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Hans India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Shah's take on English has serious repercussions
This is with reference to the news items "Those who speak English in India will soon feel ashamed: Shah'. India's strength lies in its linguistic diversity. By framing English as a foreign language and linking it to shame, Shah's statement fuels the flames of linguistic chauvinism. This spells danger, especially in a country like India where language has been the flashpoint that triggered regional and communal violence in almost every nook and corner. One must forget that English serves as a bridge language in India, including in higher education, business and inter-state communication. Non-Hindi speaking states are likely to see Shah's statement as one more attempt to establish a Hindi-centric identity in the entire country. Shah's controversial statement carries deep political and global implications. P Victor Selvaraj, Tirunelveli- 627002 Unbecoming of Shah A new controversy is likely to start following the statement of Union Hoe Minister Amit Shah on languages, which is a sensitive issue in India where states have come into existence based on language. This is evident from Maharashtra, where a controversy is underway over adoption of Hindi. Shah warned of a day when speakers of English in India would feel ashamed, but the question is why make such a damaging statement, in the firstplace. By all accounts, it is a shameful remark from a leader of Shah's stature. It reeks of prejudice and myopia, elements that knowledgeable politicians ought to shun. English's centrality to the Indian context is undeniable. To make matters worse, he said 'our culture, our history, and our religion cannot be understood in foreign languages. We will run our country in our own languages and lead the world too.' Earlier this month, Shah launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag (BBA), or Indian Languages Section, to provide an organised platform for all Indian languages to move towards 'freeing the administration from the influence of foreign languages'. States like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have witnessed protests on the imposition of Hindi. The Tamil Nadu government has opposed the three-language formula in the National Educational Policy (NEP) tooth and nail, claiming it was an attempt to bring Hindi to the State 'through the backdoor'. In a country that speaks in many tongues and where linguistic tensions are quite common, English has served as the veritable lingua franca, bridging segments of the population. In this globalised world, English is the bridge that connects India to the world and its economy. Shah's demonisation of English needs to be located within a broader ideological and epistemic thrust. But the spirit of the idea of India - linguistically or otherwise - is a celebration of pluralism and accommodation: English, with its many virtues and uses, has a firm place in the Indian ethos. It is expected that the government will see the pros and cons before implementing ill-conceived initiatives. Yash Pal Ralhan, Jalandhar-144003 Shah's shameful statement It was a shameful statement that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah made during a book launch event in Delhi where he spoke of a time "when those speaking English in the country would feel ashamed". English is one of the global languages and helps to understand our living world, especially in the AI era. When we study in our mother tongue, we understand well. But when we need to exchange what we learned, English is the tool. It may help unite the world but not to lead. Unnikrishnan Mangalasseri, Manjeri PO, Kerala-676121 Union Minister should eat his words Ourministers and senior politicians should always talk using measured words and not in an irresponsible manner (Those who speak English will soon feel ashamed: Shah). English (the lingua franca) is an international language. Undermining its importance in our country is like cutting one's nose to spite one's face. It is widely used in businesses, education and judiciary and provides ample opportunities for global communication as well as career advancements. A good command over English boosts our students' prospects not only in India but also abroad. Amit Shah should eat his own words. Dr Sunil Chopra,Ludhiana Shah's gaffe is regrettable AmitShah's statement that "those who speak English in this country would soon feel ashamed" deserves to be taken with a fistful of salt. English, as we all know, is the aspirational language of India's rising middle class. On that count, regional languages, even Hindi, serve a limited purpose. English is the sine qua non of today's India that has set out to claim its place on the global high table. Even the Prime Minister with his RSS/Hindi background, thought it fit to give English a brief hug while driving home a point about terrorism, and that too in Bihar. Mignon McLaughlin, American journalist and author, had said, "Every American child should grow up knowing a second language, preferably English." And that perhaps holds water for every Indian child living in these times. Amitji, are you listening? Avinash Godboley, Dewas (MP)
Hans India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 16th June 2025
Religious equality is a must This is with reference to the article in Mirror (June 15)- 'Not colonial constitution, but Hindu majority sustains India's secular democracy'. Secularism in the Indian Constitution means that the state does not favour any religion and ensures equal respect of all. While the state maintains a distance from religion it can interfere in religious matters based on Constitutional principles to prevent religious domination. Articles 25 to 28 guarantee freedom of religion to all citizens, including the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion. However, many States have passed anti-conversion laws which prohibit minorities from propagating their religion and very often FIRs are booked against them. When 70 per cent of the country's population is Hindus, what necessitated some political leaders to pass such anti-conversion Acts against religious minorities? Not only Hindus, but every citizen irrespective of the individual's religion makes India the secular country that it is. P Victor Selvaraj,Tirunelveli Bike taxis integral to Bengaluru Bike taxis, the people's preferred mode of transportation, will go off Bengaluru roads, albeit temporarily from June 16. This step is taken in view of the high speed of bike taxis and the penchant to ply in wrong directions. Auto drivers and four-wheeler taxis, who have been suffering since the advent of bike taxis, are on protest. In the IT capital of India, bike taxis are the best option to commute. They are financially viable and take less time to reach destinations. Lakhs of people earn their bread and butter by driving bike taxis. Some employees in private organisations are earning some additional income through driving bike taxis in their leisure hours. All eyes will be on the High Court, which will decide the fate of bike taxis in Karnataka on June 24. Nagendra Kumar Vempalli,Bengaluru Address poor air quality issues India is home to some of the most polluted cities on earth. Gurugram, Delhi and Kanpur have very poor air quality. As a result, people, especially the elderly and children, are falling ill due to air pollution caused by industries, vehicles, constructions, and lack of greenery. Afforestation and tree plantation, water spraying at construction sites and environmentally-friendly vehicles like EVs are needed everywhere. That is when people can breathe a sigh of relief. Arshad Bastavi,Mumbai Promote Hyd's eastern and northern parts It is ironical that while BRS government developed west Hyderabad through SEZs prominently called Hitec city where IT and ITES MNCs established offices making it the prime location, the present Congress government focussing on developing the south and south-west parts of Hyderabad, through mega projects like Future city, Pharma city and Aerospace projects. It makes one wonder why the northern and eastern parts of city are being ignored? Why is the city devoid of an inclusive development? P R Ravinder,New Mirjalguda, Hyderabad KLIS: Don't take KCR remarks at face value Former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) has previously referred to himself as the architect of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS). But during his recent deposition before the PC Ghose Commission, which is investigating the alleged irregularities in the project execution, he stated that all technical decisions were taken by the engineers and the project had Cabinet approval. Further, he told the Commission that the redesign and re-engineering of the barrages were based on expert reports and technical assessments, not personal directives. He had often described KLIS as a dream project that fulfilled his vision for Telangana's irrigation needs. His latest statements should be verified with the notes written in the files of the project. There is a need to identify the engineers and politicians responsible for the faults and problems in the project. Dr O Prasada Rao, Hyderabad
