KellyeZimmermann at 03:34, 30 April 2026

2026-04-30T03:34:47Z

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{{Short description|Hindi as spoken in Pakistan}}
[[File:Pakistani Hindi.svg|thumb|right|"Pakistan's Hindi" written in both Urdu and Hindi.]]

[[Hindi|Modern Standard '''Hindi''']] is [[mutually intelligible]] with [[Urdu]], the national and official language of Pakistan. Both are [[Register (sociolinguistics)|standard registers]] of the [[Hindustani language]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1317851|title=Urdu and Hindi are one language, says expert|work=Dawn|date=2 March 2017|access-date=16 May 2017|first=Shazia|last=Hasan}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/542809/urdu-and-hindi-joined-by-the-umbilical-cord/|title=Urdu and Hindi: Joined by the umbilical cord|work=The Express Tribune|date=1 May 2013|access-date=16 May 2017|first=Vaqas|last=Asghar}}</ref> As a result of linguistic and cultural similarities, Hindi has had notable influences in Pakistan and is taught as an academic subject in some institutions; before the [[partition of India|partition of colonial India]], Hindi was taught at major universities in the [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|provinces]] that came to form Pakistan.<ref name="Shukla2017"/> While Hindi and Urdu both have a predominantly [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indic]] (Indo-Aryan) base, Hindi uses more [[Sanskrit]] (old Indic) words in its educated vocabulary while Urdu incorporates more [[Arabic]], [[Persian language|Persian]], and a few [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] (all non-Indic) words for the same. Most [[poetry]], [[ghazal]]s, [[Qawwali|qawalis]] & lyrics use many Urdu words.

==History==
Before the [[partition of British India]], Hindi was spoken in the region forming Pakistan by the [[Hindus]] and [[Sikhs]] residing there.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1159561|title=Century-old Golra Railway station now a site for museum goers|work=Dawn|date=10 April 2015|access-date=22 September 2015|first=Shiraz|last=Hassan}}</ref><ref name="Sinha"/> It was taught across school and university levels, mainly in [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]] and [[Sindh]],<ref name="Sinha2">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/learning-hindi-in-pakistan-165053.html|title=Learning Hindi in Pakistan|work=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]|date=15 September 2016|access-date=16 May 2017|first=R.K.|last=Sinha}}</ref> such as in [[Government College University, Lahore|Government College]], [[Forman Christian College]], [[Government Dayal Singh College, Lahore|Dyal Singh College]], and [[Karachi University]].<ref name="Shukla2017">{{cite web |last1=Shukla |first1=Vivek |title=Hindi, the Enemy's Language, is Being Slowly Revived in Pakistan |url=https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/hindi-being-revived-in-pakistan |work=[[The Quint]] |access-date=6 August 2020 |date=14 September 2017}}</ref> At [[Oriental College, Lahore|Oriental College]], research departments in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi were founded in 1928, though Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and [[Pashto]] were studied there since its founding in 1870.<ref name="Mirza2018">{{cite web |last1=Mirza |first1=Sehyr |title=Past Haunts the Present in Pakistan's Only Hindi Department |url=https://thewire.in/south-asia/past-haunts-the-present-in-pakistans-only-hindi-department |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |access-date=6 August 2020 |date=16 March 2018}}</ref>

The Hindi Pracharini Sabha regularly organized debates in Hindi in major cities of the Punjab, such as [[Lahore]], [[Sargodha]], and Rawalpindi.<ref name="Shukla2017"/>

After the partition of colonial India, most of these communities left for what became independent India; prominent Hindi writers with origins in Pakistan include [[Bhisham Sahni]], [[Shailendra (lyricist)|Shailendra]], [[Hullad Moradabadi]], [[Uday Bhanu Hans]], [[Narendra Mohan (poet)|Narendra Mohan]] and others.<ref name="Sinha2"/> Conversely, some first-generation Pakistanis who [[Muhajir (Urdu-speaking people)|migrated from India]] during Pakistan's independence in 1947 were familiar with Hindi and the [[Devanagari script]].<ref name="DNA2"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1039277/language-has-no-religion-pakistani-lawyer-fuses-urdu-hindi-in-calligraphy/|title='Language has no religion': Pakistani lawyer fuses Urdu, Hindi in calligraphy|work=The Express Tribune|date=3 February 2016|access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref>

