Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently said at a book launch that “those who speak English in the country would soon feel ashamed.” That sounds quite unreasonable. If Mr Shah truly believes this, then why do most Indian politicians — even those who are not very educated — send their children abroad or enrol them in top English medium schools in India? Isn’t it because they understand the value and importance of English in today’s global world? Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though not very fluent, is often seen speaking in English during official foreign visits or while meeting global leaders. Why is that? And what about our External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar? He also uses English while discussing important bilateral matters with leaders from other countries. It seems Mr Shah’s comment may reflect his own frustration or discomfort with the language. Despite holding such a senior position and having access to modern technology, he has not mastered basic spoken English. Unfortunately, such careless remarks by politicians only show their narrow thinking.
