Shah bats for use of Indian languages in science, tech

Addressing the inaugural session of the 5th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan, Shah said there was no conflict between Hindi and other Indian languages. "Gujarat, where Gujarati and Hindi have coexisted, is an excellent example of the development of both languages. Hindi is not just a spoken language or a language of administration. Hindi should also be the language of science, technology, justice and the police. When all these works are done in Indian languages, connection with the public is automatically established," he stated.

He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for enhancing the pride of Indian languages by communicating in Hindi at global platforms like the United Nations, G20 Summit and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Shah said Article 351 of the Constitution assigns the responsibility of promoting and spreading Hindi to make it an effective medium of India’s composite culture. “When the country gained Independence, our Constitution makers extensively deliberated on the potential and importance of languages and, on September 14, 1949, adopted Hindi written in the Devanagari script as the official language,” he said.

He urged parents to always speak to children in their mother tongues. "This is very important for the child's future, as many psychologists and educationists have confirmed that a child thinks in his mother tongue. As soon as you impose a language other than the mother tongue on a child, 25 to 30 per cent of his mind's capacity will be spent in translating it," Shah said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that growing respect for Hindi on the global stage was a matter of pride and inspiration for all Indians. “Hindi is not merely a medium of communication, but a vibrant heritage of our identity and values. On this occasion, let us all together resolve to enrich Hindi along with all Indian languages and to pass them on to the coming generations with pride. The growing respect for Hindi on the global stage is a matter of pride and inspiration for all of us,” Modi posted on X.