1887
image of Mohandas Gandhi and the uses of Esperanto
USD
Buy:$35.00 + Taxes

Abstract

Abstract

In the vast literature that deals with Mohandas Gandhi, very little attention has been paid to his opinions on questions of language. This essay studies Gandhi’s use of the international auxiliary language, Esperanto, as a negative example of a way to find a common language. Gandhi was willing and able to collaborate with Esperantists. And yet, Esperanto was repeatedly invoked by Gandhi in order to attack it as an utopian ideal irrelevant in Indian contexts. Gandhi’s arguments against Esperanto established the rejection of an internationalism of which he perceived Esperanto to be a part. His rejection of Esperanto as an artificially constructed language is integral to his failure to acknowledge Hindi’s artificial construction and imposition in South Indian contexts. The Gandhi-led All Indian Education Conference at Wardha (1937) is situated in this essay, therefore, within a wider context of linguistic parochialisms.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/lplp.23047.bha
2024-08-26
2024-09-19
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. “Resolutions Passed at the Third International Conference on India Held in Geneva During Sept 1933, Question of Starting Counter-Propaganda Together the False Attacks on the British Administration in India”, Home_Political_NA_1933_NA_F-168, PR_000003034098
    [Google Scholar]
  2. “Verrier Elwin to Narain Das Gandhi, 20th July, 1932, letter censored 1st August 1932”, Home_Political_NA_1932_NA_F-25-89_32, PR_000003033223
    [Google Scholar]
  3. “Proceedings of the Council of States, Ministry of Education relating to resolution of Shri N.R Malkani for promotion of Hindi”, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION_H4_1954_NA_F-8-33_54, PR_000003041946.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Anonymous
    Anonymous. June 1938 “Guide to Basic English By C. K. Ogden and I. A. Richards, The Times of India Press, Bombay. Pp. 171. Price Re. 1.”in ‘Reviews and Notices’, Prabuddha Bharata, ()
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Anonymous
    Anonymous. July 1938 “Basic English vs. Esperanto: Bombay Debate”. The Times of India: .
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Bayly, Christopher A.
    1994 “Returning the British to South Asian history: The limits of colonial hegemony”. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies ():–. 10.1080/00856409408723203
    https://doi.org/10.1080/00856409408723203 [Google Scholar]
  7. Bahadur, Nawab Kamal Yar Jung
    1939Report of the Kamal Yar Jung Education Committee. Central Secretariat Library: 377 970954 EDU-K, 1939. Published online: https://indianculture.gov.in/reports-proceedings/report-kamal-yar-jung-education-committee
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Bhattacharyya, Bipasha
    2024 “Hindujo and the Sindhwads: Belgian Esperantists on India”, Esperantologio / Esperanto Studies, Nova serio 5 (2024):–. 10.59718/ees86347
    https://doi.org/10.59718/ees86347 [Google Scholar]
  9. Bevir, Mark
    2003 “Theosophy and the Origins of the Indian National Congress”. International Journal of Hindu Studies, (). 10.1007/s11407‑003‑0005‑4
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11407-003-0005-4 [Google Scholar]
  10. Bhattacharya, Sabyasachi
    2013Vande Mataram: The Biography of a Song, New Delhi:Primus Books.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Brown, Judith
    1989Gandhi:Prisoner of Hope. Avon: Bath Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Caboclo, Evandro
    . June22nd 2010 “Mahatmo Gandhi (Akrostiko)” Esperanto. China, TPK kaj ĈPPIK: esperanto.china.org.cn/2010-06/22/content_22552140.htm
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Chatterji, Suniti Kumar
    1958Report of the Sanskrit Commission 1956–1957, Delhi: Government of India Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Chettiar, T. Adinarayana
    1904 “Esperanto: What Can it Do for India?” The Indian Review, (), –.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Das Gupta, Jyotirindra
    1970Language Conflict and National Development: Group Politics and National Language Policy in India. Berkeley: University of California Press. 10.1525/9780520377998
    https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520377998 [Google Scholar]
  16. Deklaro de Universala Esperanto-Asocio okaze de la Internacia Tago de Ne-perforto 2019, Informilo novembro 2019, Esperanto por UN, alirite la 19-an de novembro 2019 (Statement of the Universal Esperanto Association on the occasion of the International Day of Non-Violence 2019, Office of the Universal Esperanto Association at the United Nations).
