Key Points
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticized Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on English, calling it a tool of empowerment for the poor.
- Rahul Gandhi argues that BJP and RSS want to keep English away from underprivileged children to limit their opportunities.
- Amit Shah recently stated that English speakers in India will soon feel ashamed, advocating for prioritizing Indian languages.
- The debate highlights the ongoing political and cultural clash over the role of English versus Indian languages in education and society.
- Rahul Gandhi insists that English, along with mother tongues, is vital for employment and equal opportunity in a globalized world.
New Delhi: The national debate over language in India has reached a fever pitch after Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi fired back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent anti-English comments. The controversy underscores deep political and cultural divides about the role of English and regional languages in India’s future.
Taking to social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi issued a passionate rebuttal to Amit Shah’s statement. He described English not as a barrier, but as a bridge to opportunity and empowerment for India’s poor and marginalized:
“English is not a dam, but a bridge. English is not shame, it is power. English is not a chain it is a tool to break chains.”
Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and RSS of deliberately denying English education to underprivileged children, arguing that they want to keep the poor from asking questions, advancing, and achieving equality. He stressed that English is as important as any Indian mother tongue, as it opens doors to employment and boosts self-confidence.
Every Language Matters
Gandhi also emphasized the value of India’s linguistic diversity, stating that every Indian language carries its own soul, culture, and knowledge. He called for cherishing regional languages while ensuring every child also learns English, so that India can compete globally and offer equal opportunities to all.
English as a ‘Weapon’
In an accompanying video, Rahul Gandhi described English as a “weapon” that enables people to work and succeed anywhere in the world from America to Japan. He warned that those opposing English education want to keep lucrative jobs and opportunities out of reach for the poor.
Amit Shah’s View: Prioritizing Indian Languages
The controversy began when Amit Shah declared that a time will come when English speakers in India will feel ashamed. He argued that true understanding of India’s culture, religion, and history is only possible through native languages, which he called the nation’s “jewels.” Shah believes that promoting Indian languages is essential for India’s rise on the world stage by 2047.
The Bigger Picture: Language, Equality, and Opportunity
This latest exchange between Rahul Gandhi and Amit Shah highlights a longstanding debate in India: Should English continue to be a dominant language in education and employment, or should Indian languages take center stage? For many, English remains a crucial tool for social mobility and global competitiveness, while others see it as a colonial legacy that undermines local cultures.
