Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday made a strong pitch for promoting Indian languages, declaring that a day is not far when speaking English in India will be seen as a matter of shame. Speaking at the launch of the book Main Boond Swayam, Khud Sagar Hoon by former IAS officer Ashutosh Agnihotri, Shah said that Indian languages are the true jewels of the nation’s culture. “Without our languages, we cease to be truly Indian,” he stated, adding that understanding India’s culture, history, and religion cannot be achieved through foreign languages.

Mr. Shah connected this vision with the 'Panch Pran' or five pledges introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s journey toward its 100th year of independence in 2047. He explained these include eliminating colonial mindsets, embracing heritage, promoting unity, instilling a sense of duty, and achieving a developed India. “Our languages will play a crucial role in this mission,” Shah remarked, underlining that the nation's identity and progress must be rooted in its linguistic heritage.

Commenting on the book and the need for reforms in civil services, Shah stressed the importance of empathy in governance. He argued that the current administrative training system, still influenced by British-era methods, must evolve. “Without empathy, governance cannot truly serve its purpose,” he said. He also praised Indian literature as a force that has preserved cultural and spiritual values through history. “Even in the darkest times, literature kept alive the light of religion, culture, and freedom,” Shah noted, asserting that society has always resisted threats to its cultural foundations.