Second-most Spoken Language in India: Language is the heartbeat of human connection. There are more than 7,100 languages spoken worldwide. Tamil and Sanskrit are among the oldest, while newer languages like Esperanto were created artificially. Looking at the most diverse country in the world, India stands out with 22 official languages and 121 major ones. Hindi is the most spoken, but do you know which language comes next? In this article, let's explore the history and cultural importance of that language.
Which Is The Most Spoken Language In India After Hindi?
Bengali is the second-most-spoken language in India, with about 9.72 crore speakers, accounting for 8.03% of the population according to the 2011 Census. Most people speak it in West Bengal and Tripura, where it has strong historical and cultural roots. Outside India, Bengali is the national language of Bangladesh. It is part of the Indo-Aryan language family and developed from Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit.
Bengali is often praised for its sweet sound and was the first Indian language to earn a Nobel Prize in Literature, thanks to Rabindranath Tagore. Its script is derived from Brahmi and is the fifth-most widely used writing system in the world, indicating its wide influence.
5 Lesser-Known Facts About Bengali
- It is the 7th most spoken language in the world, with over 230 million speakers worldwide (native and non-native).
- Linguistically, Bengali is often cited as one of the "sweetest" languages because it is non-tonal and features many "O" sounds (rounded vowels), making it sound melodic to the human ear.
- UNESCO declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day to honour the 1952 Bengali Language Movement.
- Outside of India and Bangladesh, Bengali is the most spoken immigrant language in many parts of the United Kingdom (like Tower Hamlets).
- While its core is Sanskrit-based (Tatsama), about 5% to 8% of modern Bengali vocabulary consists of Persian, Arabic, and Turkish loanwords.
- In a unique diplomatic gesture, Sierra Leone designated Bengali as an honorary official language in 2002 to thank Indian peacekeepers for their support during the country's civil war.
Top 7 Most Spoken Languages In India (After Hindi)
Here is the list of the top 7 most spoken languages in India based on the Census of India 2011, which remains the most credible official source.
| Rank | Language | Native Speakers (Mother Tongue) | Total Speakers (Incl. L2/L3) | Main Regions (India) | Global Presence |
| 1 | Bengali | 9.72 Crore | 10.72 Crore | West Bengal, Tripura, Assam | Bangladesh, the UK, the USA, and Saudi Arabia |
| 2 | Marathi | 8.30 Crore | 9.90 Crore | Maharashtra, Goa | Israel, Mauritius, USA |
| 3 | Telugu | 8.11 Crore | 9.41 Crore | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana | USA (fastest growing), Malaysia |
| 4 | Tamil | 6.90 Crore | 7.70 Crore | Tamil Nadu, Puducherry | Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia |
| 5 | Gujarati | 5.54 Crore | 6.00 Crore | Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli | UK, USA, Kenya, Canada |
| 6 | Urdu | 5.07 Crore | 6.30 Crore | UP, Bihar, Telangana, Delhi | Pakistan, UAE, UK |
| 7 | Kannada | 4.37 Crore | 5.90 Crore | Karnataka | USA, Australia, Singapore |
Conclusion
Bengali is the second-most spoken language in India and is the main language for more than 97 million people. Its importance comes not only from the number of speakers but also from its strong cultural heritage. Bengali is also the seventh most spoken language in the world, linking India to the global community, especially through its ties with Bangladesh.
