Mukund is correct. First of all Indian (written) Constitution has never mentioned that HINDI is an OFFICIAL language . In fact, it is widely spoken language in various parts of India. It's is true. Hindi is the mother tongue of about 20% people in India. But there some other major languages in India. They are Tamil,Telugu, Marathi,Bengali,etc.. Among them Tamil in the mother of Dravidian languages. It is the only classical language of India. Telugu is the second largest spoken language. Malayalm is the youngest language in India. Its is a Dravidian language. Malayalam is the pure version of Tamil and Sanskrit. So Tamil is the oldest language in India. Nearly 80 million peoples spoke Tamil.

Please allow me to correct above comment. First of all Indian (written) Constitution has never mentioned that HINDI is an OFFICIAL language and NATIONAL LANGUAGE. In fact, it is widely spoken language in various parts of India. It's is true. There are certain pockets wherein Hindi is just banned. I think the commentor has not visited all over India (otherwise He would have not made such statement)

Hindi is the mother tongue of about 20% people in India and the most poular of all the languages spoken in India. It was declared to be the national Indian language by the Constitution of India. English is the additional official language of India. Hindi and English are spoken and understood in most of the regions in India. Apart from Hindi and English, there are 18 regional languages of India.

Hi friend, I think it is Hindi it self, because my visiting to my parts of India I never encounter Indian who don't understand hindi.