bhasha

Bhasha is a term meaning language or speech in several Indian languages, derived from the Sanskrit bhāṣā. The word, often transliterated as bhāṣā or bhasa, appears in modern Indo-Aryan languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Nepali, and Odia, as well as in Dravidian languages with similar forms. In everyday usage, bhasha is the general word for a language, while the specific name of a language is used to identify it (for example, Hindi bhāṣā, Bengali bhāṣā). In Sanskrit literature, bhāṣā denotes speech, discourse, or a linguistic system.

In cultural, literary, and political contexts, bhasha functions as a concept of linguistic identity and communication. Government and law use terms such as Rajbhasha (state language) in India to refer to the official languages in administration and legislation; the broader policy landscape recognizes a range of scheduled, regional, and minority languages. The term has also influenced other languages in the region and beyond; for instance, Malay and Indonesian bahasa, meaning language, derives from the same root.

Bhasha as a concept also appears in various organizations, festivals, and media titles that emphasize language preservation, multilingual education, and linguistic heritage. Because it is a generic term rather than a single language, the meaning of bhasha depends on context, including the script, spoken varieties, and cultural setting.