Latest news with #anti-English
Wales Online
03-07-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Anti-English graffiti appears in Welsh village
Anti-English graffiti appears in Welsh village The words 'f*** off Saeson' were found painted on a road junction, sparking anger among the community The village of Trefriw in north Wales (Image: Daily Post Wales ) A shocking display of anti-English graffiti in a picturesque village has been labelled as "vile". The offensive phrase 'f*** off Saeson (English)' was discovered at a road junction in Trefriw in north Wales on Monday, sparking outrage among locals when it was shared on a village social media group. Conwy Council were swiftly alerted and received commendation for their rapid response in getting rid of the graffiti within 24 hours, reports North Wales Live. Local councillor Mostyn Jones expressed his disgust, stating there was "no room for hate in our communities" and praised the community's response, highlighting its "tolerant and welcoming" nature. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Senedd member Janet Finch-Saunders voiced her concern that such incidents could tarnish the reputation of an area beloved by visitors. Cllr Mostyn Jones added: "This is vile graffiti. I am very grateful to the Local Authority officers who responded urgently to my report and cleaned the road within 24 hours. Article continues below "The discriminatory public message was rightly opposed by numerous locals on social media, which goes to show that we are a tolerant and welcoming community in the Conwy Valley. "The minority who do not believe in inclusivity should learn that there is no room for hate in our communities. "The person or people responsible for this distressing act should hold their heads in shame and be aware that locals like me will not stop standing up for kindness in our communities, and campaign to stamp out such foul acts". Janet Finch-Saunders MS added: "I thank Cllr Mostyn and all members of the public who called out this hateful message. "Across Aberconwy businesses and people's livelihoods depended on the tourism and hospitality sector. "Do the perpetrators of such nastiness not realise that if such hate continues our area could develop a bad reputation with visitors, lose customers, and ultimately jobs and money for locals?" Article continues below Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here .
The Wire
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Amit Shah's Jibe at English Speakers Revives Old Fault Lines of Linguistic Politics in India
Hasnain Naqvi 3 minutes ago From Gandhi to Shah, the debate over English has never really ended – yet India's linguistic future may depend on embracing rather than erasing the global language. In a strikingly provocative remark made during a book launch in New Delhi recently, Union home minister Amit Shah stirred the waters of India's linguistic politics by claiming that the day would soon come when people speaking English in India 'feel ashamed'. Reaffirming his commitment to native languages, Shah stated, 'The languages of our country are the ornament of our culture. Without them, we would not have been Bharatiya… Our history, our culture, our Dharma – these cannot be understood in foreign languages.' The backlash was swift. Leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, countered Shah's remarks by championing English as an enabler: 'English is not a dam, it is a bridge. English is not shameful, it is empowering. English is not a chain – it is a tool to break the chains.' Prominent Trinamool Congress figures such as Derek O'Brien and Sagarika Ghose also condemned Shah's statement, accusing him of inflaming old divisions under the guise of cultural authenticity. Shah's controversial comment has revived a debate that has defined the linguistic and cultural tensions of India since independence. The ghost of 'Angrezi hatao ' returns Shah's remarks bear an uncanny resemblance to those made 35 years ago by former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. In May 1990, Yadav launched a crusade against English, labelling it 'the language of foreigners and the elite' and accusing it of deepening socio-economic inequalities. His ' Angrezi hatao ' (remove English) campaign was not just linguistic – it was ideological. In a strategic twist, Yadav had called upon opponents of Urdu to ally with Urdu speakers in opposing English, although Urdu itself had just been granted official status and remained a source of contention in Uttar Pradesh politics. This linguistic paradox underscores a persistent theme in India's political landscape: language becomes a battleground for identity, power and ideology. In this context, English – much like Urdu – has become a scapegoat for political anxieties. From Gandhi to Lohia to today The roots of anti-English sentiment go back to the nationalist leaders of the pre-Independence era. Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress viewed English as a colonial imposition that disrupted India's native cultural matrix. Post-independence, the Indian constitution declared Hindi as the official language, while English was retained temporarily as a link language to accommodate India's vast linguistic diversity. The tension between ideology and pragmatism became evident when Ram Manohar Lohia, a prominent socialist, took up the ' Angrezi hatao ' cause in the 1960s. Lohia believed that English hindered original thought and prevented mass education. His solution was to replace English with regional languages in education, governance and the judiciary. Yet, even he recognised the practical challenges: he granted special status to southern Indian states, allowing them to retain English for inter-state and central communication for 50 years. Unfortunately, Lohia's nuanced position was later distorted by his political followers. