Latest news with #BharatiyaBhashaAnubhag
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘Language is the soul of a nation, not merely a medium of communication,' says Union Minister Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (June 26, 2025) said that languages were not just a medium of communication, but the soul of the nation, further stating that it was necessary to keep languages alive and enrich them. "As far as the country is concerned, language is not merely a medium of communication; it is the soul of a nation. History and culture cannot be promoted without our own languages. It is important to keep the languages alive and to enrich them. We should make all these efforts in the coming days for all Indian languages and especially for the official language," he said. Speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Official Language Department in Delhi, Mr. Shah said that Hindi was a friend of all the Indian languages, further stating that Hindi and Indian languages together could play an important role in enhancing the nation's self-esteem. "I believe from my heart that Hindi cannot be the enemy of any Indian language. Hindi is a friend of all Indian languages, and Hindi and Indian languages together can take our self-esteem program to its ultimate goal. There is no opposition to any language; there should not be opposition to any foreign language, but the insistence should be to glorify our language, there should be an insistence to speak our language, and there should be an insistence to think in our language," he stated. Praising Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag (Indian Languages Section), Mr. Shah said that only Indian languages are used for Centre as well States' administrative work. 'I want to appeal to all States to make arrangements so that medical and engineering courses could be taught in the language of the States. In the coming days, Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag will take steps to make Indian languages the language of the youth. We will contact States to ensure that maximum administrative work is done in Indian languages,' Mr. Shah said. Mr. Shah also said that the country as a whole needs to get rid of the mentality of slavery. "We should get rid of the mentality of slavery. And until a person takes pride in his language, does not express himself in his language, we cannot be free from the mentality of slavery..." he added. The Minister highlighted the government's achievements in making sure students could give competitive examinations in multiple Indian languages. "JEE, NEET, CUET are now being taken in 13 languages. Earlier, you could only apply for the constable recruitment of CAPF in English or Hindi. We made it flexible and allowed the exam in 13 languages, and today I am happy to say that 95% of the candidates are giving the constable exam in their mother tongue. This tells how bright the future of Indian languages is in the coming days..." Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was also present at the event. (with inputs from ANI)
Hans India
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Shah's take on English has serious repercussions
This is with reference to the news items "Those who speak English in India will soon feel ashamed: Shah'. India's strength lies in its linguistic diversity. By framing English as a foreign language and linking it to shame, Shah's statement fuels the flames of linguistic chauvinism. This spells danger, especially in a country like India where language has been the flashpoint that triggered regional and communal violence in almost every nook and corner. One must forget that English serves as a bridge language in India, including in higher education, business and inter-state communication. Non-Hindi speaking states are likely to see Shah's statement as one more attempt to establish a Hindi-centric identity in the entire country. Shah's controversial statement carries deep political and global implications. P Victor Selvaraj, Tirunelveli- 627002 Unbecoming of Shah A new controversy is likely to start following the statement of Union Hoe Minister Amit Shah on languages, which is a sensitive issue in India where states have come into existence based on language. This is evident from Maharashtra, where a controversy is underway over adoption of Hindi. Shah warned of a day when speakers of English in India would feel ashamed, but the question is why make such a damaging statement, in the firstplace. By all accounts, it is a shameful remark from a leader of Shah's stature. It reeks of prejudice and myopia, elements that knowledgeable politicians ought to shun. English's centrality to the Indian context is undeniable. To make matters worse, he said 'our culture, our history, and our religion cannot be understood in foreign languages. We will run our country in our own languages and lead the world too.' Earlier this month, Shah launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag (BBA), or Indian Languages Section, to provide an organised platform for all Indian languages to move towards 'freeing the administration from the influence of foreign languages'. States like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have witnessed protests on the imposition of Hindi. The Tamil Nadu government has opposed the three-language formula in the National Educational Policy (NEP) tooth and nail, claiming it was an attempt to bring Hindi to the State 'through the backdoor'. In a country that speaks in many tongues and where linguistic tensions are quite common, English has served as the veritable lingua franca, bridging segments of the population. In this globalised world, English is the bridge that connects India to the world and its economy. Shah's demonisation of English needs to be located within a broader ideological and epistemic thrust. But the spirit of the idea of India - linguistically or otherwise - is a celebration of pluralism and accommodation: English, with its many virtues and uses, has a firm place in the Indian ethos. It is expected that the government will see the pros and cons before implementing ill-conceived initiatives. Yash Pal Ralhan, Jalandhar-144003 Shah's shameful statement It was a shameful statement that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah made during a book launch event in Delhi where he spoke of a time "when those speaking English in the country would feel ashamed". English is one of the global languages and helps to understand our living world, especially in the AI era. When we study in our mother tongue, we understand well. But when we need to exchange what we learned, English is the tool. It may help unite the world but not to lead. Unnikrishnan Mangalasseri, Manjeri PO, Kerala-676121 Union Minister should eat his words Ourministers and senior politicians should always talk using measured words and not in an irresponsible manner (Those who speak English will soon feel ashamed: Shah). English (the lingua franca) is an international language. Undermining its importance in our country is like cutting one's nose to spite one's face. It is widely used in businesses, education and judiciary and provides ample opportunities for global communication as well as career advancements. A good command over English boosts our students' prospects not only in India but also abroad. Amit Shah should eat his own words. Dr Sunil Chopra,Ludhiana Shah's gaffe is regrettable AmitShah's statement that "those who speak English in this country would soon feel ashamed" deserves to be taken with a fistful of salt. English, as we all know, is the aspirational language of India's rising middle class. On that count, regional languages, even Hindi, serve a limited purpose. English is the sine qua non of today's India that has set out to claim its place on the global high table. Even the Prime Minister with his RSS/Hindi background, thought it fit to give English a brief hug while driving home a point about terrorism, and that too in Bihar. Mignon McLaughlin, American journalist and author, had said, "Every American child should grow up knowing a second language, preferably English." And that perhaps holds water for every Indian child living in these times. Amitji, are you listening? Avinash Godboley, Dewas (MP)
