- 27 June, 2025
27 June, 2025: "In this country, those who speak English will soon feel ashamed, the creation of such a society is not far away" – Home Minister Amit Shah, 19 June 2025.
India is home to 121 languages and 19,500 dialects. In a nation as linguistically diverse and culturally layered as ours, English is far more than a mere language—it is a bridge. For countless Indians who have lived on the margins, English has been a vital tool—a path to access, visibility, and social mobility.
To reject English and its role as a leveller is to ignore the long and difficult journeys of those Indians historically rendered invisible. To define it only as a colonial remnant is to overlook the realities of a globalised world and what it takes to challenge its power dynamics. English today is no longer viewed as a colonial burden—it is the common language of collaboration and connection.
Throughout India’s modern history, English has played a pragmatic role. It has been used to resist colonialism, build institutions, and connect India to global movements. This isn’t a new or elitist idea; it was part of the vision of many of the nation’s architects. Shaming people for speaking English disregards this legacy, erodes progress, and fosters division.
India doesn’t need less English. It needs more confidence in multilingualism, more platforms for access, and more pride in our ability to speak several languages without fear or guilt. Speaking English does not make one less Indian—it makes Indians more prepared and empowered in a global context. The true threat is not the language itself, but the ideological narrative that restricts access to it. We are not speaking the master’s tongue. In truth, we are speaking back to the master—long gone.
You have heard the Home Minister’s words. You’ve read this writer’s stance. But what did others say about English in India’s past? Were they in agreement with Amit Shah’s view? We present the counterpoint—through the voices of India’s thinkers and leaders. You decide whose side of history you’re on:
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: “English is the milk of a lioness, only those who drink it will roar.”
Mahatma Gandhi (on his time in England): “I began reading the Gita with them... though my knowledge of Sanskrit was meagre... I hoped to tell where the translation failed to bring out the meaning.”
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: “English was a foreign language... But we were also greatly benefited... It cemented national unity.”
Savitribai Phule: “In such a dismal time of ours / Come Mother English, this is your hour...”
Dr. S Radhakrishnan: “English is the only means of preventing our isolation from the world...”
C. Rajagopalachari: “English is the gift of goddess Saraswati.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee: “Our English is also good... That’s why our people are doing so well in technology...”
Frank Anthony: “The English language... opened up a treasure house of literature, thought and culture...”
There will be those quick to dismiss these reflections, perhaps quoting Henry Ford—“History is bunk.” But this is just the first part of a two-part column on English in India. Stay tuned. Part two arrives in a fortnight.
By Derek O'Brien
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