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Desai, Magenbhai
    1957The Hindi Prachar Movement, Ahmedabad: Navjivan Publishing House.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Dua, Hans R.
    1993 ”The National Language and the Ex-Colonial Language as Rivals: The Case of India”. International Political Science Review / Revue internationale de science politique, (): –. 10.1177/019251219301400306
    https://doi.org/10.1177/019251219301400306 [Google Scholar]
  19. Eco, Umberto
    1997The Search for the Perfect Language. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Editorial Office, Libera Folio
    Editorial Office, Libera Folio, June30th 2007 ‘La sekva prezidanto volas reinventi UEA-n’, Libera Folio: https://www.liberafolio.org/arkivo/www.liberafolio.org/2007/probalintervjuo/
    [Google Scholar]
  21. ‘Esperanto language’ 2019–2024 Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society, Branch Siedlce: https://pttksiedlce.pl/en/about-us/esperanto-language/
  22. Forster, Peter G.
    1982The Esperanto Movement. The Hague: Mouton. 10.1515/9783110824568
    https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110824568 [Google Scholar]
  23. Freeman, Rich
    1998 “Cultural Ideologies of Language in Precolonial India: A Symposium”. The Journal of Asian Studies, ():–. 10.2307/2659021
    https://doi.org/10.2307/2659021 [Google Scholar]
  24. Gandhi, Kanhaiyalala L.
    1984The Problem of Official Language in India, New Delhi: Arya Book Depot.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Gandhi, Mohandas K.
    1922Speeches and Writings of Mahatma Gandhi with an Introduction by C.F Andrews, Madras: G.A Nateson and Co., Third Edition.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. 1924Young India 1919–1922. Triplicane: S.Ganeshan.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. 1942Our Language Problem, Karachi: A.T Hingorani.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. April21st 1946 “Roman Urdu”. Harijan, ():.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Garvía, Roberto
    2015Esperanto and its Rivals:The Struggle for an International Language. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. 10.9783/9780812291278
    https://doi.org/10.9783/9780812291278 [Google Scholar]
  30. Gavronsky, Serge
    1982 “Aimé Césaire and the Language of Politics”. The French Review, (): –.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Gordin, Michael D.
    2015Scientific Babel: How Science Was Done Before and After Global English. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 10.7208/chicago/9780226000329.001.0001
    https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226000329.001.0001 [Google Scholar]
  32. Gould, William
    2002 “Congress Radicals and Hindu Militancy: Sampurnanand and Purushottam Das Tandon in the Politics of the United Provinces, 1930–1947”. Modern Asian Studies, (): –. 10.1017/S0026749X02003049
    https://doi.org/10.1017/S0026749X02003049 [Google Scholar]
  33. Gregory, James
    2007Of Victorians and Vegetarians: The Vegetarian Movement in Nineteenth Century Britain. London: I.B Tauris & Co Ltd. 10.5040/9780755696147
    https://doi.org/10.5040/9780755696147 [Google Scholar]
  34. Guérard, Albert Léon
    1922A Short History of the International Language Movement, London: Fisher Unwin.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Gusain, Lakhan
    2012 “The Effectiveness of Establishing Hindi as a National Language”. Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, ():–.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Hancock, Mary
    1995 “Hindu culture for an Indian nation: gender, politics, and elite identity in urban south India”. American Ethnologist. (): –. 10.1525/ae.1995.22.4.02a00130
    https://doi.org/10.1525/ae.1995.22.4.02a00130 [Google Scholar]
  37. Hardiman, David
    2003Gandhi In His Times and Ours: The Global Legacy of His Ideas. New York: Columbia University Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Harris, Ruth
    2013 “Rolland, Gandhi and Madeleine Slade: Spiritual Politics, France and the Wider World”. French History():–. 10.1093/fh/crt048
    https://doi.org/10.1093/fh/crt048 [Google Scholar]
  39. Hasan, Mushirul
    (ed.) 1981Communal and Pan-Islamic Trends in Colonial India. New Delhi: Manohar.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Hay, Stephen
    1989 “The Making of a late Victorian Hindu: M.K. Gandhi in London, 1888–1891”, Victorian Studies, ().
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Heath, Roy, Senn, Alfred Erich
    1975 “Edmond Privat and the Commission of the East in 1918”. Journal of Baltic Studies():–. 10.1080/01629777500000411
    https://doi.org/10.1080/01629777500000411 [Google Scholar]
  42. Husain, Iliyas
    2017 “Countering Hindi Nationalism: Reflection on Political and Intellectual Responses Of Bengali to Hindi After Independence”. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, :–.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Hussain, Zakir
    1938Basic National Education: Report of the Zakir Husain Committee and the detailed syllabus with a foreword by Mahatma Gandhi, Wardha: Hindustani Talimi Sangh.
