When was the word Hindustani coined by the poet Mashafi?
The poet Mashafi coined the word Hindustani in the year 1780. This single word emerged from the muddy grounds of the Mughal army camps to define the identity of hundreds of millions of people.
Common questions about Hindustani language
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who wrote in the form of Hindavi that became the foundation of modern Hindustani?
Amir Khusrow, a celebrated poet and musician of the thirteenth century, wrote in what he called Hindavi. This form of the language eventually became the foundation of modern Hindustani during the rule of the Delhi Sultanate.
What year did the split between Hindi and Urdu become a deliberate political strategy?
The process of creating distinct Sanskritized and Persianized standards gained momentum around 1880. This split was a deliberate political strategy to displace Urdu's official position and assert a distinct Hindu identity.
Which year did Hindi and Urdu become the official languages of India and Pakistan respectively?
After independence in 1947, the term Hindustani lost its currency and the two standard forms were adopted as official languages. Hindi was declared the official language of the Union in India, while Urdu became the national language of Pakistan.
Where is the film industry of Bollywood located and what language does it use?
The film industry of Bollywood is located in Mumbai and uses a form of Hindustani that blends Standard Hindi, colloquial Hindustani, and Urdu. This cinematic language often called Hinglish has become a powerful force in shaping the identity of the language.