The language called Hindustani, also the "Lŭshkŭr" (ŭ as u in the English word "but"), or "Camp" language of India, has a convincing analogy with Esperanto.
India, with its 300 millions of inhabitants, contains roughly 185 separate and distinct dialects or languages, with about 30 different religions, of which the chief are Hindu, furnishing 70% of the population; Muhumedan (or Musŭlmani), 21%; Buddhist, 3%, leaving 6% for all others.
In the early years of English enterprise in India intertribal and inter-religious wars were unceasing, and Musŭlmanis fought the Hindus, and vice versâ, from North to South, and from East to West of the great Peninsula; thus in the course of years an international tongue was evolved as an intertribal language.
Hindustani is based on Persian, the Court language of the East, in different districts affected by local lingual characteristics.
As a result, the foreigner landing in India first learns Hindustani, which will furnish him with a lingual passport throughout the great country; and if he settles down in a particular part, he will also learn, if he feels inclined, the language of the district.
Like Esperanto, Hindustani is a comparatively easy language to pick up, especially by the well-educated, who are certain to have some knowledge of Persian.
The existence of a "Camp" language, or universal auxiliary tongue, cannot be said to have made very definitely for peace; it did not interfere with patriotism or "caste," but, like Esperanto, no doubt permits of one nation having a better knowledge of another, and so has a peaceful tendency.
Hindustani, however, has not so far been flattered by receiving the name of our dear language!
For interchange of scientific and commercial affairs generally Esperanto has a distinct value, and it seems certain that in this direction it has a great future before it.
For example, let us take a German critical work on, say, Biology or Chemistry; if printed and published only in German, it cannot have the extended body of readers to which its importance probably entitles it. But if published in Esperanto, the whole civilised world would be the gainer.