14 September - Hindi Diwas celebration

 

Hindi Diwas is celebrated annually on September 14 to mark the adoption of Hindi as one of the official languages of India. On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, as the official language of the Republic of India under Article 343 of the Indian Constitution.

Significance:

1. Promotion of Hindi: Hindi Diwas emphasizes the promotion and recognition of Hindi as a medium for communication and governance, reflecting India's linguistic heritage and unity in diversity.
2. Cultural Celebration: Various cultural programs, literary events, and competitions such as essay writing, poetry, and debates are organized across schools, universities, and government institutions to celebrate the richness of the Hindi language.
3. Government Recognition: The Indian government acknowledges individuals and organizations for their contributions to promoting Hindi through awards like the Rajbhasha Awards.

Historical Context:

• Post-independence, there was a strong debate about what should be the official language of India, given its multilingual diversity. Hindi was chosen alongside English to be the official language, ensuring a gradual transition from English to Hindi for government and administrative purposes.
• September 14 was chosen to honor Beohar Rajendra Simha, who played a key role in the Constituent Assembly's decision to adopt Hindi.

Modern Relevance:

While Hindi is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India, Hindi Diwas also highlights ongoing efforts to promote Hindi in non-Hindi speaking regions, while balancing India's linguistic diversity. In recent years, the celebration has also sparked discussions about the coexistence of Hindi with other regional languages in India.

14 September - Anukulchandra Chakravarty birth anniversary

Anukulchandra Chakravarty (1888–1969), also known as Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra, was a prominent Indian spiritual leader, reformer, and the founder of the Satsang movement. Born on 14 September 1888, in Himachalpur, Pabna, in the Bengal Presidency (now in Bangladesh), he showed spiritual inclinations from an early age, combining his scientific knowledge with a deep sense of spirituality. In 1910, he established Satsang, a socio-spiritual organization aimed at promoting personal and collective spiritual growth, emphasizing truth, service, and love as the core principles of life. Anukulchandra’s teachings focused on self-realization, devotion to God, and the integration of science and religion. He believed that science and spirituality could work together for the progress of humanity, and he encouraged his followers to lead ethical lives dedicated to service and self-development.

In 1946, Anukulchandra moved to Deoghar, Bihar, due to the communal violence in Bengal, where he founded the Satsang Ashram, which became a major center for his spiritual and welfare activities. He emphasized the importance of social welfare, education, and moral living. His teachings have been compiled in several books, including "Satyanusaran" and "Punyapunthi", which continue to influence his followers. After his death on 27 January 1969, his followers continued the Satsang movement, which remains active today, spreading his message of love, unity, and spiritual growth. Anukulchandra’s legacy lives on through the Satsang Ashram and its continued philanthropic and spiritual activities.

The Government of India released a commemorative postage stamp, in 1987.