Hindi is not being accurately represented in Australian Census data because the question on language does not capture the multilingual reality of Indian-Australian households, according to community advocate Dr Subhash Sharma.
Sharma, the current president and a founding member of Hindi Shiksha Sangh Inc. Australia, has been organising Hindi literary activities for more than 25 years. He argues that many Australians of Indian background speak three or more languages, typically their mother tongue, Hindi and English, but Census figures may capture only one of those languages.
“The question in the form is not appropriate,” Sharma tells The Indian Sun. “Every Indian knows at least three languages — their mother tongue, Hindi and English. Almost all have a working knowledge of Hindi, but it is not recorded.”
The Australian Census asks people about the language they use at home other than English. Sharma believes this can produce an incomplete picture, particularly among migrant communities where several languages may be used regularly.
He points to Punjabi speakers as an example. A person may nominate Punjabi as the language spoken at home but also regularly speak and understand Hindi.
Whether at Indian community events, temples, watching films and sport, or listening to visiting Indian leaders, Hindi or Hindustani is often used as a common language between Indians from different linguistic backgrounds, he said.
The same applies to people who nominate Gujarati or another Indian language in the Census.
“You may write Gujarati as your home language, but the reality is that many people speak a mixture of Gujarati, Hindi and English,” Sharma said.
He also questions how the Census reflects households where partners have different linguistic backgrounds.
“A husband and wife may use two different languages. Why should one influence the other?” he said.
Sharma believes the issue has consequences beyond where Hindi sits on a list of Australia’s most commonly spoken languages.
Census information is widely used by governments and organisations to understand communities and plan services. If multilingual Australians cannot adequately record the languages they speak, he argues, governments may not have a complete picture when considering language services and resources.
Government agencies have previously pointed to Census responses as the basis for language statistics, leaving it to individuals to accurately report the language they use at home.
But Sharma argues that this is precisely the problem: people cannot provide a complete answer if the question itself allows only a limited picture of their language use.
He would like the Indian-Australian community to discuss the issue and reach a common position on how multilingual ability should be recognised.
The aim, he said, is not to diminish Punjabi, Gujarati or any of India’s many other languages, but to recognise that many people speak their mother tongue while also using Hindi as a common language.
He hopes community members will raise their concerns with the relevant Australian authorities and push for future Census questions to better reflect multilingual households.
“Hindi is the language that connects many languages,” Sharma said.
For him, the issue is less about Hindi competing with other Indian languages and more about whether Australia’s Census is keeping pace with the increasingly multilingual communities it is trying to measure.
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
