In a landmark ruling that celebrates India’s linguistic diversity, the Supreme Court of India on Monday dismissed a petition challenging the use of Urdu alongside Marathi on the nameboard of a municipal council in Maharashtra, underlining that “language is not religion” and should never be viewed through the lens of communal identity.
The two-judge bench, comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice K Vinod Chandran, rejected the plea filed by Varshatai Sanjay Bagade, a former councillor from Patur in Akola district, who argued that the municipal council’s signboard should display only Marathi, the state’s official language, and not Urdu.
Language Is Culture, Not Religion: Supreme Court
Delivering a thought-provoking verdict, the apex court stressed that language transcends religious boundaries and is inherently tied to the cultural and social fabric of a community, not to any faith.
“Language belongs to a community, to a region, to people; and not to a religion. Language is culture. Language is the yardstick to measure the civilizational march of a community and its people,” the bench observed, while highlighting Urdu’s rich legacy as a key pillar of India’s composite cultural ethos — the celebrated Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb.
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The court went on to emphasize that Urdu, like Marathi and Hindi, is an Indo-Aryan language born and nurtured on Indian soil — developed as a medium of communication among diverse communities seeking mutual understanding.
Misconceptions and Colonial Exploitation
The Supreme Court also critiqued the historical misconception that Urdu is foreign to India, stating this view was exploited during colonial rule to create unnecessary divisions.
“A schism exploited by the colonial powers in dividing the two languages on religion. Hindi was now understood to be the language of Hindus and Urdu of the Muslims, which is such a pitiable digression from reality; from unity in diversity; and the concept of universal brotherhood,” the bench said.
The judges pointed out that even daily conversations in Hindi are enriched by Urdu-origin words, underlining the linguistic interdependence that many speakers might not consciously recognize.
Municipal Communication Must Serve the People
Upholding the decision of both the Municipal Council and the Bombay High Court, the Supreme Court concluded that the use of Urdu alongside Marathi on the nameboard was neither unlawful nor in violation of the Maharashtra Local Authorities (Official Languages) Act, 2022.
“The Municipal Council provides services to the local community and caters to their day-to-day needs. If the people residing in the area are familiar with Urdu, there should be no objection to its use alongside Marathi — at least on the signboard — as language is meant to unite, not divide,” the court said.
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Calling for an end to linguistic prejudices, the bench appealed to citizens to embrace India’s vibrant linguistic diversity.
“Our misconceptions, perhaps even our prejudices against a language, have to be courageously and truthfully tested against the reality of this great diversity of our nation. Let us make friends with Urdu and every language,” the court concluded.
Final Verdict: A Victory for India’s Multilingual Spirit
The Supreme Court ruled that the display of Urdu, in addition to Marathi, was fully within the law and served the purpose of effective communication with the local population. The bench firmly stated that the case was “based on a misconception of law” and saw no reason to interfere, marking a clear endorsement of India’s ethos of unity in diversity.
This ruling is being widely hailed as a victory for linguistic harmony and constitutional secularism, sending a strong message that language should never be confined within the artificial boundaries of religious identity.