Urdu was long associated with the Muslims of the subcontinent by virtue of its historical development and the [[Urdu movement]]. During the [[Pakistan Movement]], it was given preference over Hindi as their [[lingua franca]] and thus achieved official status in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1243652|title=Is Pakistan's problem Urdu?|work=Dawn|date=5 March 2016|access-date=20 May 2017|first=Pervez|last=Hoodbhoy|author-link=Pervez Hoodbhoy}}</ref>

==Academic study==
Hindi has drawn increasing focus as an academic subject.<ref name="DNA2">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-hindi-finds-more-and-more-takers-in-pakistan-2125555|title=Hindi finds more and more takers in Pakistan|work=DNA India|date=16 September 2015|access-date=22 September 2015|first=Rohinee|last=Singh}}</ref> There is a growing trend of Hindi experts and the availability of texts in Pakistan.<ref name="DNA2"/> Many Hindi instructors migrated from India, or were educated at Indian universities.<ref name="Sinha"/>

The Department of Hindi at the [[National University of Modern Languages]] (NUML) in [[Islamabad]] was established in 1973. It became the first university department in Pakistan to provide certificates, diplomas, language courses, Masters and PhD degrees in Hindi,<ref name="NUML"/> including the country's first Hindi [[MPhil]] degree.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/31-Aug-2015/numl-awards-country-s-first-ever-mphil-degree-in-hindi|title=NUML awards country's first ever MPhil degree in Hindi|work=Daily Times|date=31 August 2015|access-date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/in-a-first-pak-varsity-awards-mphil-in-hindi/127064.html|title=In a first, Pak varsity awards MPhil in Hindi|work=Tribune India|date=1 September 2015|access-date=22 September 2015}}</ref> It has provided instruction to Pakistani as well as foreign students.<ref name="NUML">{{cite web|url=http://www.numl.info/hindi.aspx|title=Department of Hindi|work=National University of Modern Languages|access-date=21 September 2015|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906094334/http://www.numl.info/hindi.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Sinha">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/oped/the-charm-of-hindi-in-pakistan.html|title=The charm of Hindi in Pakistan|work=[[The Pioneer (India)|The Pioneer]]|date=14 September 2016|access-date=16 May 2017|first=R.K.|last=Sinha|author-link=Ravindra Kishore Sinha|quote=...For the last many years, a large number of Chinese are taking lessons in Hindi in Pakistan. Not only the Chinese, many officials of Islamic countries, including the United Arab Emirates, too are learning Hindi in Pakistan. That Pakistan is emerging as a seat of Hindi learning and teaching is a revelation.|archive-date=28 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728115828/http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/oped/the-charm-of-hindi-in-pakistan.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Hindi Department at the [[University of the Punjab]] in Lahore has roots going back to the establishment of the [[Oriental College, Lahore|Oriental College]]; however, it wasn't until 1983 that accredited courses were started. The department awards both undergraduate and postgraduate Hindi courses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pu.edu.pk/home/department/28/Department-of-Hindi |title=Hindi Department |work=University of the Punjab |access-date=21 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315213503/http://pu.edu.pk/home/department/28/Department-of-Hindi |archive-date=March 15, 2015 }}</ref> At the University of Punjab's Centre for South Asian Studies, Hindi is a mandatory subject for those pursuing an MPhil in regional languages.<ref name="DNA2"/>

The [[University of Karachi]] also once had a Hindi department, which was later closed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/902570/cross-border-relations-we-are-fighting-the-same-battle-for-human-rights/|title=Cross-border relations: 'We are fighting the same battle for human rights'|work=The Express Tribune|date=12 June 2015|access-date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

