21st Amendment of Indian Constitution

The 21st Amendment was not just about adding another language to the Constitution. It was about addressing a very specific historical and cultural nee

21st Amendment of the Indian Constitution

The Constitution of India is one of the most comprehensive in the world. It not only provides a framework for governance but also protects the cultural and linguistic diversity of the country. From the very beginning, the framers of the Constitution were conscious of India’s multi-lingual character. They knew that language plays a central role in shaping identity, community, and even politics.

Over time, as linguistic demands grew, the Constitution was amended several times to include new languages in the Eighth Schedule. One such amendment was the Twenty-first Amendment of 1967, which gave Sindhi language official recognition.

This amendment might appear small compared to other major amendments affecting fundamental rights, elections, or the judiciary. However, its cultural and symbolic importance is enormous. It represented India’s acknowledgment of the Sindhi community, a group that lost its homeland during Partition and resettled in India. The amendment ensured that their language and heritage would be preserved and respected at the national level.

In this blog, we will explore the 21st Amendment in detail—its historical background, the reasons behind it, the process of its passage, its contents, impact, criticisms, and lasting relevance.

Point	Details
Amendment	21st Amendment of the Constitution (1967)
Date of Assent	10 April 1967
Main Provision	Added Sindhi to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution
Languages Before	14 languages in the Eighth Schedule
Languages After	15 languages (Sindhi added)
Reason for Inclusion	To recognize Sindhi language and preserve identity of the Sindhi community displaced after Partition
Cultural Impact	Boosted Sindhi literature, poetry, folk culture and gave it national recognition
Social Impact	Restored pride to Sindhi community; ensured inclusiveness despite lack of a territorial state
Political Impact	Set precedent for recognizing languages without state backing (later helped Konkani, Nepali, Manipuri etc.)
Criticism	Encouraged demands from many other language groups, lacked state base, benefits seen as symbolic rather than practical
Today’s Relevance	Part of 22 scheduled languages today; reminder of India’s unity in diversity and protection of minority identities

Table: Key highlights of the 21st Amendment of the Indian Constitution (1967).

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Background: The Linguistic Diversity of India

India is often described as a subcontinent of languages. From the Himalayas to the coastal plains, and from the deserts to the northeast hills, almost every region of India has its own language or dialect. Language in India is not just a means of communication; it is tied closely to identity, culture, and heritage. People often take pride in their mother tongue as a symbol of who they are and where they come from.

When the makers of the Constitution began their work, they faced a big challenge: how many languages should be recognized at the national level? If they recognized too few, it could alienate communities. 

If they recognized too many, it might complicate governance. After much debate, the framers settled on 14 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 1950. These were: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya (now Odia), Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.

The Eighth Schedule was not meant to declare any language as the “national language” of India. Instead, it gave them official recognition for use in competitive examinations, cultural promotion, and government-supported development. Over time, however, more communities began to demand that their languages be added.

One such community was the Sindhi-speaking population. Unlike other groups, Sindhis did not have a specific state or region in India after Partition in 1947, since Sindh became part of Pakistan. Despite this, Sindhi remained a vibrant language with a rich tradition of poetry, prose, and folk literature. The Sindhi community strongly felt that their language deserved the same recognition as others in the Eighth Schedule.

Thus, the background of the 21st Amendment lies in India’s commitment to preserving its linguistic diversity while ensuring that even communities without a state of their own, like the Sindhis, would not lose their cultural identity.

The Case of Sindhi

Sindhi was not included in the original Eighth Schedule. This was mainly because:

1. After Partition, Sindh became part of Pakistan.

2. The Sindhi-speaking people migrated to India as refugees and were scattered across different states rather than concentrated in one region.

3. Since they did not have a specific state of their own, their language was not tied to a “linguistic state” like Tamil, Telugu, or Kannada.

However, the Sindhi community in India continued to demand constitutional recognition for their language. For them, this was not only about cultural pride but also about survival of their linguistic identity in a country where they were numerically small and geographically scattered.

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Why the 21st Amendment Was Needed

The 21st Amendment was not just about adding another language to the Constitution. It was about addressing a very specific historical and cultural need that arose after the Partition of India in 1947. To understand this, we must look at the unique position of the Sindhi community in independent India.

The Sindhi Community after Partition

When British India was divided, the province of Sindh went to Pakistan. As a result, lakhs of Sindhi-speaking Hindus and other minorities were forced to migrate to India. Unlike Punjabis, Bengalis, or Tamils who could still find a state in India where their language dominated, the Sindhi community was left without a territorial homeland. They became a scattered linguistic group, settling in states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi.