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Hutton, Christopher
    1999Linguistics and the Third Reich: Mother-tongue fascism, race and the science of language, Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Irschick, Eugene F.
    1986Tamil revivalism in the 1930s, Chennai: Cre-A.
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Iseke-Barnes, Judy M.
    2004 “Politics and Power of Languages: Indigenous Resistance to Colonizing Experiences of Language Dominance”. Journal of Thought, ():–.
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Jayadeva, Sazana
    2018 “Below English Line: An ethnographic exploration of class and the English language in post-liberalization India”. Modern Asian Studies. (), –. 10.1017/S0026749X16000639
    https://doi.org/10.1017/S0026749X16000639 [Google Scholar]
  48. Jn, S.
    1938 “Nova studplano por popolalernejo en Hindujo”. (New Curriculum for Public Schools in India). Internacia Pedagogia Revuo, :–
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Kailasapathy, Kanagasabapathy
    1979 “The Tamil Purist Movement: A Re-Evaluation”. Social Scientist, ():–. 10.2307/3516775
    https://doi.org/10.2307/3516775 [Google Scholar]
  50. Kamala, N.
    2000 “Gateway of India: Representing the Nation in English Translation” inSimon, Sherry. St. Pierre, Simon. (ed.) Changing the Terms: Translating in the Postcolonial Era, Ottawa:University of Ottawa Press. 10.2307/j.ctt1ckpcz7.16
    https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1ckpcz7.16 [Google Scholar]
  51. Karlander, David
    2024 “Up from Babel: On the (r)evolutionary linguistic thought of Eugène Lanti”. Language & Communication, –. 10.1016/j.langcom.2024.02.003
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2024.02.003 [Google Scholar]
  52. King, Christopher R.
    1999One Language Two Scripts: The Hindi Movement in Nineteenth Century North India, Bombay: Oxford University Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  53. Koerner, Konrad E. F.
    2000 “Ideology in 19th and 20th Century study of language: A neglected aspect of linguistic historiography”. Indogermanische Forschungen, :–.
    [Google Scholar]
  54. Kokeny, Lajos, Bleier, Vilmos
    1933Enciklopedio de Esperanto, Budapest: Unua Eldono.
    [Google Scholar]
  55. Konishi, Sho
    2013Anarchist Modernity: Cooperatism and Japanese-Russian Intellectual Relations in Modern Japan. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
    [Google Scholar]
  56. Laitin, David D.
    1989 “Language Policy and Political Strategy in India”. Policy Sciences(): –. 10.1007/BF00136326
    https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00136326 [Google Scholar]
  57. Large, Andrew
    1985The Artificial Language Movement. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
    [Google Scholar]
  58. Lelyveld, David
    1993 ”Colonial Knowledge and the Fate of Hindustani”. Comparative Studies in Society and History, (): –. 10.1017/S0010417500018661
    https://doi.org/10.1017/S0010417500018661 [Google Scholar]
  59. 2001 “Words as Deeds: Gandhi and Language”. Annual of Urdu Studies, –.
    [Google Scholar]
  60. Lins, Ulrich
    2017Dangerous Language. Vol. 1: Esperanto under Hitler and Stalin. London: Palgrave Macmillian. 10.1057/978‑1‑352‑00020‑7
    https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-352-00020-7 [Google Scholar]
  61. Mehta, P. J.
    1916 “Vernaculars as Media of Instruction in Indian Schools and Colleges”. Vedanta Kesari, (), –.
    [Google Scholar]
  62. Mir, Farina
    2010The Social Space of Language: Vernacular Culture in British Colonial Punjab, Berkeley: University of California Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  63. Mishra, Pritipushpa
    2020 Language and the Making of Modern India: Nationalism and the Vernacular in Colonial Odisha, –. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/9781108591263
    https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108591263 [Google Scholar]
  64. Mitchell, Lisa
    2009Language, Emotion, and Politics in South India: The Making of a Mother Tongue, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  65. Monastier, Hélène
    1946 Pierre Ceresole zum Gedächtnis!. Die Friedens-Warte, (),–.
    [Google Scholar]
  66. “Monsieur Privat”, Oral Answers to Questions on India, Commons Sitting of Monday
    “Monsieur Privat”, Oral Answers to Questions on India, Commons Sitting of Monday, 23rdMay 1932part 1 of 1, 20th Century House of Commons Hansard Sessional Papers, 1931–32, Fifth Series, Volume 266; Permalink : https://parlipapers.proquest.com/parli​papers/docview/t71.d76.cds5cv0266p0-0001?accountid=9851
  67. More, Jean-Baptiste Prashant
    1997Political Evolution of Muslims in Tamil Nadu and Madras 1930–1947, Delhi: Orient Blackswan.
