In the application form, write Urdu (not Hindi) as the mother tongue along with Islam as the religion

Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali’s appeal to Muslims regarding the census

If a Maulana can make such an appeal, it would not be incorrect for someone to appeal that Hindus write ‘Hindu’ as their religion and ‘Sanskrut’ as their mother tongue.

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) – Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali has appealed to Muslims that while filling out the census form, they should strictly write Islam in the column for religion; and in the column for mother tongue, they should write Urdu instead of Hindi.

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.

Reasons why Hindus should mention Sanskrut in the census 

Even though individuals may have different mother tongues, the Divine language Sanskrut is considered to be the foundation of Indian languages. Hindus use Sanskrut  in daily prayers, mantras, shlokas, and rituals. Sanskrut is regarded as the mother of many languages, and preserving it is our collective responsibility. According to the 2011 census, only about 2 lakh people in India reported Sanskrut 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

Revered as India’s premier classical, cultural, and liturgical language, Sanskrit is largely treated as a purely ceremonial language in daily life. It suffers from lack of functional utility, poor pedagogical methods in schools, limited career opportunities.