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, anti-English policies reached absurd levels. Bihar's then chief minister Karpoori Thakur reduced English to an optional subject in schools, giving rise to what was dubbed the 'Karpoori class' – students who completed matriculation without any proficiency in English. Mulayam Singh Yadav revived this campaign in the 1990s, leading to a new wave of politicised language policy and social unrest. Linguistic chauvinism and religious stereotyping The anti-English fervour also spilled over into religious targeting. Christian educational institutions – many of which served non-English-speaking students – were baselessly accused of using English to promote religious conversions and elitism. This is as illogical as equating Urdu with Islam, a tendency also prevalent in northern India's linguistic nationalism. Such conflations ignore India's intricate linguistic heritage and fail to grasp the multi-layered identities of its citizens. English, though introduced by colonial rulers, became a platform for political awakening and social reform. India's foundational political and philosophical ideas – from nationalism and democracy to equality and justice – were often accessed and articulated through English. The dual identity of English in India Initially intended to produce a class of English-educated clerks, English education inadvertently fostered a Western-educated middle class that birthed India's national movement. Thinkers and leaders like Raja Rammohun Roy, Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru all received their intellectual grounding through the English language. Today, English is more than a foreign language – it is part of India's linguistic and cultural ecosystem. It is the official language of states like Nagaland and the mother tongue of a recognised linguistic minority. In metropolitan centres like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, English is the preferred language of commerce, administration and even cultural expression. It is secular, cosmopolitan and unifying – qualities that align with the pluralistic ethos of the Indian Republic. The hypocrisy of anti-English politics Despite the fervent rhetoric against English, most political leaders – including those advocating for its removal – choose English-medium education for their own children. This contradiction reflects the undeniable truth: in globalised India, English is the passport to higher education, job opportunities, international diplomacy and technological innovation. Statistical trends show English leading in sectors like education, industry and administration – even in the Hindi heartland. It is the language of science, law and governance. India's tech boom, international trade relations and higher education landscape are all heavily reliant on English proficiency. Ironically, while vilifying English for political mileage, many of its opponents privately benefit from its advantages. This duplicity not only weakens the credibility of their arguments but also threatens national cohesion by reanimating dormant linguistic fault lines. A call for coexistence India's multilingualism is a strength, not a burden. Rather than demonising English as a colonial leftover, leaders should celebrate its evolution into a powerful Indian instrument for global interaction and internal inclusion. English, today, is no longer the language of the coloniser – it is the language of aspiration, innovation and communication. Amit Shah's comments, while politically charged, risk reigniting a divisive discourse that India cannot afford today. Instead of swimming against the tide of progress, the nation must embrace a model of linguistic coexistence where English and all other Indian languages are seen as complementary rather than adversarial. Language, after all, is meant to be a bridge – not a battlefield. Hasnain Naqvi is a former member of the history faculty at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. This is the first part of a two-part series on the revival of the debate on linguistic politics in India. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Official work in Hindi, says Haryana education min — ‘I myself do not know English'
Gurgaon: Haryana education minister Mahipal Dhanda has directed his department to conduct all official work in Hindi. "I myself do not know English, and 90% of the people in our state are far from (understanding) English. Therefore, so that people can understand official work, I have ordered all work in the education department to be done in Hindi," the minister said at a press conference in Kurukshetra on Thursday. The announcement was made days after the directorate of higher education issued an order on June 10, saying all official correspondence "must henceforth be presented in Hindi". It also specified that any communication to the education minister and the additional chief secretary (education) should be in Hindi as well. Until now, the state education department had the option to use both Hindi and English. Calling Hindi the "rastrabhasha (national language)", Dhanda said that this policy is not "anti-English". "We are not enemies of English... We are not in favour of stopping English. Knowledge of other languages is also necessary. English-medium schools are still being opened in the state. For me, language is mainly to acquire knowledge, rather than becoming a barrier in practical work," the minister said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo The Indian Constitution does not name any "national language", and both Hindi and English are recognised as "official languages". Dhanda on Wednesday pointed out that the policy is only for official communication and it is not related to academics. "What's the problem in this (policy)? It's a mode of communication, do it in any language... Hindi is better understood by people," a senior education department official in Panchkula said. Dushyant Thakran, a school teacher in Gurgaon, questioned if the policy would make any difference. "Schools are already focused on teaching children English," he said. Before this, controversy has erupted on the implementation of central govt's NEP, which pushes for a "three-language formula". Tamil Nadu govt has accused the Centre of trying to impose Hindi on the state, though the BJP govt has denied the charge as an unnecessary controversy. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Scottish Sun
03-06-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
