proper Hindi is now in the hands of the people,” he concluded, highlighting the challenge of curbing the excessive mixing of English in Hindi writing.
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