Write ‘Islam’ as religion and ‘Urdu’ as mother tongue instead of Hindi in the form !

Maulana Khalid Rashid Phirangi Mahali appeals to Muslims regarding the census

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) – “While filling out the census form, one should write only ‘Islam’ in the column for religion. Similarly, in the column for mother tongue, one should write ‘Urdu’ instead of Hindi”. –  The above appeal was made by Maulana Khalid Rashid Phirangi Mahali.

According to him, people often write Hindi by default; however, it is essential to record one’s identity accurately. Government policies are formulated based on such data, and therefore, clear and precise information helps in planning and implementation.

Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali has urged Muslims to mark “Islam” as religion and “Urdu” as mother tongue in census forms.

If such appeals are being made, is it unreasonable to expect Hindus to assert their identity too, by writing “Hindu” as religion and “Sanskrit” as… pic.twitter.com/OI1jGPr108

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) April 13, 2026

Hindus should mention ‘Sanskrit’ in the census for the following reason –

Even though individuals may have different mother tongues, Sanskrit is considered the foundational language of Indian languages. Hindus use Sanskrit in daily prayers, mantras, shlokas, and rituals. Sanskrit is regarded as the mother of many languages, and preserving it is a collective responsibility. According to the 2011 census, only about 2 lakh people in India reported Sanskrit as their language. In contrast, significantly larger numbers reported languages such as Arabic, Persian, or Urdu, which also receive government support through grants.

Editorial Perspective

If such an appeal is being made, then if someone suggests that Hindus should write ‘Hindu’ as their religion and ‘Sanskrit’ as their mother tongue, it should not be considered wrong.