If politics had a heart there would be no by-election in Hamilton this week
BILL LECKIE If politics had a heart there would be no by-election in Hamilton this week IN a decent world, there would be no by-election in Hamilton this week. The parties would have got together, reflected on why there was a vacancy for an MSP and agreed that this was no time for squabbling on the campaign trail. Advertisement 6 SNP MSP Christina McKelvie died aged 57 after a long illness Credit: Alamy 6 Reform leader Nigel Farage visits Scotland ahead of this week's by-election Credit: Getty But this isn't a decent world — at least, not where politics is concerned. So out they stomp on to the streets and into their photo ops, leaving each other without a name, each jibe more demeaning and derisive than the last. Every day further desecrating the memory of the woman whose death brought them here in the first place. Advertisement Christina McKelvie was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2021. For the next three years, while undergoing treatment, she not only carried on with her constituency duties but combined them with two separate ministerial roles. On March 12 this year, she announced her decision to stand down at the next Holyrood elections to concentrate on fighting the disease. Fifteen days later, she was gone. She was just 57. Six days after that, the First Minister led a Motion of Condolence for an SNP colleague, who genuinely appeared to be admired by all parties, someone John Swinney himself described as 'one of the generous people I have ever met'. Advertisement Barb and snipe Yet how do he and his rivals then honour her memory? By tearing each other a new one as they scramble to claim her seat like rats fighting in a sack. Farage goads 'terrified' Starmer & says Tories are 'finished' In that decent world of which I fancifully write, there would be no such scramble. If politics had a heart, Labour, the Tories, the Greens, Reform, Lib Dems and the rest would have got together, agreed to stand aside and let the Nats nominate a successor. Instead? Well, we can all see it. We're all hearing it. Advertisement Swinney labelling Nigel Farage 'repugnant' and a racist. Farage calling Swinney 'anti-English' then accusing Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar of sectarianism and being prejudiced against white people. Sarwar reacting by branding Farage 'a clown'. 6 Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and candidate Davy Wilson Credit: Getty 6 First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney addresses party activists in Hamilton Credit: PA Advertisement It's hideous; every barb and every snipe and every sneer of it. They are a cast of walking insults to democracy. An insult to the intelligence of the people whose votes they chase like drunk men trying to catch a balloon. Most of all, an insult to the bravery and dignity of Christina McKelvie. I didn't know her. To be honest, she held a lot of beliefs that I didn't share. But there's no doubt she was a great example of the kind of proper, honest, hardworking representative that our system is supposed to be about. Advertisement The fact that women from all parties joined her on a fundraising Moonwalk for breast cancer research speaks volumes for who and what she was. Stop pretending you're just some poor, misunderstood Ordinary Joe when you're one of the richest men in politics. That in an era where so many see personal tragedy as a means of courting publicity, she never used her illness as currency, is testament to her character. If only Swinney, Sarwar and Farage had a shred of this character as they trample around the country, playing their stupid boo-yah games in the name of cheap-as-chips soundbites. In his interview with this paper yesterday, Farage described this as Reform's 'growing-up moment.' Well, grow up, you Marge-Simpson-faced muppet. Advertisement Act like the mature human being you want us to believe you are. Stop playing to the gallery, stop pretending you're just some poor, misunderstood Ordinary Joe when you're one of the richest men in politics. 6 Our columnist Bill Leckie has his say on the upcoming by-election Credit: John Kirkby - The Sun Glasgow Having said which, we really could offer the same advice to any of them. And it would be met with exactly the same rubber ear. Why? Because this gutter-level back-biting is all they know, at least when they're wearing their political hats. Advertisement Maybe in a previous life they were more open, more consiliatory, more willing to listen to the views of others and learn from them. But here, in the grubby sumo ring they've chosen to inhabit, all they understand is how to trip the other guy up. And let's never forget that Swinney, Sarwar and Farage are supposedly the best of the bunch, the ones the rank and file have elected to run the show. They're the ones we're expected to accept are fit to be in charge of health and schools and roads and taxes. Yet this is how they behave, with a disrespect for each other that makes you weep with shame for this parliament so many fought so long and hard to call our own. It's never been a nice game, politics, we all know that. But there are moments when you'd hope against hope that colours and rivalry and ideologies would be put aside long enough for goodness and common sense and — that word again — decency would shine through. Advertisement The death of a woman as loved and respected as Christina McKelvie should surely be the catalyst for one of these rarest of moments. But no. If anything, this campaign has been less palatable and more stomach-churning than any in recent memory. Chances are, that's down to the fear Farage imbues in Swinney and Sarwar, but it's still no excuse. In a decent world, there would be no such slurs as those that have soiled the streets of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse in the run-up to this vote. And you know what? In a decent world, the people of those towns would stay home on Thursday and make sure none of them win. Advertisement
The Herald Scotland
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
When the Scots were revolting: Do we need another Braveheart?
