New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today emphasised the importance of language in preserving a nation’s identity and cultural heritage, stating that it is not merely a means of communication, but the very soul of a nation.
“Our roots, traditions, history, and culture cannot progress without language. Just as it is important to keep languages alive, it is equally important to enrich them,” Shah said while speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Rajbhasha Department at Bharat Mandapam here.
Speaking on the government’s ongoing efforts to promote linguistic diversity, Shah highlighted the ‘Bhasha Sangam’ initiative under which students across all schools in the country are being taught 100 commonly used phrases in the 22 languages recognised by the Constitution.
He stressed that until a person takes pride in their own language, expresses themselves in it, and develops the ability to think, analyse, and make decisions in their own language, they cannot free themselves from a colonial mindset.
Reflecting on the achievements of the Department of Official Language, Shah said its 50-year journey has been shaped by struggle, dedication and determination.
He underscored the importance of conducting administrative work in Indian languages, aligning with the spirit of the nation and upholding the self-respect of these languages.
“If a country wants to function according to its own consciousness, progress based on its culture and preserves its self-respect, it is essential that its administration operates in its own languages. It was with this noble objective that the Department of Official Language was established,” he said.
Shah said over the past 11 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched several initiatives under the ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ programme. Events such as Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, Kashi-Telugu Sangamam, Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam, Shashwat Mithila Mahotsav, and Bhasha Sangam have provided platforms to strengthen national unity and celebrate India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
Present on the occasion were Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Lok Sabha MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy and others.