Although they rebuilt their lives with great resilience, there was a real fear that the Sindhi language might gradually fade away. Without a state of their own, and without constitutional recognition, Sindhi could easily have been overshadowed by the dominant languages of the states where Sindhis settled.

The Demand for Recognition

By the early 1960s, Sindhi writers, poets, and community leaders began demanding that their language be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. They argued:

• Sindhi has a rich literary and cultural tradition, with centuries of history in poetry, Sufi music, and storytelling.

• Other languages were recognized mainly because they had a state backing them, but a language’s worth should not depend only on geography.

• Constitutional recognition would ensure that Sindhi could be used in competitive exams, official publications, and education.

The recognition of Sindhi was also about justice and inclusiveness. The community had already suffered the trauma of losing their homeland during Partition. Denying their language recognition would have been like erasing a part of their identity.

By adding Sindhi to the Eighth Schedule, the government sent a powerful message that India belongs to all its people, whether or not they have a state to represent their language. It was an assurance that cultural heritage would be respected and preserved, even under difficult circumstances.

Thus, the 21st Amendment became a way to protect linguistic rights, cultural dignity, and national unity through diversity.

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The 21st Amendment: What It Did

The Constitution (Twenty-first Amendment) Act, 1967 was simple in its wording but profound in its impact. Unlike many other amendments that make changes across several articles, this amendment made a single but significant change: it added Sindhi to the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

• Official Name: Constitution (Twenty-first Amendment) Act, 1967.

• Main Provision: Added Sindhi to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

• Result: The number of recognized languages increased from 14 to 15.

That’s all the amendment technically did. But the cultural, social, and political meaning of this change went far beyond a single line in the Constitution.

Main Provision

The Eighth Schedule originally contained 14 languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya (Odia), Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. The 21st Amendment added Sindhi as the 15th language. This meant that Sindhi now enjoyed the same constitutional recognition as the other listed languages.

What This Recognition Meant

1. Cultural Protection – With constitutional status, Sindhi literature and culture received government support. Institutions, academies, and cultural organizations could now promote Sindhi with official backing.

2. Educational Value – Books, study materials, and school curricula could be developed in Sindhi. The language could also be promoted through universities and recognized in competitive exams.

3. Administrative Benefits – Languages listed in the Eighth Schedule are eligible for use in Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams and other government examinations. This gave Sindhi-speaking students a fair chance to compete in their own language.

4. National Recognition – The amendment acknowledged Sindhi as an integral part of India’s linguistic family, equal in dignity to the other scheduled languages.

Beyond practical benefits, the amendment had deep symbolic meaning. It was a reassurance to the Sindhi community that their language and identity were valued by the nation. Even though they had no state of their own, they would not be forgotten in the constitutional framework. It reinforced India’s principle of unity in diversity, where all cultures and languages have a respected place.

By passing the 21st Amendment, India set a precedent: a language does not need to be tied to a state to gain constitutional recognition. This inclusiveness became important in later years as more languages, such as Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali, were added through subsequent amendments.

In short, the 21st Amendment ensured that Sindhi was not just a language spoken by a displaced community but a recognized constitutional language of India, preserving it for future generations.

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Process of Passing the Amendment

• The amendment was introduced in Parliament in 1967.

• It went through normal constitutional procedures under Article 368, requiring passage by a majority of both Houses of Parliament.

• Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha approved it without much controversy, as there was widespread support for recognizing Sindhi.

• The amendment received the President’s assent on 10 April 1967.

• It came into effect immediately, making Sindhi the 15th official language listed in the Eighth Schedule.

Impact of the 21st Amendment

The 21st Amendment of the Indian Constitution may look modest at first glance—it added just one language, Sindhi, to the Eighth Schedule. But the consequences of this step were far-reaching, both for the Sindhi community and for the broader idea of linguistic recognition in India.

Cultural Impact

The amendment gave the Sindhi language national recognition. Before 1967, Sindhi was widely spoken among the community but lacked official status. With constitutional backing, the language was given a fresh platform to grow and thrive. Government institutions began supporting Sindhi literature, folk songs, poetry, and cultural events. This helped preserve the rich heritage of Sindhi, which might otherwise have faced decline after Partition, when the community was uprooted from its homeland.