The latest in the Archive on 4 series, the programme dipped into the BBC's vintage recordings to follow the impact of the film on Scottish cinema, Scottish cultural and political life and, perhaps most importantly, on the tourist trade. Stirling is still seeing the benefits three decades later. Morrison went up the Wallace Monument at the Abbey Craig to discover that, yes, all the international visitors had indeed seen the movie. 'Who needs historical accuracy when you've got a gift shop?' she asked. The programme invariably touched on how the film was exploited by politicians at the time (notably by former SNP leader Alex Salmond, although the Tories also sought to tap into the film's popularity) and how it unleashed a wave of anti-English sentiment in cinemas. 'People were standing up and cheering English people getting killed,' historian Fiona Wallace pointed out to Morrison. Read more There's another question to be asked about Braveheart, perhaps. Is it any good? Not really. That's never stopped Scots embracing it though. You could say the same about Restless Natives, a sub-par Bill Forsyth simulacrum that's now been transformed into a musical, or The Wicker Man, a not-that-great horror movie that's been reclaimed as some kind of masterpiece (Morrison isn't a fan of the latter, we learn in passing). Maybe Scots in the past were just starved of films and TV about themselves that they'll embrace anything. The stereotypical Scotland on screen that existed prior to Braveheart, film lecturer Johnny Murray told Morrison, is a country that's an unspoiled wilderness, that's authentic, untameable and inhabited by noble savages. It's a recipe, he pointed out, that can either be served sweet - as in Whisky Galore! or Local Hero - or savoury, as in Braveheart. 'These are all very masculine, these stereotypes,' Morrison suggested. Indeed. At another point we are reminded that in Braveheart it takes 20 minutes before any of its female characters gets to say a line. Which suggests what? That we need less Mel Gibson, more Morven Callar maybe. Earlier in the day Radio Scotland's Sportsound had the excitement of a penalty shootout to bring us. When Aberdeen won it, a Sportsound reporter - I was in the car so I can't be sure, but I think it was Tyrone Smith - went pitchside to catch the jubilant victors. A couple of them, carried away in the moment swore, a little, prompting an apology from the presenter. Aberdeen players celebrate winning the penalty shoot-out during the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park (Image: Andrew Milligan) You do wonder if interviewing players in a heightened state of emotion is a good idea if you are bothered by the odd swear word. Then again, was it the Scottish players who couldn't mind their language? Noble savages indeed. On Monday 5 Live had spent the day reporting from the joyous chaos of the Liverpool FC victory parade through the city. My sister lives in the city and had sent me photos of the players on the bus passing her home in the south of the city earlier in the day. At teatime 5 Live Drive presenter Chris Warburton was clearly enjoying the atmosphere in the city centre. And then everything changed when a car hit some of those in the parade. The sudden shift from joy to shock and horror could be heard in Warburton's voice. 'The mood since I last spoke to you has really changed now,' he said, trying to find the words when he still wasn't totally clear what had happened. Nicky Campbell spent his 5 Live phone-in show on Tuesday morning talking about the incident. The conversation was largely sensible. But now and then Campbell would read out comments from listeners speculating on the why. Campbell then added, 'We can't speculate on any motivation but I am just conveying to you what some people are saying. We don't yet know.' Hmm, why read them out then? Kenneth Cranham (Image: free) Listen Out For: The Essay: An Actor's Life, Radio 3, Monday to Friday, 9.45pm It's easy to forget that actor Kenneth Cranham - star of Shine on Harvey Moon and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and known for playing London gangsters on a regular basis - grew up in Dunfermline. In this series he talks to fellow actor Neil Dudgeon about working with Joe Orton and Harold Pinter
