New Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said the progress of Hindi is purposeful only when it moves forward while ensuring the dignity, promotion and protection of other Indian languages.
That is our weakness.
Congratulating people on the occasion of Hindi Diwas, Shah said India is a land of linguistic diversity and cultural prosperity and asserted that the country’s many languages are its strength, rather than a drawback. “Everyone says that our languages are diverse. But I believe that our greatest strength is that we have so many languages,” Shah said in a message. He said every language brings with it a history, folk traditions and a view of life and contributes to shaping the values of the younger generation. “Our linguistic diversity strengthens the sense of unity in diversity in India,” he said. Shah said a language is not merely a medium of communication but the “memory” and “self-awareness” of a society. Hindi, he said, has played an important role in connecting different sections and communities of the country as a language of dialogue, bond and coordination. “The progress of Hindi is only purposeful when it moves forward while ensuring the dignity, promotion and protection of other Indian languages,” Shah said. Shah said his own mother tongue is Gujarati, but Hindi enables him to connect directly with people in different parts of the country.