==Cultural influence==
As a result of [[Bollywood]] films, [[Indian soap opera]] viewership and cable television in Pakistan, Hindi has had a notable cultural influence.<ref name="DNA2"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1175370|title=Did you know? Sarwat Gillani is learning Hindi for her next drama|work=Dawn Images|date=19 May 2016|access-date=20 May 2017}}</ref> Several Hindi words have entered the casual Pakistani lexicon, such as vishwas ("trust"),<ref name="ET">{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/438587/vishvas-a-word-that-threatens-pakistan/|title='Vishwas': A word that threatens Pakistan|work=The Express Tribune|date=18 September 2012|access-date=22 September 2015}}</ref> ''ashirvad'' ("blessing"), ''charcha'' ("talk"), ''pati-patni'' ("husband-wife"), ''bina'' ("without"), ''shanti'' ("peace"), ''sambandh'' ("relations") and other popular phrases.<ref name="DNA">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-in-pakistan-hindi-flows-smoothly-into-urdu-1619245|title=In Pakistan, Hindi flows smoothly into Urdu|work=DNA India|date=30 November 2011|access-date=21 September 2015|first=Surendra|last=Gangan}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/kids-have-it-right-boundaries-of-urdu-and-hindi-are-blurred-579088.html|title=Kids have it right: boundaries of Urdu and Hindi are blurred|work=First Post|date=6 January 2013|access-date=22 September 2015|first=Aakar|last=Patel}}</ref><ref name="Sinha"/> The advent of internet and [[social media]] has accelerated such exchanges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wikinut.com/hindi-wikipedia-an-encyclopedia-bridging-new-bonds-of-friendship-across-borders/7zmqsyj9/j7zxnu_3/|title=Hindi Wikipedia – An Encyclopedia Bridging New Bonds of Friendship Across Borders|work=WikiNut|first=Syed|last=Muzammiluddin|date=27 May 2014|access-date=16 May 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140529085727/http://www.wikinut.com/hindi-wikipedia-an-encyclopedia-bridging-new-bonds-of-friendship-across-borders/7zmqsyj9/j7zxnu_3/|archive-date=29 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="Sinha"/>

The screening of Hindi films in Pakistani cinemas, which was restricted for nearly four decades, has resumed over the last few years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/649997/hindi-films-should-be-blocked-in-pakistan/|title=Hindi films should be blocked in Pakistan|work=The Express Tribune|date=24 December 2013|access-date=16 May 2017|first=Garga|last=Chatterjee}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1078424|title=Indian films still rule|work=Dawn|date=5 June 2014|access-date=20 May 2017|first=Asha'ar|last=Rehman}}</ref> Much of the dialogues, themes and script-writing used in Hindi films are influenced by Urdu, therefore capturing familiarity with Pakistani audiences.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1174461|title=Om Puri in Pakistan — 'Indian majority holds no grudge against Pakistanis'|work=Dawn|date=18 December 2015|access-date=20 May 2017}}</ref> Furthermore, several actors in the Hindi film industry have roots in present Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/809335/bollywood-finds-roots-in-peshawar/|title=Bollywood finds roots in Peshawar|work=The Express Tribune|date=19 December 2014|access-date=20 May 2017}}</ref> [[Music of Bollywood|Hindi music]] from Bollywood remains popular and shares similarities with [[Music of Pakistan|Pakistani music]]. This has enabled several Indian artists to contribute to [[Lollywood|Pakistani film]] soundtracks and vice versa.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyo.in/arts/india-pakistan-bollywood-film-music-lollywood/story/1/16474.html|title=From Pink to Bin Roye, why India, Pakistan can't Partition Hindi film music|work=Dailyo.in|first=Ajay|last=Mankotia|date=1 April 2017|access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref>

Research in [[Sahiwal]] found that over 60% of children in Pakistan watch Hindi-language cartoons, being "very much fond of watching Hindi cartoon series named: [[Chota Bheem]] – originally Hindi cartoons & Doraemon – Japanese Cartoons but Dubbed in Hindi."<ref name="AzizShah2017">{{cite journal |last1=Aziz |first1=Hulba |last2=Shah |first2=Syed Kazim |title=The Effect of Hindi Animated Cartoons Causing the Language Change in Pakistani Children – A Socio-Cultural Approach of Ideology |journal=Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society |date=2017 |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=60, 62–63 }}</ref> The study found that students widely used what the researchers considered to be uniquely Hindi words over uniquely Urdu words in their spoken language with the following results: Bloom Field Hall School (58%), Beacon House School (55%), DPS Sahiwal (65%), The Educators Sahiwal (80%), The Spirit School Sahiwal (70%), Allied School Sahiwal (72%).<ref name="AzizShah2017"/>

