Mahatma Gandhi believed that Hindustani should be the national language because he felt everyone should speak in a language that common people could easily understand. Hindustani was a blend of Hindi and Urdu and was a popular language among a large section of Indians.

It was a composite language enriched by the interaction of diverse cultures, incorporating words from many different sources. This made it understood by people from various regions. Gandhi thought this multi-cultural language would be ideal for communication between diverse communities.

He believed Hindustani could unify Hindus and Muslims, and people of the north and the south. Gandhi retained his faith in the composite character of Hindustani even as communal conflicts deepened and Hindi and Urdu started growing apart.