“No country can preserve its culture, literature, history, and social values without its language. For a nation to move forward with dignity and pride, its governance must be rooted in its own languages,” he said.Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Panch Pran” (five pledges), Shah stressed the importance of shedding colonial mindsets. “Until a person takes pride in their own language, and develops the ability to think, express, and decide in it, we cannot be free from the mentality of slavery,” he said. He further noted that a nation’s roots, traditions, and cultural identity cannot flourish if disconnected from its language.Shah cited the “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” initiative as an effective vehicle for promoting national unity through language. He highlighted cultural exchange events such as the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, Kashi-Telugu Sangamam, Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam, Shashwat Mithila Mahotsav, and Bhasha Sangam.He noted that under the Bhasha Sangam initiative, students are being taught 100 commonly used sentences in the 22 constitutionally recognised languages, with implementation underway in schools. “This initiative will soon become a life-giving force for Indian languages, growing like a vast banyan tree,” Shah said.Madhya Pradesh was cited as a model state, where technical education is now offered in 12 Indian languages, including medical education in Hindi, backed by a fully developed curriculum. Shah encouraged other states to adopt similar models in medical and engineering education to enhance accessibility.
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