Speaking at the book launch of “Main Boond Swayam, Khud Sagar Hoon” by former IAS officer Ashutosh Agnihotri on June 19, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a strong case for prioritizing Indian languages over English. Shah said that those who speak English in India would “soon feel ashamed,” emphasizing the need to rebuild a society rooted in cultural pride and linguistic identity.
He stated,
“Without our languages, we cease to be truly Indian… Only those who are determined can bring about change.”
Shah asserted that no foreign language can truly capture the essence of India’s history, culture, or religion, and called for a return to running India in its own languages. Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Panch Pran’ (five pledges), Shah highlighted the importance of shedding the legacy of colonial rule and embracing India’s heritage to become a developed nation by 2047.
He also pointed to the need for reforms in administrative officer training, criticizing current models for lacking empathy and being remnants of the British colonial era.
“If any ruler or administrator rules without empathy, then they cannot achieve the real objective of governance,” he noted.
Calling literature the soul of Indian society, Shah emphasized how it preserved religion, freedom, and culture even in the darkest periods of history. He concluded by stressing that Indian languages will play a central role in shaping India’s future and leading the world with self-respect.
