Amit Shah: “Those Who Speak English Will Soon Feel Ashamed”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stirred a nationwide conversation on Thursday with his remarks about the use of English in India. Speaking at the launch of a book authored by IAS officer Ashutosh Agnihotri, Shah said that the country was moving toward a time when “those who speak English will soon feel ashamed.”
The statement, which was widely circulated in a video shared by news agency ANI on its X (formerly Twitter) handle—later deleted—was part of Shah’s larger message on promoting Indian languages as pillars of cultural identity.
“In this country, those who speak English will soon feel ashamed — the creation of such a society is not far away,” Shah was heard saying in the viral clip.
He emphasized that India’s languages are the jewels of its culture, arguing that cultural values, historical understanding, and religious philosophy cannot be fully grasped through foreign languages.
“Without our languages, we cease to be truly Indian,” he said.
“With self-respect, we will run our country in our own languages and lead the world too.”
The comments have sparked both support and criticism online, with many seeing it as a call for linguistic pride while others question the implications of sidelining English in a globally connected world.
The book launch event, held in New Delhi, was aimed at promoting Indian administrative insights and perspectives, with Shah using the platform to reinforce the government’s broader emphasis on cultural self-reliance and the preservation of native languages.
