Union Home Minister Amit Shah has sparked off again the national language controversy, saying that English-speaking Indians would "soon feel ashamed," and calling people to adopt indigenous Indian languages as integral to the nation's identity and cultural heritage.
Speaking at a book launch, Shah remarked, "In this nation, English speakers will soon be left with their heads in shame — such a society is not far off. I think that languages of our nation are the crowns of our culture. Without our languages, we are no longer very Indian."
Shah's comments are in the backdrop of a heated political controversy surrounding language, especially claims by southern and opposition-ruled states of the Centre seeking to thrust Hindi via the National Education Policy (NEP).
The Home Minister contended that indigenous languages have to be given priority over foreign languages, particularly English, which he referred to as the relic of colonialism. He predicted that English would increasingly be considered a sign of colonial bondage in the rest of the world.
In order to know our country, our culture, our history, and our religion, no foreign language will do. The concept of a whole India cannot be conceived through half-cooked foreign languages," he added.
He also appealed for an all-India movement for the recovery of India's linguistic heritage, having faith in the ability of Indian society to emerge victorious in what he termed a tough struggle.
"Once again, with pride, we will administer our country in our own languages and guide the world as well," Shah further stated.
The Home Minister's remarks have sparked new opposition criticism, particularly from states such as Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Tamil Nadu, at the forefront of resisting the Centre's Hindi push under the NEP, argues the policy is being employed to promote a Hindi-centric agenda and not enhance education.
State political leaders have reaffirmed that language diversity needs to be maintained and that the regional languages need to be given equal treatment. The same has been demanded by West Bengal leaders, who claim that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking to homogenise India's linguistic makeup.
Earlier this year, in the middle of the debate, Shah declared that the Ministry of Home Affairs would start talking to state governments in their respective home languages from December onwards. Then he accepted past splits on language and emphasized that future conflicts should not be allowed to arise.
"There have been enough divisions in the country over language. It should not happen any more," Shah said.
The language controversy has been a contentious one in India, where linguistic identity is a determining force in state politics and provincial autonomy.
Hindi is the most widely spoken tongue, but India officially admits 22 official languages, and most provinces take pride in maintaining their linguistic and cultural distinctness.
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