Securitizing Linguistic Diversity: Language Policy and the Politics of National Identity in India

In the governance of multilingual nations, language policies are not only about cultural heritage and social equality but also profoundly influence the construction of national identity and political order. This paper uses securitization theory as an analytical framework to systematically explore the development and evolution of India’s language policies and their deep-seated connection with national identity. Through an analysis of constitutional texts, policy practices, and social movements, it highlights how the Indian government has politicized issues of linguistic diversity through securitization discourse, thereby elevating Hindi to a central position in national identity. In this process, the rights claim of marginalized language groups are often stigmatized, and language conflicts repeatedly escalate into crises of national identity. This paper argues that while language securitization policies have certain functions in national integration, their exclusionary characteristics also exacerbate dissatisfaction and resistance among local cultures, which is detrimental to the long-term stability and harmony of India’s multi-ethnic nation-state. Therefore, future language policies should shift from power-driven approaches to multi-stakeholder governance, establishing an inclusive national identity framework that acknowledges linguistic diversity.