Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly defended the importance of the English language, calling it a vital tool for empowerment and equality. In a post on social media, Gandhi argued that English should be taught to every child in India, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds. He criticized the BJP and RSS, claiming they deliberately discourage English education among the poor to prevent them from asking questions and achieving social mobility. Gandhi’s remarks come shortly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s reported statements about promoting regional languages over English.

अंग्रेज़ी बाँध नहीं, पुल है।
अंग्रेज़ी शर्म नहीं, शक्ति है।
अंग्रेज़ी ज़ंजीर नहीं - ज़ंजीरें तोड़ने का औज़ार है।

BJP-RSS नहीं चाहते कि भारत का ग़रीब बच्चा अंग्रेज़ी सीखे - क्योंकि वो नहीं चाहते कि आप सवाल पूछें, आगे बढ़ें, बराबरी करें।

आज की दुनिया में, अंग्रेज़ी उतनी ही ज़रूरी… pic.twitter.com/VUjinqD91s

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 20, 2025

“English is not shameful, it is empowering. It’s not a dam, but a bridge, not a chain, but a tool to break the chains,” Gandhi posted in Hindi on X (formerly Twitter). He emphasized that in the modern world, English is just as essential as one’s mother tongue, particularly in gaining employment and building confidence. As the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, he asserted that denying English education to children is denying them the chance to compete on a global level and to access equal opportunities.

Gandhi also acknowledged the richness and cultural value of India’s many regional languages, saying that every Indian language has its own soul and knowledge system. However, he stressed that embracing these languages should not come at the cost of excluding English. Instead, he advocated for a balanced approach, where students are taught both their mother tongue and English. According to him, this dual-language strategy is key to creating a future where every Indian child can thrive, irrespective of their socio-economic background. His remarks are seen as a sharp political counter to the government’s perceived preference for prioritizing vernacular languages in education.