Scroll.in
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Amit Shah says English speakers will ‘soon feel ashamed' in India
Those who speak English in India will soon feel ashamed and the creation of 'such a society is not far away', Union Minister Amit Shah can be heard saying in a video shared by news channels on Thursday. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader also claimed that 'our culture, our history and our religion cannot be understood in foreign languages'. 'A complete India cannot be imagined with aadhi-adhuri [incomplete] foreign languages, that can only happen with Indianness, with Indian languages,' Shah reportedly said at a book launch event in New Delhi. He also called Indian languages 'jewels of our culture', adding that without them, 'we cease to be Indians'. On June 6, Shah launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag, or Indian Languages Section. This initiative aims to create an organised platform for all Indian languages, intending to 'free the administration from the influence of foreign languages'. The home minister's comments on Thursday come against the backdrop of several state governments and regional parties accusing the Centre of imposing Hindi through the National Education Policy's three-language formula. On Tuesday, the Maharashtra government issued an order making Hindi a 'generally' taught third language for students from Class 1 to Class 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. Marathi language advocates criticised the move, accusing the government of reintroducing the three-language formula through the 'backdoor'. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have also seen protests against the alleged Hindi imposition. Tamil Nadu has repeatedly opposed the three-language formula in the National Education Policy. The state government said it would not change its decades-old two-language policy of teaching students Tamil and English. However, the Union government has maintained that it is committed to promoting ' all Indian languages ', The Hindu reported. During the Budget session, Shah had told the Rajya Sabha that his ministry would communicate with states in their respective languages, the newspaper reported.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Amit Shah launches language hub to 'decolonise' admin
NEW DELHI: Continuing with his govt's 'decolonisation' project, Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday launched an Indian languages section within the department of official language as a step towards dispensing with the role of English in official communication. "It would prove to be a milestone in the path to freeing administration from the influence of foreign languages," Shah said as he announced the formation of Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag. So far, English had been relied upon for easy and faster official communication and filework between the Centre and non-Hindi speaking states and also among the latter. "We will definitely win the battle against imposition of English upon us," Shah, who over his six-year tenure in MHA has ensured that all filework and official communication in MHA is carried out in Hindi, declared at the launch of the Indian languages section on Friday. Elaborating on the purpose of Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag at a press conference last year, secretary in department of official language Anshuli Arya had stated: "Just like Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speeches in (non-Hindi speaking) states get instantly translated and can be heard by the public in their respective regional language, the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag, in collaboration with Centre for Deployment of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), will put in place a universal translation system for official communication. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like At Last, An ED Pill for 87¢ That Actually Works Health Alliance by Friday Plans Learn More Undo " "For instance, if the chief minister of Tamil Nadu writes a letter to the Centre in Tamil, the Union minister here can read it in his language and have the reply sent in Tamil. This will help bring the regional languages on to the centre-stage," Arya said. In his address on Friday, Shah said the Indian languages section had made the department of official language "complete" by providing a strong and organised platform to all languages, incorporating the linguistic diversity of India. Shah underlined that the Indian people's potential can be fully exploited only when their process of thinking, analysis and decision-making are in their mother-tongue. "Every language of ours is completely connected with other languages and development of all languages is not possible without each assimilate like rivers into the Ganga of Indian culture," the Union home minister stated.
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Amit Shah launches ‘Indian Languages Section' to free administration from foreign language influence
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (June 6, 2025) launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag (BBA), or Indian Languages Section, to provide an organised platform for all Indian languages to move towards 'freeing the administration from the influence of foreign languages'. The Minister said that the Section will incorporate the linguistic diversity of India, adding that 'our potential' can be fully exploited only when 'our processes of thinking, analysis and decision-making are in our mother tongue.' 'By strengthening all the local languages of the country, we can take India to its eternal glorious position,' the Minister said. All the languages are connected to each other, he claimed. Moving beyond English, Hindi The Union Budget for the financial year 2024-25 set aside ₹56 crore to establish the BBA for the 'development of a platform to facilitate the translation of various languages into Hindi and vice-versa.' Anshuli Arya, Secretary of the Official Languages Division at the Ministry of Home Affairs, said on September 13, 2024, that the Official Languages Rules specify the Centre's language of correspondence with Region A, B, and C States. The rules state that communications from a Union Government office to Region C States, such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, shall be in English. 'Presently we deal in English and Hindi under OL Rules 1976. If we have to send a letter to C States, then it will be in English. The C States feel that their own language is not able to come to the centre stage. The Prime Minister has worked on this aspect, his speeches are translated instantaneously. We are creating the BBA for universal translation. We have roped in the Centre For Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). If a letter written in Tamil by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has to be replied by the Minister, it will be replied in Tamil. States have their own official languages, and BBA will help in the translation work,' Ms. Arya had said.
