Amit Shah: “English Speakers Will Soon Feel Ashamed”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stirred a nationwide discussion by declaring that Indians who speak English will “soon feel ashamed” as the country moves toward reviving its linguistic heritage. Speaking at a book launch event in Delhi, Shah asserted that the dominance of English is a colonial remnant that has distorted India’s cultural identity.
Shah remarked, “In this country, those who speak English will soon feel ashamed – the creation of such a society is not far away,” and emphasized that it’s time for India to reclaim its native languages and traditions.
Language Pride
He described Indian languages as “jewels of our culture” and insisted that only Indian languages can fully capture the depth of the country’s spirituality, values, and legacy. He said that promoting mother tongues is not just about language, but about reclaiming self-confidence rooted in cultural and historical truth. Shah noted that languages like Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali have sustained the Indian spirit through centuries of foreign rule, and urged the youth to embrace their linguistic roots with pride.
Cultural Heritage
As part of this push, Shah endorsed reforms that include the decolonisation of administrative training, suggesting that civil servants should be trained in empathy and cultural context, rather than British-era bureaucratic models. This aligns with the larger framework of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Panch Pran’ vision, which calls for a break from colonial mindsets as India prepares to celebrate 100 years of independence by 2047.
Shah also highlighted initiatives such as the establishment of a National Language Translation Mission and efforts to increase the use of Indian languages in governance, education, and scientific research. These steps aim to institutionalize the use of native languages across all levels of public life and reduce dependency on English in official domains.
