National Language - a Notional idea!

There is common misconception among most people in India about Hindi being the “National Language” of our country. The truth is, there is no National language of India.
After independence, the constituent assembly had chosen Hindi as the national language of India BUT, primarily because of opposition from non-Hindi speaking states, deferred the implementation of this decision for 15 years, to 26 January 1965. As January 26, 1965 neared, some in the non-Hindi belt, particularly the Tamils, started voicing their apprehensions openly. The idea of making Hindi the sole national language was blasphemous to the students as it involved the simultaneous and complete withdrawal of English, even as a medium for competitive examinations for jobs and education. Between 1948 and 1961, on an average, every year, close to 24% of Central government officials had been selected from the State of Madras (the present-day Tamil Nadu). Uttar Pradesh came second best; accounting for about 16%.The legislation if implemented would mean that Northern regions with their Hindi proficiency would dominate the government posts and also education. Since government jobs were the most lucrative positions before the 1991 liberalization, this was seen as an indirect means to usurp the English-educated South Indians of jobs by forcing them to learn Hindi. Matters came to a head in 1965 with large-scale protests and violent agitations. As a result of these protests, the government headed by Lal Bahadur Shastri decided against the use of Hindi as the sole official language of the government, and India has since continued a policy of conducting its business in English as well as in Hindi

On 11 February 1965, after the resignation of two Union ministers from madras, Lal Bahadur Shastri announced in All India Radio that he would fully honor Nehru's assurances that English would be used as long as people wanted. He also gave the following assurances.
“
Every state will have complete and unfetted freedom to continue to transact its own business in the language of its own choice. Which may be the regional language or English.
Communications between one State to another will either be in English or will be accompanied by authentic English translation.
The non-Hindi states will be free to correspond with the Central Government in English and no change will be made in this arrangement without the consent of the non-Hindi States.
In the transaction of business at the Central level English will continue to be used.
All India Civil Services examination would continue to be conducted in English rather than in Hindi alone.”
Part XVII of the Indian Constitution
As of Today, India has no legally defined national languages. Only 23 official languages as per the constitution. Subsequently, The UPSC exams can now be attempted in any of the 23 official languages.

Read up on your history to reaffirm this fact.The next time, you go around mocking south Indians, questioning their 'nationality' & lack of proficiency in the 'National Language'....think again! Its just a case of geographical barriers.