Social Impact

For the Sindhi-speaking people, the amendment was a matter of pride and dignity. It reassured them that despite being scattered across states and lacking a territorial base, their language and identity had a place in the Indian Constitution. This was vital for their sense of belonging in post-Partition India. It also promoted inclusiveness by showing that every linguistic group, regardless of size or geography, could be valued in the nation.

Political and Administrative Impact

The 21st Amendment set a precedent in India’s language policy. Until then, most languages recognized in the Eighth Schedule were associated with states formed on linguistic lines. By recognizing Sindhi, the Constitution declared that a language need not have a state of its own to deserve recognition. This opened the door for later inclusions, such as Konkani, Nepali, Manipuri, and others. On the administrative front, Sindhi speakers could now use their language in government competitive exams like the UPSC, giving them equal opportunities with speakers of other scheduled languages.

National Unity

Perhaps the greatest impact was on the idea of national unity through diversity. By embracing Sindhi, India showed that the strength of the nation lay not in uniformity but in respecting and celebrating differences. The amendment became a symbol of India’s inclusive spirit, reassuring minorities that their culture was safe under the umbrella of the Constitution.

In short, the 21st Amendment not only preserved a language but also strengthened India’s democratic promise of equality and inclusiveness.

Criticism of the 21st Amendment

While the 21st Amendment was widely welcomed, especially by the Sindhi community, it was not entirely free from criticism. Some scholars, policymakers, and political leaders raised concerns about the long-term consequences of expanding the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Their criticisms can be grouped under a few key points.

1. The Problem of Endless Demands

One of the strongest criticisms was that recognizing Sindhi, a language without a territorial base, would open the floodgates for similar demands from other linguistic groups. India is home to hundreds of languages and dialects, many of them spoken by smaller communities. If every group demanded inclusion in the Eighth Schedule, it could make the Constitution unwieldy and complicate governance. Critics argued that the government should have a clear policy on which languages qualify for constitutional recognition.

2. No State to Support the Language

Another concern was that Sindhi had no state where it was the majority language. Unlike Tamil, Telugu, or Bengali, which were tied to linguistic states, Sindhi speakers were scattered across India. Critics felt that official recognition without a state framework would not lead to much practical development of the language. They argued that constitutional status might remain more symbolic than functional.

3. Risk of Political Pressure

The amendment was also criticized for setting a precedent where language recognition could become a political tool. Communities might pressure governments for inclusion, not necessarily for cultural preservation but for prestige or political bargaining. This could weaken the principle of carefully balancing inclusiveness with administrative practicality.

4. Limited Real Benefits

Some argued that while Sindhi was given constitutional recognition, it did not automatically guarantee better funding, schools, or official use in administration. In many parts of India, Sindhi-speaking children still had to study in other languages. Thus, critics felt the amendment was more of a symbolic gesture rather than a real change in people’s lives.

Despite these criticisms, most agreed that the emotional and cultural value of recognizing Sindhi outweighed the drawbacks. The amendment reassured a displaced community and strengthened India’s image as a country that respects diversity. Yet, the debates highlighted the need for a clear policy on linguistic recognition to prevent misuse and to ensure that recognition leads to genuine development.

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Today’s Relevance

The 21st Amendment still holds great relevance today. India now recognizes 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule, but the inclusion of Sindhi in 1967 was a turning point. It showed that linguistic recognition is not limited by geography. A community without a state of its own could still find a place in the Constitution.

In modern times, as debates about language policies, regional identities, and cultural preservation continue, the 21st Amendment reminds us of the importance of balancing national unity with respect for linguistic diversity. It also highlights the need for government initiatives to not just recognize but actively promote minority languages through education, literature, and media.

For the Sindhi community, the amendment remains a symbol of dignity. For the rest of India, it is a lesson in inclusiveness and cultural sensitivity.

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Conclusion

The Twenty-first Amendment of the Constitution of India may look small on paper—it only added one word, “Sindhi,” to the Eighth Schedule. But its meaning was much bigger. It was about recognizing the rights and identity of a community that had lost its homeland but not its language. It was about telling the Sindhi people that they belonged to India, and their culture and language would be preserved.

The amendment also shaped the way India deals with linguistic diversity. It set the precedent that any language with cultural significance and a dedicated community of speakers could aspire for constitutional recognition, even without a territorial base. This has since shaped debates on adding more languages to the Eighth Schedule.

In a country as diverse as India, such steps are crucial. They strengthen national unity not by forcing uniformity but by respecting differences. The 21st Amendment remains a milestone in India’s journey of building an inclusive and culturally rich nation, where every language and community has a voice under the umbrella of the Constitution.