🏛️ Supreme Court Affirms: Language Is Not Religion
In a powerful judgment, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea against using Urdu on a municipal signboard. The court stated clearly that language is not religion and should not divide people.
🗣️ Urdu: A Cultural Language, Not a Religious One
The court noted that Urdu was born in India. Like Hindi and Marathi, it is an Indo-Aryan language. Associating it only with Muslims, the bench said, is incorrect and unfortunate.
Furthermore, the judges praised Urdu as a symbol of Ganga-Jamuni tahzeeb. This term reflects the composite cultural heritage of northern and central India.
“Language is culture. It marks the civilizational progress of a community,” the court remarked.
🏙️ Case Background: Urdu on Municipal Signboard
A former councillor from Patur, Akola district, filed a petition. She opposed the use of Urdu on the municipal council’s signboard alongside Marathi. According to her, council work must be in Marathi alone.
However, the court disagreed. It stated that many local residents understood Urdu. Hence, using it on signboards helped improve communication.
🧠 Misconceptions About Urdu Corrected
The court explained that many Hindi sentences include Urdu words, often without people realizing it. Even the term Hindi comes from Hindavi, a Persian word.
“Let’s make friends with every language. Language connects people,” the court said.
The judgment also mentioned how colonial powers had divided Hindi and Urdu on religious lines. Sadly, this caused misunderstanding between communities.
🏘️ Public Services Must Reflect Linguistic Diversity
The court emphasized that municipalities serve diverse communities. They must communicate in languages understood by locals. If residents know Urdu, using it on signboards is reasonable and inclusive.
“Language should unite, not divide,” the court affirmed.
✅ Conclusion
This Supreme Court verdict highlights that India’s strength lies in diversity. By ruling that language is not religion, the court reinforced the core value of unity in diversity.