Agartala: Amit Shah on Friday said language and scripts should not be politicised or turned into subjects of controversy, urging parents to speak to their children in their mother tongue to preserve cultural identity and heritage.

Addressing the Joint Regional Official Language Conference (Rajbhasha Sammelan) of the Eastern, North-Eastern and Northern regions in Agartala, the Union Home Minister stressed that failure to learn one’s mother tongue could disconnect future generations from their literature, history and traditions.

“The government has stressed that primary education should be imparted in the students’ own mother tongues,” Shah said.

Call to avoid politicising language and scripts

The Home Minister urged stakeholders in the Northeast not to create political disputes over languages or scripts. He advocated the use of ‘Nagari Lipi’ for local languages, stating that it would help protect linguistic identities while promoting wider accessibility.

Highlighting the region’s diversity, Shah noted that the eight Northeastern states are home to over 200 dialects, more than 50 festivals, multiple ethnic communities and rich cultural traditions. He said nations that use their own languages effectively in governance and education have achieved faster and more inclusive development.

He also called for concrete measures to preserve oral languages that lack formal scripts. Dismissing criticism surrounding Hindi, Shah asserted that there is no conflict between Hindi and other Indian languages.

Hindi and regional languages can coexist

Shah described the Northeast as an appropriate region to strengthen Rajbhasha Hindi, citing Tripura as an example where Bengali, Kokborok and Hindi are used simultaneously.

Referring to renowned artistes from the region, he said singers such as Bhupen Hazarika, Sachin Dev Burman, Rahul Dev Burman and Zubeen Garg gained national and international recognition through Hindi songs, which provided them a broader platform.

The Home Minister added that several non-Hindi-speaking leaders had historically contributed to the promotion of Hindi while also strengthening Indian languages during the freedom movement. He noted that Hindi is not the primary language of Gujarat, his home state, but said he learnt the language and conducts most of his official work in Hindi.

Shah highlighted initiatives under Narendra Modi to promote the use of Hindi, including strengthening the Department of Official Language under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Focus on Northeast development

The Home Minister also referred to improved security in the Northeast, stating that since 2014, 21 peace agreements have been signed and over 11,000 insurgents have surrendered. He said the region, once affected by violence and blockades, is now witnessing growth in tourism and investment.

During the conference, 80 Regional Official Language Awards for 2024–25 were presented to Central government offices, public sector undertakings and banks for effective implementation of the Official Language Policy.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and other dignitaries attended the event, which saw participation from more than 3,000 officials and representatives from over 20 states across the Northern, Eastern and North-Eastern regions.

The Rajbhasha Sammelan focused on strengthening the use of official languages while safeguarding India’s linguistic diversity.

IANS