Himachali, Kullui, or Hindi: Features of Linguistic Identity in India through the Case of Himachal Pradesh

The article examines linguistic identity in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh within the broader context of nationwide transformations of language policy. The authors explore the historical foundations of Hindi’s dominance in the official sphere and the resulting marginalization of Himachali languages, which remain the mother tongues of the majority of the state’s population. These languages remain understudied and are officially classified as dialects of Hindi, despite having long been recognized in linguistic scholarship as constituting an independent group of the Indo-Aryan languages. A standardized orthography is lacking, and the region’s indigenous written tradition, Tankri, fell out of use in the mid-20th century. Given the substantial internal diversity among the Himachali languages and the absence of a common Himachali keine, the emergence of a unified literary standard for Himachali appears unlikely. A comparison is drawn with other Indian languages facing similar challenges, such as the absence of a standardized literary form, the loss of traditional scripts, and the negative self-perception among speakers. The study also analyzes socio-economic factors, including migration and demographic shifts that contribute to the strengthening of language activism. The conclusion discusses contemporary initiatives aimed at supporting and preserving local languages.

India, Himachal Pradesh, regional identity, language policy, language rights, Himachali