Amit Shah Sparks Debate, Says English Speakers in India Will ‘Soon Feel Ashamed’
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th June: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stirred fresh controversy amid ongoing language disputes by asserting that those who speak English in India would soon feel ashamed. Speaking at a book launch event, Shah strongly advocated for prioritizing Indian languages over foreign ones, calling them the “jewels of our culture” and essential to India’s identity.
“In this country, those who speak English will soon feel ashamed — the creation of such a society is not far away,” Shah said, adding, “Without our languages, we cease to be truly Indian.” He emphasized the importance of reclaiming India’s linguistic heritage and forecast that English, as a symbol of colonial rule, would be rejected globally.
Shah contended that no foreign language could adequately capture the essence of India’s history, culture, or religion. “The idea of a complete India cannot be imagined through half-baked foreign languages,” he asserted.
The Home Minister acknowledged the challenges in shifting the linguistic landscape but expressed confidence in Indian society’s ability to lead with its own languages. “With self-respect, we will run our country in our own languages and lead the world too,” he said.
Backdrop of Controversy
Shah’s remarks come at a time when the Centre has faced criticism from several states — notably Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — over alleged efforts to impose Hindi through the New Education Policy (NEP) and the contentious ‘three-language formula’. Tamil Nadu’s government has repeatedly accused the BJP-led Centre of using the policy to push Hindi rather than improve education.
Earlier this year, Shah had announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs would begin communicating with states in their native languages starting December, framing it as an effort to promote linguistic inclusivity.
While supporters of the government argue that promoting Indian languages is a step toward decolonizing minds and restoring cultural pride, critics warn that such rhetoric risks deepening linguistic divides in a multilingual nation.
