Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday strongly advocated for the inclusion of English in the education of every Indian child. Emphasising the language’s empowering potential, Gandhi argued that English is not something to be ashamed of, but rather a vital tool for liberation, equality, and progress.
His statement came in response to recent remarks reportedly made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the use and promotion of the English language in India. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi shared his views in a Hindi post. “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,” he wrote.
He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of deliberately discouraging the teaching of English to economically underprivileged children. According to Gandhi, the motive behind this is to prevent poor children from gaining the confidence and critical thinking skills that could allow them to challenge systemic inequalities.
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“The BJP-RSS don’t want poor kids of India to learn English — because they don’t want you to ask questions, move ahead, and attain equality,” he alleged. Gandhi further asserted that in the contemporary world, knowledge of English holds equal importance to one’s mother tongue. He stated that the language not only increases employment opportunities but also enhances self-confidence.
“Every language of India has soul, culture, and knowledge. We must preserve and celebrate them. At the same time, we must ensure that every child is taught English,” the former Congress president said. He concluded by emphasising that embracing English alongside regional languages is essential for building an India that can compete on a global stage and provide equal opportunity for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
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