Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday made a passionate call to revive and embrace Indian languages, declaring that the time has come for the country to lead the world with pride in its native tongues. Speaking at the launch of the book ‘Main Boond Swayam, Khud Sagar Hoon’ by former IAS officer Ashutosh Agnihotri, Shah said, “In this country, those who speak English will soon feel ashamed — the creation of such a society is not far away.”
He highlighted the role of Indian languages as foundational to the nation's identity and said the future of India’s global leadership lies in reconnecting with its cultural and linguistic heritage. “I believe that the languages of our country are the jewels of our culture. Without our languages, we cease to be truly Indian,” he said.
Underscoring the cultural disconnect caused by foreign languages, Shah added, “To understand our country, our culture, our history, and our religion, no foreign language can suffice. The idea of a complete India cannot be imagined through half-baked foreign languages.”
With a confident outlook on the country’s linguistic movement, Shah asserted, “I am fully aware of how difficult this battle is, but I am also fully confident that Indian society will win it. Once again, with self-respect, we will run our country in our own languages and lead the world too.”
Citing the 'Panch Pran' (five pledges) introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Amrit Kaal, Shah said, “Achieving the goal of a developed India, getting rid of every trace of slavery, taking pride in our heritage, staying committed to unity and solidarity, and igniting the spirit of duty in every citizen — these five pledges have become the resolve of 130 crore people. That is why by 2047, we will be at the pinnacle, and our languages will play a major role in this journey.”
Referring to the book by Agnihotri, the Home Minister also advocated reform in the training of civil servants, saying, “A radical change is needed in the training of administrative officers... Rarely are they trained to introduce empathy in our system. Maybe because the British era inspired this training model.”
