It is a strange theory propagated by India's Home Minister, Amit Shah, that in the near future, people in India will feel ashamed of speaking English. While addressing a book-release event in Lucknow on June 19, Shah claimed that one cannot fully understand one's history, culture, and religion through an alien language. He went a step further, declaring:
"Remember what I say and listen carefully. The time is not far when people speaking English in this country will feel ashamed. The languages of our country are the jewels of our culture. Without them, we are not Indians… India cannot be imagined with a foreign language."

Several linguists and academics criticised Shah's statement as "insensitive" and "born out of ignorance." The Telegraph reported on his statement with the headline: "Hindi push seen in new ignominy meter: Speak English, Shame, Shame." In a strongly worded editorial, the newspaper condemned Shah's remarks, stating: "This, in fact, is a shameful statement from a leader of Shah's stature. It is reductive and reeks of prejudice and myopia — elements that knowledgeable politicians ought to shun."

The editorial emphasised the vital role of English in the Indian context: as a lingua franca bridging diverse linguistic communities within India; as a connector between India and the global economy; as an essential tool for international communication, business, trade, and investment; as a gateway to employment for ordinary Indians; and as a vital medium for innovation, research, and development.

One of the primary reasons India has emerged as a major hub for Information Technology (IT) and software development is the availability of a large number of English-proficient professionals. India is the world's second-largest English-speaking country, making it highly attractive to companies seeking to outsource software development. This linguistic advantage has given Indian engineers a competitive edge over counterparts in countries where English proficiency is limited.

A significant portion of global knowledge, research, and information is available in English, providing English speakers with access to an extensive array of academic journals, literature, and resources. With the growth of online education and e-learning platforms, content is accessed by learners worldwide. Translating educational materials into English ensures that a global audience can access quality education and benefit from skill development.

Banu Mushtaq's book Heart Lamp, originally written in Kannada, won the International Booker Prize 2025 because it was translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi. The book's availability in English enabled it to reach readers worldwide, providing people in different parts of the globe with access to Kannada literature. This serves as an excellent example of how English, particularly Indian English, is not weakening Indian languages but rather promoting and showcasing them on the global stage.

Against this backdrop, it is difficult to understand how proficiency in English or speaking English poses any threat to the development of other Indian languages. India recognises 22 official languages and thousands of dialects. Including English among them, particularly as a link language connecting people across linguistic divides, is entirely reasonable.

An incident at the Chennai airport on June 14 illustrates the practical value of knowing multiple languages. A passenger who had checked in before me received two boarding passes: one to Kolkata and another from Kolkata to Guwahati. He told the airline staff that he wanted to fly directly to Guwahati, but the staff explained, "I cannot change the ticket; you have to go to the ticket counter and get a fresh ticket." Unfortunately, the passenger, who only spoke Hindi and Assamese, could not understand the instructions, while the airline staff spoke only English and Tamil. Since I knew both English and Hindi, I acted as an intermediary to help him. This incident underscores that knowing any language is an asset, and one should take pride in speaking multiple languages, including English, rather than feeling ashamed.

Many prominent Indian leaders, despite beginning their education in regional languages, later achieved fluency in English. Mahatma Gandhi, who initially studied in Gujarati, mastered English; Dr BR Ambedkar, who began in Marathi, became a world-renowned scholar in English; C Rajagopalachari, who studied in Tamil; and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who started in Gujarati—all demonstrated that learning a language that connects one to the wider world is empowering. Their fluency in English did not diminish their command of their native tongues, and they were never ashamed to speak English when appropriate.

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, strongly criticised Shah's remarks, writing in a post on X: "English is not a dam; it is a bridge. English is not shame; it is power. English is not a chain; it is a tool to break the chains. BJP-RSS don't want poor kids of India to learn English — because they don't want them to ask questions, move ahead, and become equal. In today's world, English is as important as your mother tongue — because it provides employment and boosts confidence. Every language of India has soul, culture, and knowledge. We must cherish them, while ensuring every child learns English. This is the path to an India that competes with the world and gives every child an equal opportunity."

He also accused the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat of hypocrisy for asking Indians not to speak English while many children of BJP and RSS leaders study in England. According to Rahul Gandhi, the RSS and BJP leadership fear that proficiency in English could enable the poor to enter boardrooms and secure high-paying jobs and thus seek to close these doors.

Many observers see the Home Minister's remarks as part of a broader BJP-RSS agenda to impose Hindi across India in alignment with their Hindu-Hindi-Hindutva ideology. By discrediting English as a colonial relic, they hope to eventually replace it with Hindi as the national link language. Since coming to power in 2014, the BJP government has employed various methods to subtly enforce Hindi, particularly in non-Hindi-speaking states.

For example, the central government has delayed disbursing the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan funds to Tamil Nadu, allegedly because the state opposes the three-language formula mandated under the National Education Policy (NEP) and has refused to sign the required Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for PM-SHRI schools. Tamil Nadu has even filed a case in the Supreme Court, claiming that the withholding of funds is a direct consequence of its opposition to the NEP and PM-SHRI framework.

An article published in The Wire on June 20, 2025, titled "Five Reasons Why Amit Shah's Threat of English Speakers Being 'Ashamed' is Dangerous," stated: "Shah's statement is not just divisive; it is dangerous. It threatens social mobility, sows linguistic discord, risks India's global standing, fosters anti-intellectualism, and distracts from the real challenges facing the country. Shah's ideological rhetoric of 'shame' is out of place and actively harmful to the nation."

India's Constitution recognises multiple languages and celebrates linguistic diversity. It designates Hindi as the official language and English as an associate official language to ensure effective communication at the national level. While Hindi is widely spoken, especially in northern India, it does not hold the status of a national language. Article 120 of the Indian Constitution permits members of Parliament to speak in Hindi, English, or their mother tongue. In state legislatures, too, members are permitted to speak in English, in addition to the state's official language. Why should one feel ashamed of speaking a language endorsed by the Constitution of India?

Post-independence, the government introduced the Three-Language Formula in schools to promote multilingualism and national integration, typically involving a regional language, Hindi (or another modern Indian language), and English. This policy reflects India's extraordinary linguistic and cultural diversity. Undermining this approach could lead to unnecessary conflicts.

History shows that anything imposed against the will of the people eventually faces rejection. Hindi spreads naturally across India through Bollywood films, as well as the north-south migration of people for work and education. Many young people in South India willingly learn Hindi for smoother travel and employment opportunities across the country. Yet, the RSS and BJP appear unwilling to wait for this organic process to unfold. They seem eager to accelerate their agenda of transforming India into a Hindu Rashtra: Hindu-Hindi-Hindutva.