Hindi's progress meaningful only with respect for all Indian languages: Amit Shah
Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said the progress of Hindi is meaningful only when it moves forward while ensuring the dignity, promotion and protection of other Indian languages. Greeting people on Hindi Diwas, he said India’s linguistic diversity is one of its biggest strengths and not a weakness.
Shah said every Indian language carries its own history, folk traditions and way of looking at life, and helps shape the values of the younger generation. He also said Hindi has played an important role in connecting different sections and communities across the country as a language of dialogue, bond and coordination.
In his message, Shah said, "Everyone says that our languages are diverse. That is our weakness. But I believe that our greatest strength is that we have so many languages." He said every language contributes to the country’s cultural richness.
He added, "Our linguistic diversity strengthens the sense of unity in diversity in India."
Shah also said a language is not merely a medium of communication but the "memory" and "self-awareness" of a society.
He said Hindi should not be seen as representing any one language, but as an important link among India’s languages and national unity. "The progress of Hindi is only purposeful when it moves forward while ensuring the dignity, promotion and protection of other Indian languages," Shah said.
He added that while his own mother tongue is Gujarati, Hindi allows him to connect directly with people in different parts of the country.
Hindi Diwas is observed every year on September 14 to mark the adoption of Hindi as an official language by the Constituent Assembly on September 14, 1949.
Shah also urged the youth to learn as much as possible from the world without giving up their language, and appealed to parents to speak to their children in their mother tongue.
"Language is what connects us to our mother, our soil, our history and our culture," he said, underlining his message that the growth of Hindi must go hand in hand with respect for all Indian languages.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 14, 2026 10:57 IST
