Gandhinagar witnessed a strong pitch for the wider use of Hindi as Union Home Minister Amit Shah marked Hindi Diwas by addressing the Fifth All India Official Language Conference.
Speaking on Sunday, Shah said Hindi should not remain confined to official correspondence and communication but emerge as a cornerstone of science, technology, law, justice and police administration.
He told the gathering that official work conducted in Indian languages strengthens the bond between the government and citizens.
Shah also invited Chief Ministers to write to the Union Home Ministry in their mother tongue, assuring them of replies in the same language.
The Home Minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for encouraging the use of technology to promote regional languages.
Referring to the establishment of the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag (Indian Languages Section), he noted that the Department of Official Language had evolved into a full-fledged department.
Shah stressed that Hindi complements, rather than competes with, other Indian languages. He highlighted the ‘Sarthi’ software, which enables translation between Hindi and other Indian languages, as a model for linguistic integration.
Historical and Cultural Resonance
Drawing from Gujarat’s example of coexistence between Gujarati and Hindi, Shah cited the contributions of Dayanand Saraswati, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel in promoting Hindi as a unifying language.
He underlined that Hindi has played an unprecedented role in connecting the nation linguistically and facilitating public debate.
Quoting Shivaji Maharaj, Shah recalled the principles of ‘Swaraj, Swadharm and Swabhasha’, linking language to self-respect and independence. He urged parents to encourage children to study in their mother tongue, warning that learning in another language could reduce their capacity by 30 per cent.
Shah also credited Sanskrit as the source of Indian knowledge and praised Hindi for taking that knowledge into homes across the country.
In a video message on X, he described the past decade under PM Modi as a golden era of renaissance for Indian languages and culture.
Citing India’s presence on global platforms such as the UN, the G-20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Shah said PM Modi has elevated the pride of Indian languages by speaking in Hindi and other regional tongues.
He added that in the ‘Amrit Kaal’ of independence, the ‘Panch Pran’ pledges aim to free India from colonial symbols, with language playing a critical role.
He concluded by noting that Hindi has completed 76 years as the official language, while the Department of Official Language marks 50 years of work in embedding Hindi in public consciousness.
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