Awadhi: The Story of 38 Million Speakers

people speak Awadhi, one of the oldest literary languages of North India.

The language of Tulsidas, the Ramcharitmanas, and the Hanuman Chalisa.

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Bigger Than You Think

Awadhi's speaker population dwarfs many of Europe's officially recognized national languages.

Awadhi has more speakers than seven European languages combined

Awadhi has more speakers than all seven of these languages combined.

Hundreds of millions recite this language daily.

Most have no idea.

The Hanuman Chalisa, the most widely recited Hindu prayer on Earth, is composed in Awadhi.

Exploring the history, culture, and linguistic heritage of one of the world's great languages.

A language that almost became Hindi

Trace Awadhi from its Prakrit roots through its golden age of literature and beyond.

From Ayodhya to Fiji

The geographic heartland of Awadhi stretches from Lucknow to the Nepal border, and its diaspora reaches three continents.

This is not Hindi

Awadhi has its own grammar, its own verb conjugations, and a sound system that distinguishes it from every other Indo-Aryan language.

They nearly killed him for writing in it

From Tulsidas to Jayasi, Awadhi produced some of the most important literary works in Indian history.

A song for every season

Festivals, folk songs, cuisine, and proverbs that form the living texture of Awadhi identity.

What we know. What remains to be studied.

Census data, available metrics, and research gaps for a language spoken by 38 million people.

Gabbar Singh speaks Awadhi

Unexpected connections between Awadhi and Bollywood, global religion, culinary history, and pop culture.