Final answer:
India has around 14 recognized major languages, with the languages of northern India belonging to the Indo-European family and those in the south to the Dravidian family. India's linguistic diversity is second only to Papua New Guinea.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rushdie observes that India does not have a single national language, but rather a rich linguistic tapestry consisting of multiple languages. Contrary to nations with a single or a few dominant languages, India boasts approximately 14 recognized major languages.
This linguistic diversity underscores the complex socio-cultural landscape of the country. The languages widely spoken in northern India predominantly belong to the Indo-European language family, while the Dravidian language family is predominant in the south. Furthermore, India is second only to Papua New Guinea in terms of the number of languages spoken, reflecting its vast cultural heritage.