The Word Hindŭstān

Extract

It has sometimes been said that the only correct spelling of the word is Hindostān, and that this is proved by its being made to rhyme with bostān. The fact of its so rhyming can prove only that such a form exists in verse. It does not disprove the correctness of other forms. Some confusion arises from our not knowing exactly which spelling is objected to, whether it is Hindūstān or Hindŭstān or both. There is abundant evidence to show that in Urdū Hindŭstān is well known and correct. The following points should be noted.

(1) The spelling without vāo is both Turkish and Persian. This is not important, for we are concerned with Hindī and Urdū, not with foreign languages. Turkish generally omits the vāo, indeed the word I is usually pronounced hindistān.