    [Google Scholar]
  68. Nandy, Ashis [Google Scholar]
  69. Naregal, Veena
    1999 Colonial Bilingualism and Hierarchies of Language and Power: Making of a Vernacular Sphere in Western India. Economic and Political Weekly, (): –.
    [Google Scholar]
  70. 2001Language Politics, Elites, and the Public Sphere: Western India Under Colonialism, New Delhi: Permanent Black.
    [Google Scholar]
  71. Nayar, Baldev Raj
    1969National Communication and Language Policy in India, New York: F.A. Praeger.
    [Google Scholar]
  72. Nehru, Jawaharlal
    1938Eighteen Months in India 1936–1937, Allahabad: Kitabistan, Allahabad Law Journal Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  73. Neyazi, Ahmed Taberez
    2011 “Politics after vernacularisation: Hindi media and Indian democracy”. Economic and Political Weekly. (): –.
    [Google Scholar]
  74. O’Keeffe, Brigid
    2021Esperanto and Languages of Internationalism in Revolutionary Russia. London: Bloomsbury. 10.5040/9781350160682
    https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350160682 [Google Scholar]
  75. Orwell, George; Simcock, William
    trad. 31januaro 1998 “Konsideroj pri Gandhi,” La Gazeto, n-ro 74 (13a jaro, n-ro 2), pp.–: autodidactproject.org/other/orwell_gandhi_espo.html
  76. Oesterheld, Joachim
    2004 “Muslims and Primary Education in the Central Provinces and Berar (1920–1947)”. Oriente Moderno, ()():–. 10.1163/22138617‑08401015
    https://doi.org/10.1163/22138617-08401015 [Google Scholar]
  77. . 11thNovember 2006 “Muslim Response to the Educational Policy of the Central Provinces and Berar Government (1937–1939)”, Analysen: Geschichte & Religion – Südasien: www.suedasien.info/analysen/1460.html
  78. Pandian, M. S. S.
    1996 “Towards National-Popular: Notes on Self-Respecters’ Tamil”. Economic and Political Weekly, ()–.
    [Google Scholar]
  79. Pierre Ceresole: A Lifetime Serving Peace”, Bibliothèque de la Ville La Chaux-de-Fonds, Service Civil International
    Pierre Ceresole: A Lifetime Serving Peace”, Bibliothèque de la Ville La Chaux-de-Fonds, Service Civil International 2010: pp.–. Archived here: https://issuu.com/sciint/docs/pierre_ceresole_en
  80. Pinch, William
    1996Peasants and Monks in British India. Berkely: University of California Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  81. Pollen, John
    . July 1921 “Open Letter To Mr. M.K Gandhi”, The Asiatic ReviewVol.: –.
    [Google Scholar]
  82. Press Trust of India
    Press Trust of India. September14th 2019 “Amit Shah’s Statement “Smacks Of Attack On Diversity,” Says Left”, NDTV. Published online: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hindi-day-2019-amit-shah-statement-on-hindi-divas-2019-smacks-of-attack-on-diversity-says-cpi-2101020
  83. Privat, Edmond
    1967Vivo de Gandhi. La Laguna: J. Régulo.
    [Google Scholar]
  84. Rai, Alok
    2001Hindi Nationalism. Hyderabad: Orient Blackswan.
    [Google Scholar]
  85. Ramaswamy, Sumathi
    1997Passions of the Tongue: Language Devotion in Tamil India, 1891–1970, Berkeley: University of California Press. 10.1525/9780520918795
    https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520918795 [Google Scholar]
  86. Rahman, Tariq
    2011From Hindi to Urdu: A Social and Political History, Delhi: Orient Blackswan.