Some commentators view these tendencies as an example of globalisation and [[soft power]], while others have described it as a silent cultural invasion or a reignition of the [[Hindi-Urdu controversy]].<ref name="DNA"/><ref name="ET"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-9-129727-A-silent-invasion|title=A silent invasion|work=The News|date=3 September 2012|access-date=22 September 2015|first=Asif|last=Ezdi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/01/23/city/lahore/%E2%80%98my-children-speak-hindi-what-do-i-do%E2%80%99/|title='My children speak Hindi, what do I do?'|work=Pakistan Today|date=23 January 2012|access-date=22 September 2015|first=Ali|last=Tahir}}</ref> In January 2017, the [[Provincial Assembly of the Punjab|Punjab provincial assembly]] passed a resolution demanding a ban on television cartoons containing Hindi dubbing, and called for their replacement with Urdu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/372142-Punjab-Assembly-approves-ban-on-cartoons-with-Hind|title=Punjab Assembly approves ban on cartoons with Hindi dubbing|work=Dunya News|date=26 January 2017|access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref> For some Pakistanis, knowing Hindi provides an opportunity to follow [[Hindi media]] and develop a cultural understanding of neighboring India, while for others it is an individual interest.<ref name="DNA2"/> In 2015, an Urdu–Hindi cookbook described as the "first of its kind" was published in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/909288/zaiqay-frontier-kay-cookbook-in-urdu-and-hindi-attempts-to-bring-pakistan-and-india-closer/|title=Zaiqay Frontier Kay: Cookbook in Urdu and Hindi attempts to bring Pakistan and India closer|work=The Express Tribune|date=25 June 2015|access-date=16 May 2017|first=Munnazzah|last=Raza}}</ref> At Lahore's [[Information Technology University]], the Data Science Lab created an application called the Urdu-Hindi Dictionary which translates words written in Roman transliteration to their selected language.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1299616|title=Data Science Lab in Pakistan makes Urdu-Hindi Dictionary|work=Dawn|date=5 December 2016|access-date=20 May 2017|first=Mahrukh|last=Sarwar}}</ref>

Some [[Hinduism in Pakistan|Pakistani Hindus]] learn Hindi in order to study [[Hindu texts]].<ref name="Sinha2"/> Hindi is also spoken amongst the small [[Indians in Pakistan|Indian community in Pakistan]]. The [[High Commission of India, Islamabad|Indian High Commission]] in Islamabad operated a Hindi school which gave classes to the children of expatriates.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/an-indian-student-in-pakistan/220700|title=An Indian Student In Pakistan|work=Outlook India|date=10 July 2003|access-date=22 September 2015|first=Aniket|last=Ghanashyam|quote=There was a Hindi school in the Indian High Commission so that when the children come back to India they won't have too much trouble communicating with the people here.}}</ref>

==Official use==
At the [[Wagah]] border crossing in Lahore, signboards contain Hindi markings alongside Urdu/[[Shahmukhi]] and English to facilitate Indian travelers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/524806/facilitating-visitors-hindi-markings-on-signs-appear-at-wagah-border-crossing/|title=Facilitating visitors: Hindi markings on signs appear at Wagah border crossing|work=The Express Tribune|date=22 March 2013|access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref> The [[Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation]] operates a Hindi radio service.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/41954|title=KARACHI: PBC to launch Hindi service, says Nisar|work=Dawn|date=10 June 2002|access-date=20 May 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Language|Pakistan}}
* [[Samrup Rachna]]
* [[History of Hindustani]]
* [[Hindi-Urdu controversy]]
* [[Urdu movement]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|first=Christine|last=Everaert|title=Tracing the Boundaries Between Hindi and Urdu: Lost and Added in Translation Between 20th Century Short Stories|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LqZ-6QRKc7wC|year=2010|publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]]|isbn=978-90-04-17731-4}}

{{Hindi topics}}
{{Languages of Pakistan}}

[[Category:Hindi]]
[[Category:India–Pakistan relations]]
[[Category:Languages of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Languages of the Indian diaspora]]

Hindi in Pakistan - Revision history

KellyeZimmermann at 03:34, 30 April 2026