Hindi is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 500 million speakers. It is the official language of India and is used in many other countries as well. The Hindi language has a rich history that goes back centuries. In this blog post, we will explore how old Hindi language is and how it has evolved over time.
The origins of Hindi can be traced back to the ancient Sanskrit language, which was spoken in India around 3000 BCE. Sanskrit was the language of the Vedas, the sacred texts of Hinduism, and was used for religious and philosophical texts. Over time, Sanskrit evolved into different dialects, including Prakrit, which was used for everyday communication.
Around the 7th century CE, a form of Prakrit known as Apabhramsha began to emerge, which eventually gave rise to Hindi. Apabhramsha was a mixture of Sanskrit and local dialects, and was used for poetry and literature. The earliest known Hindi text is the Prithviraj Raso, a medieval epic poem written in the 12th century.
During the Mughal period in India (1526-1857 CE), Persian became the court language, and Hindi was largely relegated to the common people. However, this period also saw the development of the Hindustani language, which was a mixture of Persian and Hindi. This language became popular among the masses and was used in literature, music, and theater.
In the 19th century, the British colonial government made English the official language of India, which led to a decline in the use of Hindi. However, the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century sparked a resurgence of interest in Hindi and the promotion of Hindi as the national language of India.
Today, Hindi is the fourth most spoken language in the world, after Mandarin, Spanish, and English. It is spoken not only in India but also in other countries such as Nepal, Mauritius, Fiji, and Trinidad and Tobago. Hindi has also influenced other languages, such as Urdu, which is a form of Hindustani that uses Persian script.
In conclusion, the Hindi language has a rich history that spans thousands of years. It evolved from Sanskrit and went through various stages of development, from Apabhramsha to Hindustani. Today, Hindi is a vibrant and widely spoken language that continues to evolve and influence other languages.