    [Google Scholar]
  87. Ranjan, Amit
    2021 Language as an Identity: Hindi–Non-Hindi Debates in India. Society and Culture in South Asia. (), –. 10.1177/23938617211014660
    https://doi.org/10.1177/23938617211014660 [Google Scholar]
  88. Rao, A. Giridhar
    2001–2020 Eksperimentoj kun la Vero aŭ La Aŭtobiografio De Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: agrao.50webs.com/gandhi/eksperimentoj/enhavoj.htm
  89. Roche, Gerald
    2019 “Articulating language oppression: colonialism, coloniality and the erasure of Tibet’s minority languages”. Patterns of Prejudice, (): –. 10.1080/0031322X.2019.1662074
    https://doi.org/10.1080/0031322X.2019.1662074 [Google Scholar]
  90. Rohden, Huberto, Pereira de Souza, Délio
    trad. 1972Mahatmo Gandhi : ideoj kaj idealoj de mistika politikisto. Rio de Janeiro: Associação esperantista.
    [Google Scholar]
  91. Rolland, Romain
    1920 (Eden and Cedar Paultranslated). The Forerunners. Harcourt, Brace and Howe.
    [Google Scholar]
  92. Roy Chaudhury, Pranab Chandra
    1976Edmond Privat: A Forgotten Friend of India, Ahmedabad: Navajivan Publishing House.
    [Google Scholar]
  93. Saini, Sachin
    . December12th 2021 “India a country of Hindus, not Hindutvavadis: Rahul Gandhi”Hindustan Times. Published online: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-a-country-of-hindus-not-hindutvavadis-rahul-gandhi-101639333504046.html
  94. Scalmer, Sean
    2011Gandhi in the West: The Mahatma and the Rise of Radical Protest. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9780511974168
    https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511974168 [Google Scholar]
  95. Scott, Christopher John
    2010 “Gandhi and the ‘struck-off’ Doctor, Thomas Richard Allinson (1858–1918)”. Journal of Medical Biography(). 10.1258/jmb.2009.009063
    https://doi.org/10.1258/jmb.2009.009063 [Google Scholar]
  96. Sengupta, Papia
    . 9thNovember 2019 “Hindi Imposition: Examining Gandhi’s Views on Common Language for India”. Economic and Political Weekly:Engage, () Published online: https://www.epw.in/engage/article/hindi-imposition-examining-gandhis-views-on-common-language
    [Google Scholar]
  97. Shastri, Jivram Kalidas.
    1953Letters on Ayurveda Volume II, Gondal: Rasashala Aushadhashram.
    [Google Scholar]
  98. Sindhwad, Erna Rieckmann
    . January 1930 “La Rakonto de miaj Spertoj pri Vero de M. K. Gandhi”. Flandra Esperantisto, 1a Jarkolekto, Numero: –: https://ia803001.us.archive.org/16/items/flandraesperantisto_1930_j01_n07_jan/flandraesperantisto_1930_j01_n07_jan.pdf
    [Google Scholar]
  99. 1933–1934 Hindujo, Uccle: Sindhwad: data.onb.ac.at/rec/AC04643477
  100. Sinha, Bipin K.
    1939 “The Wardha Education Scheme”. Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, (): –.
    [Google Scholar]
  101. Sinha, Lakshmiswar
    1952Education and Reconstruction. Bolpur: Santiniketan Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  102. 1966 Jaroj sur tero: Memoroj (My Years on Earth: Memories) Malmö: Eldona Societo Esperanto.
    [Google Scholar]
  103. Sridhar, Shikaripur Narayanarao
    1987 “Language variation, attitudes, and rivalry: The spread of Hindi in India” inLowenberg, Peter (ed.) Georgetown University Round Table on Languages and Linguistics:Proceedings, Washington D.C: Georgetown University Press, –.
    [Google Scholar]
  104. Tidrick, Kathryn
    2006Gandhi: A Political and Spiritual Life. London: I.B Tauris & Co. Ltd. 10.5040/9780755619498
    https://doi.org/10.5040/9780755619498 [Google Scholar]
  105. Wadlow, René
    1963Pierre Ceresole and Le Travail Cadeau. Genève-Afrique, Institut Africain de Genève, (),–.
    [Google Scholar]
  106. Watt, Carey Anthony
    2005Serving the nation: Cultures of Service, Association, and Citizenship. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195668025.001.0001
    https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195668025.001.0001 [Google Scholar]
  107. Zachariah, Benjamin
    2005Developing India: An Intellectual and Social History c.1930–1950. Delhi: Oxford University Press. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195670585.001.0001
    https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195670585.001.0001 [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/lplp.23047.bha
Loading
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error