Kohima, June 20: Reacting to the reported comment of Union Home minister Amit Shah on the issue of English language in India, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) has expressed “deep concern” over the remark.
“In light of the recent statement made on June 19, 2025, by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) expresses deep concern over the remarks suggesting that those who speak English in India will ‘soon feel ashamed'”, a statement from the NPF said tonight, The NPF said such a statement, coming from a “figure of high national responsibility”, is both unfortunate and disappointing.
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As the Home Minister Shah represents the aspirations and sentiments of a diverse and pluralistic nation, his words carry the weight of his office and reflect not only personal opinion but also shape public perception, said the NPF. “The people of India repose their trust in the nation’s leaders, especially the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, as they hold important offices and are expected to uphold the dignity, unity, and inclusive spirit of the country with utmost responsibility and respect,” the NPF added.
To suggest that speaking English is something to be ashamed of is to overlook the pivotal role that the language has played in uniting our diverse country, the statement of the NPF also said. With 22 officially recognized languages and hundreds of dialects spoken across the nation, India’s linguistic landscape is among the most complex in the world, it added. In such a setting, English has functioned as a bridge language, helping people from different states, ethnicities, and linguistic groups to communicate, collaborate, and coexist, the NPF further added.
The NPF statement then said, “It is no exaggeration to say that English has often helped maintain national coherence where linguistic fault lines have historically threatened unity”. It further said many state boundaries have been shaped by linguistic identity, and yet, English has provided a neutral, common platform—especially in education, governance, and inter-state relations.
The NPF then said that, far from being a symbol of shame, English has enabled millions of Indians—especially from rural and marginalized backgrounds—to access global knowledge, participate in international discourse, and pursue opportunities beyond regional limitations. “It has not replaced Indian languages, but rather, coexisted with them. Pride in our mother tongues and the practical value of English are not mutually exclusive,” the NPF stated.
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The NPF then said it “strongly supports” the promotion and preservation of all Indian languages, including “our own native tongues”. But this must not come at the cost of dismissing or demeaning another language that has empowered so many, the NPF also said. “True national pride lies in our ability to embrace plurality, not impose uniformity”, it added.
The statement of the NPF then finally stated, “Let us move forward with unity, respect, and understanding—acknowledging the value of every language that contributes to India’s identity, including English”.
(Newmai News Network )