Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said a child can be taught about the world most effectively through the mother tongue, and stressed that the National Education Policy (NEP) is aimed at strengthening learning in one’s native language.
Speaking at a Hindi language conference held in Mumbai on the occasion of Hindi Diwas, Shah said India’s diversity is its biggest strength. He noted that each language carries its own history, local traditions and a distinct way of looking at life, reflecting the country’s idea of unity in diversity.
Shah said language is not merely a tool for communication but also a carrier of a society’s memories and emotions. He added that Hindi has played an important role in connecting people across regions and should be seen as a key link between Indian languages and national unity.
At the same time, he said the growth of Hindi would be meaningful only if the dignity, development and protection of all Indian languages are ensured. Though his mother tongue is Gujarati, he said Hindi helps him communicate directly with people in other parts of the country.
Emphasising early education, Shah said parents should speak to children in their mother tongue and warned against forgetting it while learning from the wider world. He said the Centre has made primary education in the mother tongue mandatory under the new NEP, arguing that learning in one’s native language improves children’s thinking and analytical abilities, and called for collective efforts beyond political differences to strengthen national unity and promote all Indian languages equally.
