Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said language was used as a means to try to divide India in the past but such efforts were never successful and the Modi government will ensure that Indian languages become a powerful medium to unite the country.
Addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of the Central governments official language department Shah also said Hindi is not an opponent to any Indian language rather it is a friend of all Indian languages and that there should be no opposition to any foreign language in the country.
He said the countrys administration should align with the spirit of the nation and for the self-respect of Indian languages administrative functions should also be conducted in Indian languages.
quotIn the last few decades language was used as a means to try to divide India. This move was not successful even though efforts were made. We will ensure that our languages become a powerful medium to unite Indiaquot he said.
The home minister said the official language department will work in this endeavour. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation for creation of a great India by 2047 and efforts will be made to make the Indian languages enriched and increase their utility.
quotI sincerely believe that Hindi cant be an opponent to any Indian language. Hindi is a friend of all Indian languagesquot he said. Hindi and other Indian languages together can take the self-esteem of the country to its final destination Shah said.
He asked all state governments to take the initiative to impart medical and engineering education in the local language. The home minister also said that everyone should get rid of the slavery mentality and until a person takes pride in his own language or does not express himself in his language that person cannot be free from the mentality of slavery.
quotThere is no opposition to any language. There should not be any opposition to any foreign language. But there should be an urge to glorify ones own language there should be an urge to speak ones own language there should be an urge to think in ones own languagequot he said.
Shah also said that language is the quotsoulquot of a nation.
quotLanguage is not just a medium of communication it is the soul of a nation. Our roots traditions history and culture cannot move forward separately from the languages. Keeping languages alive is as essential as enriching themquot he said.
He said efforts should be made in the coming days for growth and expansion of all Indian languages especially for the official language.
The home minister said if a country has to progress it is absolutely essential that its administration operates in its own languages and with this great objective the department of official language was established.
quotIndian languages should be used as much as possible in government work not only in the Central government but also in the state governments. For this we will also help the state governments encourage them and try to convince themquot he said.
Extending greetings to all the well-wishes of the official language Hindi the home minister congratulated the admirers of Indian languages across the country on the golden jubilee year of the department.
Shah said this was the 50-year journey from 1975 to 2025 of the official language department and when India will celebrate the centenary of its Independence the name of the official language will be inscribed in golden letters in the history of all the efforts made for the reawakening of Indias pride.
He said in the last 11 years Prime Minister Modi has launched the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme under which initiatives have been taken to host events like the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam Kashi-Telugu Sangamam Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam and Mithila Festival so that the countrys unity can be further strengthened.
The home minister said entrance examinations like the JEE NEET CUET are now conducted in 13 Indian languages. Besides he said examination for recruitment in the constable posts in the Central Armed Police Forces are now conducted in 13 languages instead of earlier Hindi and English.
quotI am happy to say that 95 per cent of the candidates are taking the constable examination in their mother tongue. This tells how bright the future of Indian languages is in the coming daysquot he said.